The negative socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are widely discussed. However, relatively less attention is paid to its impact on the world commodity price formation including energy and food prices. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world energy commodity prices and their interactions with world food commodity prices. Using the World Bank data on commodity prices we look for evidence of changes in energy and food prices caused by occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was assumed to be a negative shock to the global economy in terms of both supply and demand. Based on data series analysis of indices of world energy and food commodity prices, it is evident that after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the energy prices, especially oil prices, plummeted. Food prices followed the same direction; however, their plunge was much less extreme. In general, it can be concluded that the pandemic caused a severe energy price shock which clearly had a negative impact on global economic growth, but the scale of this impact differs depending on the type of economic sector and countries’ net export positions in energy and food trade.

In the paper we provide an analysis of the potential of agricultural holdings for biomass production, an assessment of the level of farm sustainability and a description of the farming conditions of agricultural holdings depending on the degree of natural valuation of a given area. The approach makes it possible to assess the level of sustainability of farms, also in the context of their potential and taking into account the quality of the production space and its importance for increasing biodiversity. We use public and unpublished data of Statistics Poland (2005, 2007, 2016) as well as data on farms keeping accounts for the Polish FADN in 2016–2018. The paper shows that although concentration processes are progressing, farm productivity is increasing, but this is linked to specialisation, leading to efficient management of labour and land resources. Nevertheless, the decreasing number of farms with proper winter vegetation cover and optimal balances was confirmed. The farming conditions of the farms should take into account the share and degree of natural value of the production space of the areas (municipalities) in which they are located. The study found that farms in municipalities with a high share of high natural value farmland (HNVf) areas, compared to the other municipalities, characterized by lower livestock density per ha UAA, which indicates their less intensive organisation of agricultural production. Moreover, in these municipalities, as their natural value increased, the share of forests and waters in the total area increased and the share of permanent grassland in the total area decreased slightly.

In the face of growing climate, economic, and social challenges, an integrated strategy is required to ensure the resilience of food systems in vulnerable regions is strengthened. This study aims to formulate strategies for increasing food security in Mercosur countries amid extreme climate events and socio-economic and environmental crises. These strategies are based on an analysis of the following: (i) changes in food security levels (Global Food Security Index); (ii) self-sufficiency in major agricultural products; (iii) key economic and environmental drivers between 2012 and 2022; and (iv) an assessment of the effectiveness of public policies aimed at alleviating the effects of poverty and drought between 2022 and 2023. A SWOT analysis was conducted to identify the strengths and weaknesses of food systems, as well as the opportunities and threats facing Mercosur countries. Significant differences in food systems’ availability and resilience have been revealed by the results, and the need for integrated regional policies in the countries studied has been highlighted. Recommendations for the region include developing infrastructure and logistics; investing in research and innovation; combatting poverty and inequalities; adapting to the effects of climate change; promoting the local production of fertilisers and biofuels; and implementing coherent monitoring mechanisms (GFSI).

The EU Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) introduces a new regulatory framework in which the agri-environmental characteristics of production become a prerequisite for access to the European Union market. In this paper, the EUDR is conceptualized as a regulatory framework that renders pre-existing agri-environmental risk drivers economically relevant and, in cases of non-compliance, may translate them into financial risks for agricultural businesses through identifiable transmission channels. The study aims to identify these risk drivers and to assess the institutional and technical readiness of Eastern European countries to implement the Regulation’s requirements. The methodological approach combines an analysis of trade exposure to the EU market, an assessment of countries’ spatial and digital capacities, and the construction of an Institutional and Technical Readiness Index for EUDR implementation. The results indicate an asymmetric impact of the Regulation across the region, driven by cross-country differences in the availability of geospatial data, the maturity of digital traceability systems, and the effectiveness of institutional coordination. The findings further show that broad indicators of digital trade facilitation are insufficient to explain variation in readiness to comply with EUDR requirements. Overall, the study identifies the key institutional and technical constraints shaping EUDR implementation readiness and demonstrates how these constraints translate into financial risks along agricultural supply chains.

Interventionism is a form of government’s active influence on the economy in order to achieve given goals. RDP 2007–2013 is an example of the intervention policy, interacting through its instruments on the agribusiness sector. The article presents the theoretical assumptions of interventionism and attempts to assess of the state intervention and the most tangible effects of the program

The purpose of this paper is to assess the changes in agricultural producers’ use of funds allocated for environmental measures under the 2007–2013 RDP (Rural Development Program) and 2014–2020 RDP in Poland. The extent to which environmental CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) funds are used was examined on a geographic basis, so as to take account of socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of districts. Correlation analysis and a cartographic method were used. The study found growing differences in how the funds are used between territorial units. The analysis of correlation provided grounds for concluding that a relationship exists between the share of environmental funds used in total RDP payments and environmental conditions, mostly including the share of permanent pasture in the structure of agricultural land (0.515 in 2014–2020). Conversely, no relationship was discovered between the level of wealth and the local agrarian structure (0.249 and 0.327 in 2014–2020). The analysis of differences between territorial units revealed that in some geographic areas that had the potential for being granted environmental funds, the farmers decided not to apply for them. Based on the above, it was concluded that the potential beneficiaries’ activity in that respect is largely impacted not only by their environmental awareness and attitude but also by historical events.