Improvement of Organic Farm Assessment Procedures on the Example of Organic Farming in Poland—Recommendations for Organic Farming in Poland

Abstract

Organic farming is an agricultural production system that combines tradition, innovation, and science to provide high-quality food, benefit the shared environment, and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved. It is a subject of certification (i.e., issuing a declaration by a third party) based on a decision preceded by a review that compliance with specified requirements has been demonstrated in relation to products, processes, systems, or persons. As a result, organic food is created. The aim of the article was to conduct a critical analysis of the procedures and practices for the evaluation of organic farms carried out by Polish certification bodies and to identify areas for their improvement. The presented results are the effect of qualitative research based on in-depth interviews with the representatives of organic farms certifiers. They were preceded by preparatory research, in which the Delphi method was used. The questioned units in total provide services to approximately 50% of organic producers in Poland and each of them have at least 10 years of experience in the certification of organic farms. Specific areas of improvement in the process of evaluation of organic farms were identified and briefly discussed. As a result, the authors also formulated appropriate recommendations for improvement in the identified areas. Implementation of these recommendations would make it possible to standardize the activities of individual certification bodies and increases the transparency and credibility of the organic farming control system in Poland. Consequently, such implementation has the potential to increase consumer confidence in organic food.