The purpose of doing business in agriculture is to achieve the best possible economic effect with the available factors of production. Production factors, which are determined by their quantity and quality, create a definite production potential. Socio-economic transformations that took place in Poland in the period of EU membership caused a number of structural changes in the resources and distribution of production factors in agriculture. As compared to other sectors of the economy the changes in the agricultural sector seem relatively the most significant ones. The main objective of the study is an analysis of some effects of the common agricultural policy implementation in Poland. The presented material includes presentation of the importance the direct payments in agriculture in the regional perspective, the effectiveness of regional and structural policy instruments affecting the development of entrepreneurship and the potential changes in the distribution of public funds in the field of pillar I of the CAP after 2013. In the conclusion the authors present the long-term objectives of the Polish agricultural policy, the state and perspectives concerning the EU funds distribution between selected objectives, territorial dimension of intervention and challenges related to the competitiveness and innovations.

Theoretical grounds for the use of the public policies. Influence of global factors on the Polish food economy. Changes in the Polish agriculture after the accession to the EU. The effects of the CAP for the food industry. Agricultural land as a production factor for non-agricultural sectors of Polish economy. The evaluation of chances to achieve long-term goals of agriculture and rural areas development based on the new CAP instruments for the period until 2020.

The main goal of the 'Competitiveness of agro-food and environmental economy' (CAFEE'12), was to debate new ideas contained in scientifically research in the field of rural development, agro-food economy, agro-food system, ecological performance etc. carried out by academicians, scientists and professionals. The Conference was held in November 8-10, 2012, to the Faculty of Agro-food and Environmental Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania. The conference proceedings volume includes all the draft papers accepted and published in the proceedings of The 1st International Conference 'Competitiveness of agro-food and Environmental economy' (CAFEE'12), organized by Faculty of Agro-Food and Environmental Economics and Research Center of Regional Analysis and Policies from The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, in partnership with Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, National Research Institute, Poland, St James's Business School(UK), University of Verona - Italy, Institute of Agricultural Economics - Serbia, Faculty of Agriculture Zemun - Serbia, Institute of Agricultural Economics, Romanian Academy, Institute of Research for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences - Romania and Faculty of Economic Sciences, Petroleum and Gas University of Ploiesti Romania.