Abstract
Organic farming in Poland has been developing dynamically since the accession to the EU. However, there are considerable differences in the level of organic farming development in particular regions. Therefore, it is vital to identify the primary factors and conditions for this development and their importance considering their spatial distribution. The presented paper aims to estimate the relationships between the level of organic agriculture development and selected conditions of financial and environmental character. The investigation is based on primary data for 2017 retrieved from the Local Data Bank of the Main Statistical Office and Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection database for all Poland districts. In order to achieve this objective, a multivariate statistical analysis method—the canonical correlation was applied. The analysis was preceded by constructing the composite indices of organic agriculture development and its conditions based on a Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method and correlation analysis between the indices developed by the authors. The performed canonical analysis showed two statistically significant canonical variables with relatively high values of the canonical correlation (0.74 and 0.59). It proves that the degree of explaining the variability of one set of variables through linear relationships (referring to the level of organic farming development), by the second input data set (describing the determinants of the development), by successive pairs of canonical variables is high. This means that the created model describes relatively well the considered data sets.
Highlights
The dynamic development of organic agriculture in Europe, observed for several decades, deserves special attention among new food economy occurrences
The canonical correlation was preceded by constructing the composite indices of organic agriculture development and its conditions based on a Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method and correlation analysis between the indices developed by the authors
While analyzing the level of organic agriculture development and conditions for this development in districts, it is necessary to compare several research objects described using the numerous set of variables; it is difficult to express the level of these occurrences with only one feature
Summary
The dynamic development of organic agriculture in Europe, observed for several decades, deserves special attention among new food economy occurrences. The reasons for this phenomenon may be found in the growing chemization of non-organic agriculture and food processing, followed by the increase of consumers’ health and environmental awareness [1,2]. Organic farming is believed to have the potential to solve particular contemporary problems by bringing benefits in environmental protection and preserving non-renewable resources. It contributes to increasing food quality, reducing surplus goods production, and reorienting agriculture toward places where the market demand occurs [3].
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