Challenges and problems of agricultural land use changes according to territorial planning documents: case of Poland and Ukraine

Soil is a non-renewable natural resource that provides essential ecosystem services for life, playing a crucial role in the environment, economy, and society. In turn, uncontrolled urban development stands out as one of the primary threats to sustainable territorial development and food security. Therefore, ensuring synergy between practical, effective soil protection (especially for high-quality soils) and spatial planning systems is crucial. The main goal of this article is to propose a universal concept that prioritises agricultural land protection in spatial planning systems in Poland and Ukraine. This goal was achieved based on specific objectives: (i) assessment of soil potential; (ii) comparative analysis of legal conditions for agricultural land protection; and (iii) critical comparative analysis of agricultural land protection procedures in spatial planning systems. The proposed concept guarantees the spatial demarcation of land boundaries of particularly valuable agricultural land and their preservation for sustainable use in the future.