DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC FARMING IN POLAND AFTER 2013 IN TERMS OF COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Organic farming in the European Union is still a small percentage, but there is a noticeable upward trend, albeit mainly in the countries of the old EU (EU-15). At the same time, according to Eurostat data and taking into account the average for the European Union, organic farms are larger than conventional farms, as well as the average age of organic farmers is lower. As a result, organic farming (biological, organic) as a system of permanent self-sustaining and economically sustainable safe management of plant and animal production should be an important alternative to conventional agriculture. In addition, efforts to develop organic farming create the capacity to deal with environmental, animal welfare and rural development, while producing high quality food. The aim of the paper is to provide opportunities for development of organic farming in Poland in the light of EU regulations for the years 2014–2020.


Introduction
According to the Framework Action Plan for Food and Farming in Poland for years 2014-2020, organic farming (biological, organic) means a system of sustainable and economically self-sufficient, safe management of sustainable plant and animal production on the farm. Development of organic agriculture offers opportunities to solve problems related to environmental protection, animal welfare and rural development, while producing high-quality food [1].
The most important documents, which set out the objectives and actions necessary for the development of organic farming in Poland include: Framework Action Plan for Food and Farming in Poland in the years [2014][2015][2016][2017][2018][2019][2020] referring to the National Development Strategy 2020, to the Strategy for Sustainable Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries on years 2012-2020 and the Rural Development Programme 2014Programme -2020. It should be noted that the national documents have been prepared in accordance with EU regulations relating to the common agricultural policy.
The aim of this paper is to present the possibilities of development of organic farming in Poland in the light of provisions of the EU for the period 2014-2020. According to the European Commission prospects for the sector of agriculture is promising, provided a skillful combination of actions to stimulate the market (growth of supply and demand) and to enhance the credibility the whole system of organic farming which leads to the increase of consumer confidence [1].

Organic farming in the European Union
Organic farming in the Community activities was singled out in the early 90-th years of 20 century as part of the reform of agricultural policy. Under the regulation adopted by the minis- Economics, econometrics and finance ters of agriculture in 1991 it was prepared the definition of organic farming and the principles of organic farming, including labels associated with organic production. It was also specified the rules allowing the import of organic products from countries outside the European Union. Initially, the guidelines related to production of plant, and then the products of animal origin (mainly animal nutrition, protection against diseases, breeding and animal husbandry, veterinary protection and use of natural fertilizers). The purpose of this adjustment was to allow EU citizens to acquire organic products in accordance with common standards. Also it allowed the possibility of applying stricter criteria, if that was the will of national governments or private organizations [2]. The importance of organic farming in the European Union is growing from year to year. According to the Council Regulation No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007, organic agriculture plays the dual social function, because [3]: -firstly, it provides high quality food with safe and important sensory qualities; -secondly, it contributes to the protection of the natural environment, animal welfare and rural development.
The current rules are not transparent, and also increasingly difficult to reconcile the growing expectations of consumers with more stringent administrative requirements for farmers who want to lead an organic farm [4,5]. As a result, in 2014 there were proposals for new regulations [6], to ensure the sustainability of farming activities, competition rules for the proper functioning of the internal market and the increase in consumption of organic products resulting from the growing consumer confidence in these products. Possible changes could come into force in July 2017 and among them should be mentioned first of all, the proposal to carry out group certification for small farmers in order to reduce the administrative costs of control and certification, the development of electronic system of certification, standardization of control provisions (elimination of most exemptions and exceptions and take control of all actors in the ecological chain).
Consultations with international experts and the public consultation took place in 2012-2013, and the topic of changes in the regulations on organic farming triggered an in-depth discussion on the future of organic production [7]. Numerous criticisms from agricultural communities, organizations and individual farmers on the proposed Regulation may, however, to convince the European Commission to the need for preparation of a new solution. Among the requested modification can include, for example suggestions to take into account to a greater extent the interests of not only large companies but also small producers and the diversity and regional specificities within the European Union.
As part of the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020, the European Commission has prepared a number of financial incentives to encourage farmers have to carry an organic farm or a farm with environmental protection. The European funds for the development of organic farming in the European Union are not only guaranteed within the category: Sustainable growth: natural resources, but also in the category of Intelligent growth in programme Horizon 2020. The European Commission supports research on improving e. g. soil fertility, innovative methods of protection against pests, diseases and weeds, suitable alternatives to products containing copper used for environmental protection products, animal feed, feed efficiency, energy use, soil conservation, climate change and reduce energy consumption by greenhouses [1]. It is mainly about the research in international teams (consortia), awareness of EU organic scheme including the EU organic logo, and above all, the application of research results in practice.
By 2015 30 % of direct payments are related to the so-called requirement, greening, or crop diversification, maintenance of permanent grassland and ecological protection areas within farms.
A holding covers more than 15 hectares must represent in the future 7 % of arable land and may include, among others, [8]: land laying fallow, terraces, strips of eligible hectares along forest edges, buffer strips, including buffer strips covered by permanent grassland, areas with short rotation coppice with no use of mineral fertilizer and/or plant protection products, afforested areas, areas with catch crops, or green cover established by the planting and germination of seeds.
Within the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy included measures for existing farmers with organic farms and for those who want to turn activity in conventional adequate for organic farming. The Regulation on rural development [9] clearly states that Member States meet the expectations of consumers and society in general, should support the conversion of farms and the maintenance of existing ones. Financial support is intended to cover all or part of the income lost (through loss of yield value) and/or additional costs (e. g. fuel), which arose as a result of the commitments. In the framework of rural development programs, each EU country has the flexibility to finance the other projects that may be associated with organic farms, e. g. in the field of innovation, counseling, support groups, producers, environmental protection and counter climate change, improve the quality of food as well farm modernization (purchase of machinery, equipment, tools, modernization of buildings, structures used for agriculture).

Status of organic farming in Poland compared to other European Union countries
The Otherwise the situation was, if one takes into account the percentage increase, namely in relation to the existing area in 2013. Here, the biggest increase was recorded in Malta (381 %) followed by Bulgaria (32 %) and Croatia (23 %) ( Table 1). In 2014, Germany and France were respectively second and third in the world (after the United States) in terms of organic food sales reaching -7.9 and 4.8 billion, the market for organic products in the EU reached 23.9 billion. And the largest consumption of organic foods in excess of 100 EUR per capita were recorded in Luxembourg (164 EUR), Denmark (162 EUR), Sweden (145 EUR) and Austria (127 EUR) [10,11].
For countries that joined the EU after 2003 the Common Agricultural Policy in the field of organic agriculture has given impetus to the development, but used a different extent (significant differences are seen in the area of organic farming, production and consumption). The highest increase was mentioned above in Malta, Bulgaria, and interestingly, Croatia, which became an EU member only in 2013 [12,13]. In Poland ( Table 2), as well as in Cyprus, Hungary, Lithuania and Romania it could be observe a decrease in the area of organic agricultural land in 2014 compared to the previous year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on 30 November 2014, the certification bodies controlled nearly 26.3 thousand organic producers, of which 97.6 % were farms [14][15][16][17]. Statistical data on the number of organic farms and usable in the years 2007, 2010 and 2014 is presented in Table 3.

The system of control and certification of organic farms
Organic production takes account of natural systems and cycles of nature. This is about the management of a properly balanced without (or specified conditions) the use of the organic food chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth stimulants and preservatives, and the farming and animal husbandry -antibiotics and growth hormones [5]. Exceptionally, however, synthetic materials may be acceptable if there are no suitable alternatives. Such products, which must be examined by the Commission and EU countries prior to authorization, are listed in the Annex to Implementing Regulation [4].
Control of organic farming in the European Union refers to the process of production, processing and trade. The organic farm ought be checked taking into account: the location of the farm, buildings, structures, machinery and equipment, selected crops, livestock conditions, storage conditions, among others, animal feed and fertilizers. However, in processing plants is analyzed above all current documentation, the results so far of control, recipe and production standards [18]. Polish control and certification system for organic farming is one of the mixed systems, i. e. there are the control bodies of the public administration and private certification bodies (Table 4), which operate on the basis of the following principles [12]: -confidentiality of information obtained during the inspection; -broadly defined transparency, i. e. on the control criteria (what will be controlled), control methods (how it will be control), labeling of organic products; -openness and voluntary -any entity interested in ecological crops and produce can become involved in organic farming; -transparency for consumers, that is, the ease to distinguish organic products from conventional; -independence of the inspectors -prohibition control in familiar farms; -efficiency with the relationship of costs incurred during the preparation of the farm to control and income derived from production.

Table 4
The control system for organic farming in Poland With the EU budget is financed information and promotion campaigns on organic farming to improve awareness of producers, processors, retailers and consumers in the definition of organic farming and relating to carried out activities of control and the use of the EU logo for organic farming.
In this way, the European Commission wishes to encourage the conduct of organic farms, as well as the production and sale of organic food. Promotional activities include advertising in the media (television, radio, newspapers, Internet), information at points of sale, presentations at fairs, exhibitions and educational activity for adults and children, as increased confidence and consumer interest in organic food should result in an increase in demand [19].
In view of the higher price of food products from organic farms resulting from labor-intensive and often the initial lower yields than conventional farming, campaigns usually lists the following benefits of organic farming [18]: -protection of natural resources (including energy saving, protecting and enhancing ecosystems, ensuring the fertility of the soil); -proper treatment of animals and livestock in appropriate conditions; -to contribute food security through the production of healthy food and high quality; -high self-sufficiency expressed in the use of reusable objects, natural feed and fertilizers and the use of regional and local varieties of plants and animal species; Economics, econometrics and finance -partial use of the surplus labor force in rural areas; -increase the attractiveness of settlement areas and rural tourism; -increase the competitiveness of producers and processors of agricultural; -broad spectrum of activity due to production for local markets, regional, national and abroad.

Directions of financial support for organic farming in Poland
The  Table 5).

Table 5
The  Table 6 Activities related to organic farming and the organic food market contained in the Strategy for sustainable rural development, agriculture and fisheries

Objective 3 -Food security
Priority 3. 1. -Maintain and improve the quality of agricultural production base and fishing Maintaining agricultural land in good agricultural condition, to preserve the land ready for production while taking into account the requirements of the environment; preservation of the genetic basis of crop production due to the values resulting from the tradition and culture of rural areas and the need to protect valuable varieties of crops and plants associated with these crops Priority 3. 2. -Production of high-quality, safe consumer food products Support the production of high-quality agri-food products, including products produced organically and traditional methods of production using local raw materials and resources and fish products Priority 3. 3. -Compliance / appliocation of the rules of fair competition in the Community and the global agri-food market Preventing unfair practices occurring in the market related to the marketing of products of low quality and nutritional value, which are often not labeled, the application of uniform rules on competition in the EU market (to allow the producers to connect into the national and international groups) Priority 3. 4. -Raising awareness and knowledge of producers and consumers in the field of agri-food production and nutrition rules To promote the knowledge of healthy eating and the development of proper eating habits (including the dissemination of information on the principles of nutrition and the impact of diet on health, deepening knowledge of consumers on the quality, features and advantages of high-quality agri-food products, including produced organically and traditional), information campaigns for organic products characterized by high quality and safety of the health of consumers, promotion of national and local organic food at home and abroad; work for the inclusion of information about organic food into school curricula; training for farmers concerning the principles of food safety and food production methods accordance with the approved quality system and other activities of an educational nature for manufacturers in the production of high-quality food Pos. 839) [21] According to the financial possibilities arising from the findings in the framework of multi-annual plans of the European Union, organic farming received a separate action in the Rural a) сooperation (within the operational groups for innovation only to projects of an innovative character); b) сreating groups and producer organizations; c) transfer of knowledge and information activity (sub-measure support for vocational training and skills acquisition); d) consulting services, services in the field of agricultural farm management and services for substitutions (sub: support for using advisory services); e) development of households and business (sub: help to start a business for young farmers and start-up aid economic development of small farms); f) investments in fixed assets (aid for investments in farms and investments in processing / marketing and development of agricultural products); g) basic services and village renewal in rural areas (sub-investment related to creation, improvement or expansion of all types of small scale infrastructure, including investments in renewable energy and energy saving); h) systems of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs (sub-measure support for new participants in food quality schemes and support to carry out the information and publicity); i) support for local development in the framework of LEADER (sub-measure Support for the implementation of operations under local development strategies driven by the community); j) agri-environment action-climatic. The beneficiary of action "Organic Farming" RDP 2014-2020 will be able to be professionally active farmer holding a farm located on Polish territory, with an area of agricultural land of not less than 1 ha, which is committed to the implementation of organic farming for a period of five years and compliance with the requirements of the individual packages/organic variants.

Objective 4 -Increase productivity and competitiveness of the agri-food sector
The full amount of the payment ( Table 7) get farmers with holdings up to 50 hectares, and over 50 ha value of the subsidy is reduced to 75 %, and the owners of more than 100 ha receive 60 % of the basic amount. Thus introduced degressivity results from the study, according to which, together with the increase in area of the farm, they reduce the fixed costs and certain transaction costs (e. g. depreciation of newly acquired specialized machinery, hire specialized machinery, the purchase of specialized means of production).

Summary
Organic farming in the European Union, including Poland, is still a small percentage, but there is a noticeable upward trend, although mainly in the countries of the so-called old Union (EU-15). At the same time, according to Eurostat, taking into account the average size of farms, organic farms in the European Union are larger than conventional farms, as well as the average age of organic farmers is lower.
Polish organic farming has a good basis for further development, and the European Union as a whole excels in statements relating to organic production, area of organic farmland and organic food sales. The reasons for this state of affairs include: the growing domestic demand for organic food, common regulations concerning the production and organic food, and thus the specific requirements of organic farming and related determinations [21].
As a result, EU policy in the field of organic farming impacted on national legislation and further financial support from the EU budget is an important impetus for converting conventional farms to organic, and to maintain existing of such farms. Unfortunately, the Action plan for the future of organic farming in the European Union from 2014 year does not include the transformation of the general goals into specific objectives and well-defined plan for their implementation.