Marketization of rural resources in Poland

The collapse of the communist system and the process of transformation process changed macro-social and institutional environment of rural communities in Poland. Market economy and democracy opened new prospects for rural communities and farmers. Sociological research proofs that farmers tend to be victims of the changes rather than winners. Rural transformation in Poland could be perceived in terms of the process of marketization of local resources and desagrarisation of rural space. Multifunctional agriculture produces market products and public goods which could be also commodified. Factors of rural space desagrarisation and development of its new functions are discussed. Rural space is becoming a space of consumption, which enables transforming its material and cultural heritage into market products. Factors supporting marketization of rural resources in Poland include: CAP reform, rural and agriculture development policy, governance in production and consumption of food. Differentiation of rural economy enables capitalization of local social and cultural resources and using them in diverse local development strategies