Polish FSDN – Farm Sustainability Data Network

From 2025, the existing EU Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) has been transformed into the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN). This change is a result of an obligation imposed on all EU Member States, and it aims to expand the scope of data collected to include environmental and social aspects, in addition to the existing economic and production data.

The FSDN operates in all 27 EU Member States and enables: monitoring of the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), assessment of its impact on the agricultural sector, and analysis of the sustainability of farms in three dimensions: economic, environmental and social.

In Poland, this system is known as the Polish FSDN, which is part of the European FSDN network and is responsible for the annual collection of data from a representative sample of agricultural holdings. Its operation is based on the Act of 7 March 2025 on the on the European Union Farm Sustainability Data Network (Journal of Laws 2025, item 368).

The Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute, acting as the Liaison Agency, is responsible for implementing the tasks of the Polish FSDN. Previously responsible for implementing tasks within the FADN system, the Institute continues its activities in a new area (FSDN). Its tasks include collecting and analysing data from agricultural holdings, determining their annual income, assessing the situation in agriculture and on agricultural markets, and supporting data-based agricultural policy.

The data from the Polish FSDN is used, among others, by Polish decision-making bodies, public institutions, agricultural organisations, the scientific and research community, advisors and farmers themselves. Each farmer who participates in the Polish FSDN receives an Individual Farm Report, as well as a Comparative Report and a Dynamic Report via their advisor.

The Polish FSDN comprises of 9 000 farms, representing over 465 000 farms under observation. This means that, on average, one farm in the sample represents 52 others. Participation in the system is voluntary, and data is collected anonymously in accordance with GDPR regulations.

The FSDN survey covers both individual farms and farms owned by legal entities, such as private limited companies and cooperatives. Each farm is described in detail using a set of approximately 2 200 variables, which allows for a comprehensive analysis of its activities.

Depending on the legal form of the farm and the obligations arising from the Accounting Act, different forms are used to collect data for the FSDN. Individual holdings use a set of instructions and accounting books, whereas legal entities fill in a special questionnaire, the so-called BDGR form (Farm Income Survey).

All information concerning the Polish FSDN, materials and products of the Polish FSDN are available on the website

www.fsdn.pl