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Vol. 81 No. 1 (2026)

Articles

State purchasing policy as a tool for ensuring food security: The case of Poland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326.5623
Submitted: October 13, 2025
Published: 27.03.2026

Abstract

Food security and a healthy, sustainable nutrition system are among the key challenges facing the European
Union and align with the sustainable development goals specified in the 2030 Agenda. Public procurement
policy plays an important role in setting standards for the types of food necessary to achieve a healthy and sustainable
diet under various conditions. This study aims to introduce the concept of food security, assess Poland’s
position in comparison with selected European Union countries in relation to key components of food security,
and indicate the role of state purchasing policy in shaping food security. This study used indicator analysis based
on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). It also considers the value of the Polish public procurement market
for food supplies in 2014–2023. The research showed that Poland’s position in terms of food security remains
relatively stable, although it still faces challenges related to the resilience of the food system (21st position among
113 countries). The state’s purchasing policy, especially in the area of public procurement for food, can be an
important tool for supporting national agricultural production, shortening supply chains, and ensuring universal
access to high-quality food. Research findings indicate that there was a marked increase in the value of public food
supply contracts in 2022 and 2023.

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