Sustainability of farms of various production types: economic and environmental assessment – evidence from Poland and Lithuania

A farm plays the role of both a custodian of natural resources and a workplace. They are responsible for the quality of food produced and, on the other hand, for the standard of living of the farming family and the quality of the environment. The aim of the study is to examine the relationships between ecological and economic indicators at the farm level of various production types in Poland and Lithuania. The research covered farms participating in the FADN for the years 2015-2022. The results obtained from the analysis showed interdependencies between the parameters studied. Milk farms successfully implemented the economic goal, which is usually associated with a high environmental impact of production factors. In fieldcrops farms, degradation of organic matter and lack of ability to reproduce assets were observed. Differences between Lithuanian and Polish farms are visible in the economic and ecological results. Traditionally formed property rights cause Polish farmers to take measures to protect agricultural land economic goals. The situation was different in Lithuanian farms. They were mainly described by economic indicators. This can be explained by the fact that Lithuanian farms are still at the stage of organising themselves and care more about economic effects, but they have difficulties in implementing environmental requirements.