EN
The activity of agricultural research institutes, called also "research and development centers" is regulated by a legislation act passed by Polish Parliament on 25 July 1985 (DzU 91.44.194). These are supervised by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. To institutes, which statutory activity encompasses also plant breeding and seed production, belong the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute at Radzików, the Institute of Pomology and Floriculture at Skierniewice, the Institute of Vegetable Crops at Skierniewice, the Institute of Soil Science and Cultivation at Puławy, the Institute of Herbs at Poznań, and the Institute of Natural Fibres at Poznań. The institutes are responsible for research, prebreeding, practical breeding and cultivation technology of field, ornamental, vegetable and industrial crops and agricultural extension. They are considered as a link between the fundamental science and research done at agricultural universities and institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences and practical agriculture, plant breeding and seed production. The agricultural research institutes have been established in early 1950's to support scientifically Polish agricultural production. In recent years the institutes undergo a transformation process from the former socialistic economy into the presently employed free market economy. It is expected that, at least some of agricultural institutes will be transformed into state research institutes, which will be funded from the state budget. The transformation process is a complex one and, if implemented erroneously, may lead not only to a loss of past achievements but also adversely affect the future development of the institutes, plant breeding and the whole agriculture. The paper deals with the achievements and threats related to the process, which undergoes Polish plant breeding, seed production and scientific research done on the latter fields of agricultural activity.