Designing agri-environmental measures for maximal environmental benefit: Linear Programming approach for Poland

Abstract

The main objective of the paper is to investigate how to design agri-environmental measures in Poland in order to maximise the environmental benefit. The investigation is based on the results of a case study conducted in the voivodship Subcarpathia in Poland and interviews with regional agricultural experts. We use two methodical approaches: Analytic Hierarchy Approach (AHP) to estimate the importance of agri-environmental measures with regard to environmental objectives and a Linear Programming (LP) approach to calculate an objective-oriented budget allocation for agri-environmental measures as well as different financing scenarios by changing economic and environmental conditions. The findings of the research can be helpful in political decision-making processes to design the agri-environmental policy in Poland more effectively and environment-oriented in future.