Analysis of food security in Poland in relation to sustainable development of agricultural production

The objective of the article is to define food security and the means of measuring it and to analyze the state of agricultural production and food self-sufficiency in Poland. The country currently ranks 60th in the world and fifth in the European Union in agricultural land area. The balance of trade in agri-food products in 2010-2014 was negative, i.e. imports dominated over exports, despite a considerable surplus in the production of commodities such as milk, poultry meat, beef, vegetables and fruits (particularly apples). Pork production was insufficient; Poland imported in order to meet demand. In 2015, Poland has achieved a positive balance of foreign trade. Nevertheless, in 2010-2015 Poland was predominantly food self-sufficient, as evidenced by the volume of production and consumption of certain agricultural products. Economic access to food, defined as the proportion of expenditures for food and non-alcoholic drinks in total consumer spending, remained stable. There are, however, population groups in Poland which are unable to afford a meal with red meat, poultry or fish every other day. This deprivation in Polish households affected on average 17.7% to 6.75% of families in the years 2008-2016.