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Regional changes in cattle and cow population in Poland from 2010 to 2023
The aim of the research was to assess regional changes in cattle (excluding cows) and cow population. Surveys were carried out at the provincial level in 2010-2023, and at the county level on the basis of 2010 and 2020 agricultural census data. The surveys show that the processes of spatial concentration of cattle population in Poland are occurring faster in the case of cows, and they are also more advanced 62 and 93 counties with the highest cattle population and counties with the highest cattle density without cows and cows, using 20% and 30% of agricultural land in Poland. However, there was no correlation of the level of cattle stocking without cows and cows in 2010 in individual counties with changes in stocking rates by 2020. It was found that in the case of both studied groups of animals, the stocking is located mainly in the belt from Podlaskie to Wielkopolskie provinces. The fastest depopulation process occurs in southeastern Poland.
Regional determinants of agricultural production development in Poland
The aim of the analysis was to determine changes in the level of spatial concentration of production in Poland in the years 1990-2020. The analysis includes output and commodity production, the production of basic agricultural raw materials, the livestock of cattle, cows, pigs, hens and animals converted to LU, and changes in the level of yield and milk yield of cows. The study used data from the Central Statistical Office and the Local Data Bank. In order to limit short-term variability, especially in crop production, five-year averages for the beginning and end of the period were used in most of the analyses. The analysis was carried out for the currently binding administrative division including 16 voivodships. The research has shown large changes in the spatial distribution of agricultural production in Poland. First of all, the Wielkopolskie Voivodship gained in the production of agricultural raw materials, as it increased its share in the majority of plant and animal agricultural products, the Mazowieckie Voivodship, which specialized in animal production (except pork), and the Podlaskie Voivodship, with the production of milk and beef livestock, developed above average. On the other hand, the importance of voivodeships from South-Eastern Poland decreased, as animal production was marginalised, and plant production declined as a result of the greater exclusion of land from agricultural production and a higher decline in crop yield. In the case of the provinces of Western Poland, there was also a significant reduction in the livestock production, but the importance of that region in crop production increased, mainly due to a higher-than-average increase in crop yield in Poland.
Impact of suspension of customs duties and quantitative restrictions on imports from Ukraine on purchase prices of selected agricultural commodities in Poland in 2022-2024.
The Source of Protein or Its Value? Consumer Perception Regarding the Importance of Meat(-like) Product Attributes
Food product attributes may significantly influence the general perception of the product itself, as well as the willingness for its consumption. Assessment of the product is based on customers’ beliefs and individual preferences. Because meat-like products are presented as meat substitutes providing sufficient protein values, the present study aimed to determine the effect of protein source and labelling pointing at high protein content on the evaluation of the product. The experimental online study was conducted with a group of 552 respondents. Four versions of product packaging were designed and tested. These packages differed in the presence or absence of the Nutrition Claim and the presence of the text indicating the vegetable or meat origin of the product. Data collected in the experiment were analyzed using a 2 × 2 ANOVA. The study revealed that the source of protein (plant vs. animal) appears to shape consumers’ perception of the product as more eco-friendly (F (1.518) = 38.681, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.069), natural (F (1.518) = 15.518, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.029), and healthy (F (1.518) = 25.761, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.047). Moreover, labelling including a “high-protein” Nutrition Claim increases the willingness to consume the product (F (1.518) = 4.531, p = 0.034, η2 = 0.009), and provides the impression of it being more eco-friendly (F (1.518) = 6.658, p = 0.01, η2 = 0.012) and of a higher quality (F (1.518) = 7.227, p = 0.007, η2 = 0.014). The obtained results may have theoretical significance by improving the understanding of factors determining the perception of food products and the use of meat substitutes.
Modeling predictors of behavior of American consumers suffering from food intolerances or food allergies
Food intolerances, allergies, and celiac disease cause hypersensitive reactions to certain foods, collectively termed adverse reactions to food. This study aims to identify predictors of purchasing intentions and behaviors among individuals with such reactions, using three behavioral models: the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Health Belief Model, and Protection Motivation Theory. The authors created a new, comprehensive model by integrating these theories, combining their strengths to provide a more robust framework. The survey, conducted via the Forthright platform using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method, involved 1,088 respondents. This article is the first to explore predictors of consumer intentions and behaviors regarding food products suitable for individuals with intolerances or allergies, offering new insights into consumer decision-making models.
Regional changes in the pig population in Poland in 2010-2022
The aim of the study was to assess regional changes in pig and sow population in 2010-2022. The analysis was carried out at the voivodship level for the entire period under study, while changes in pig and sow population in poviats were based on agricultural census data for 2010 and 2020. The analysis showed a progressive regional concentration of pig and sow stock in Poland, as indicated by an increase in the share of the 62 and 93 poviats with the highest stock and the poviats with the highest density of pigs and sows using 20% and 30% of agricultural land in Poland by about 9 percentage points. However, there was no correlation of the level of pig and sow stocking in 2010 in individual poviats with changes in stocking rates by 2020. A large increase in stocking rates associated with the construction of industrial piggeries was recorded in a dozen poviats located mainly in the western and northern voivodships, where the largest number of State Agricultural Farms were located.
Europejskie rolnictwo na rozdrożu – jak pogodzić troskę o środowisko z celami polityczno-gospodarczymi?
Economic costs of 11 years of African swine fever in Polan
African swine fever (ASF) has been present in Poland in wild boar and pig populations for more than 11 years. The main cause of the long-distance spread of ASF is human error, especially the lack of biosecurity awareness in noncommercial farms. The potential risk of ASF endemicity in Poland and the Baltic states remains a serious concern. The enormous impact of ASF can be seen in the domestic production of pigs during the successive years of the epizootic. Due to ineffective biosecurity measures implemented in backyard, family or noncommercial farms, this sector of pig production remains the most susceptible to the ASF virus (ASFV). Also, commercial producers are affected by spontaneous ASFV outbreaks, which are usually difficult to explain during epizootic investigations. The data presented show the current knowledge on the economic impact of ASF in Poland since its introduction. The aim of this study was to estimate the costs to the farming sector and the national budget during the 11 years of ASF presence in Poland. This study used both statistical and dynamic methods of data analysis. The analysis included eight direct and indirect costs generating losses in agriculture. Profits lost by the meat industry and expenses from the state budget were also estimated. The analysis shows that over those 11 years, pig producers lost PLN 10.0-11.3 billion ($ 2.5-2.8 bn), of which the state compensated in various forms less than PLN 2.0 billion ($ 0.5 bn). Each disease outbreak accounted for PLN 0.53-0.63 million ($ 0.13-0.16 mln) of direct costs to farmers. The state budget spent at least PLN 9.4 billion ($ 2.3 bn) on the fight against ASF, as well as on subsidies for farmers and interest on additional public debt, while the meat industry lost PLN 300 million ($ 75 mln). The geographic expansion of ASF makes the costs of ASF increase every year. The loss of export markets is another cost to the Polish economy, with $ 5.5 bn of pork exports not realized.
External Costs to Agriculture Associated with Further Open Pit Lignite Mining from the Bełchatów Deposit
The energy crisis in Europe and Poland caused by the conflict in Ukraine has renewed the debate in some countries about the wisdom of abandoning the use of local fossil fuels. The rise in gas and oil prices with little change in the cost of extracting lignite from open pit mines has led to a renewed consideration of lignite as the cheapest source of energy. This is not entirely true, as the level of costs at power plants ignores many external costs that are not included in the costs of energy producers, but are borne by the general public or other parties. One such cost is the external costs incurred by agriculture as a result of open pit lignite mining and the associated depression funnels. The Bełchatów lignite open pit is the deepest open pit in Europe and is expected to be in operation by 2038. The aim of the study was to assess the external costs that farmers will incur as a result of further open pit mining of brown call from the Bełchatów deposit, i.e., between 2023 and 2038 as well as in the 16-year extended period of restoration of water relations around the open pit. The decrease in crop yields and animal numbers was estimated in a comparative analysis, which compared changes in the yields of selected plants and animals in the area affected by the open pit to those in neighboring areas that were not affected. The analysis showed that the external costs to be borne by agriculture as a result of the further exploitation of the Bełchatów deposit will amount to an average of EUR 2.90 billion, and, depending on the calculation variant, from EUR 2.51 billion to EUR 3.14 billion. Including this amount in the cost of electricity production would result in an increase of EUR 9.11·MWh−1, which is 18.8% of the average wholesale price of electricity in Poland in 2017–2021. On the one hand, the increased consumption of lignite in electricity production, which is currently observed and may last for several years, may shorten the life of the open pit by up to 2 years. Shortening the mining period by one year, assuming that all the coal in the deposit is mined, will reduce the external costs for agriculture by about EUR 185 million, i.e., EUR 0.58·MWh−1. On the other hand, the increase in European Emissions Trading System (ETS) prices, the decrease in gas prices and the increase in energy production from renewable energy source (RES) will make lignite power generation profitable only during the periods with the highest prices, so that by 2038 lignite will not be mined in its entirety. Every 10 Gg of coal that will not be mined by 2038 will result in an increase in external costs in agriculture per MWh of EUR 0.23·MWh−1.