EN
Ecological farming, as opposed in its operation to the principles of the conventional agricultural production, fulfils the fundamental functions related to sustainable development, such as: preservation of the definite quality of the environment, rational economy of natural resources, and ensuring the desired health status of the population. Ecological farming triggers also undertaking of the pro-ecological economic activities, including, in particular, establishment of small food processing plants or the development of agritourism. Ecological forms display certain specific features in social and property terms, as well as in terms of organization and technology, and production itself. The economic functions of ecological farms are subordinated to the ecological functions. This fact results from the prerequisites of ecological farming. That is why the regions endowed with the especially highly valuable natural environment, including national and landscape parks and their protection zones, provide particularly adequate perspectives for the development of the ecological farming in Poland. Until now, though, location of ecological forms has not always coincided with the areas of high environmental qualities. The spatial distribution of ecological forms in Poland is namely also influenced significantly by such foctors as the ecological awareness of the inhabitants of a given region, access to information and to innovations, as well as the emerging market for ecological food products.