Wsparcie konkurencyjności przedsiębiorstw przemysłu spożywczego w Polsce. Ocena roli środków inwestycyjnych Programu Rozwoju Obszarów Wiejskich na lata 2014–2020

The article examines the role of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 investment funds in shaping the capabilities of the Polish agri-food processing industry to enhance its competitive advantages under new conditions dictated by the necessity of transitioning towards more sustainable production systems. The research is based on data from 783 agri-food processing enterprises that benefited from the 2014–2020 RDP support. The scope and directions of support offered during the previous programming period, public funding allocated to enterprises within individual sectors, strategies and investment priorities of the entities covered by the support, as well as the planned and achieved results across crucial areas have been scrutinised. The findings indicate that the RDP funds were effective in enhancing short-term competitiveness, primarily through modernising equipment and updating machine parks, which in turn expanded production potential. However, the role of these funds in facilitating the transition from traditional competitive strategies to more sustainable and innovative approaches was not as profound as required. Insufficient efforts were directed towards building a robust foundation to address growing climate, environmental, and socio-economic challenges, which is crucial for developing new competitive edges. Furthermore, in the group of enterprises studied, no material actions or investments were identified that would prepare companies for bolstering competitiveness through digital transformation. This suggests a pressing need for revisions in public support programmes designed for the agri-food sector enterprises in Poland.