This study investigates the dynamics of agricultural land prices across the European Union (EU) from 2006 to 2022, focusing on trends of convergence and divergence among member states. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including econometric analysis of price convergence models and comparative policy evaluation, the research identifies critical economic, policy, and environmental factors influencing land markets. The results indicate price convergence in Eastern European countries, such as Romania and Poland, driven by EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and increased foreign investment. In contrast, Western European countries like the Netherlands and Luxembourg show price stability at elevated levels due to mature markets and limited land availability. The findings reveal a nuanced interaction between EU-wide and national policies, with CAP fostering convergence in emerging markets while maintaining price stability in developed ones. This study underscores the importance of tailored policy measures to address market disparities, support smaller farmers, and promote sustainable rural development across diverse EU regions.

This study examines Poland’s agricultural land market between 2009 and 2023 through fixed effects and spatial econometric models, highlighting economic and spatial determinants of land prices. Key results show that GDP per capita strongly increases land values (β = +0.699, p < 0.001), while agricultural gross value added (–2.698, p = 0.009), soil quality (–6.241, p < 0.001), and land turnover (–0.395, p < 0.001) are associated with lower prices. Spatial dependence is confirmed (λ = 0.74), revealing strong regional spillovers. The volume of state-owned WRSP land sales declined from 37.4 thousand hectares in 2015 to 3.1 thousand hectares in 2023, while non-market transfers, such as donations, exceeded 49,000 annually. Although these trends support farmland protection and family farms, they also reduce market mobility and hinder generational renewal. The findings call for more flexible, sustainability-oriented land governance that combines ecological performance, regional equity, and improved access for young farmers.

The aim of the study was to determine the complementarity of the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy in terms of their impact on the development of rural areas between 2021 and 2027. In their research, the authors paid particular attention to the distribution of support between the aforementioned policies in the context of social and economic problems occurring in rural areas. The empirical material consisted of literature on the subject and documentation related to the preparation and implementation of the analyzed policies. The analysis of documents, literature on the subject and practice indicates a growing need to demonstrate the complementarity of both policies in the process of programing individual development instruments, especially in the territorial dimension, where the separation of individual aspects of socio-economic life is extremely difficult, hence the need for a cross-sector approach, definition, and response to local challenges.

The objective of the study was to assess the level of acquiring funds from the Horizon 2020 programme by Polish institutions carrying out agricultural and rural development projects and to assess the internal financing of research in the field of agricultural science. For this assessment, we used primarily the studies on the literature of the subject and carried out an analysis of acquiring funds for research from the Horizon 2020 programme as well as of internal financing for the research and development activities. Based on these studies, it has been found that a consequence of the current scale of financing for the research and development activities could be a significant slowdown in the transfer of new knowledge and innovation to the agri-food sector and to rural areas, which, in turn, could be a barrier to implementing the concept of smart rural development.