EN
Ecological agriculture, thanks to the methods it uses, also fulfills three important functions: favorably influences the natural environment, provides ecological food which is produced without chemicals and affects the economic status of owners of ecological farms. The aims of this paper consist of the identification of the development potential of ecological farms located within the Podlasie Voivodeship in comparison to other regions of the country as well as the determination of the main conditions affecting their development. The Podlasie Voivodeship is second in Poland in respect to the number of ecological farms (following the Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship) and fourth in regard to the share of land used for ecological farming (after Zachodniopomorskie, Lubuskie and Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship). Our analysis considers selected legal, organizational, economic, production, environmental and social conditions. In respect to the economic conditions very noticeable are the low sales of ecological products and high interest in EU subsidies.