Paper short abstract:

The aim of this paper is to identify legal barriers to the development of organic farming by analyzing the EU regulations constituting the Common Agricultural Policy 2014-2020 and Polish supplementing acts including those that aim to develop the short supply chains of organic food.

Paper long abstract:

The 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy for the 2014-2020 period aimed to be a flagship initiative for the delivery of more environmental and climate friendly agriculture. To achieve its environmental goals, the EU uses key instruments of Pillars 1 and 2 to provide more public goods from EU agriculture. Organic farming is recognized under both instruments in terms of its contribution to public goods. Organic farming responds also to specific consumer demand for high quality food production. Organic farms tend to grow a wider range of crops, often those that are high in micronutrients. Organic management techniques are often highly appropriate technology for small farms and farms with more labor equity than cash to spend on off-farm inputs, making organic farming knowledge a powerful tool to help small farmers succeed and boost their yields.

However, there are still significant legal barriers that discourage farmers from conversion to organic farming. Those barriers could be divided into three main issues:

1. The problems concerning meeting the demands of organic production in the light of European law

2. Is the financial support for organic farming in CAP 2014-2020 sufficient for making organic farming an attractive alternative for farmers?

3. The legal problems of developing short supply chains so as to enable consumers to buy organic food at a reasonable price.

The aim of the paper is to discuss the above-mentioned issues.