Organization of agricultural production activities within the cluster

In recent programs of socio – economic development of the European Union the issue of the organization of modern and innovative forms of economic cooperation, such as clusters gained special meaning. In literature, the term cluster is usually defined as a geographic cluster of interrelated companies, specialized suppliers, service providers, firms in related sectors associated with them institutions, in particular fields that compete and also cooperate with each other. Expanding cooperation within the so–formed network and implementing scientific institutions, local and regional authorities and other support organizations located in a certain proximity, allow to expand the sphere of influence, improve information flow, business operations and marketing, coordinate directions of change and development, resulting in improved competitiveness and innovativeness of the business in a particular region. And these are the assumptions that are the essence of the European concept of the cluster as an innovative form of economic cooperation. The issue of rural clusters is discussed much less frequently than issues related to industrial clusters. Recent objective to improve the competitiveness and rural development policies adopted by the European Union in WPR to 2020: cope with future challenges related to food, natural resources and territorial aspects, involve improving the competitiveness and innovation activities through the creation and promotion of projects jointly implemented, including those fulfilled within clusters. In the Polish economic realities the development of clusters in rural areas faces a far–reaching difficulties. The essential difficulties result from the lack of tradition and willingness to cooperate among agricultural producers as well as producers and other subjects of agri – food market. Even more far–reaching are the legal uncertainties, which are concentrated in three areas. First, whether agricultural activity may be regarded as innovative activity. Second, whether on the basis of existing rules can agricultural entrepreneurs be regarded as producers and their manufacturing activity as a business activity, according to the requirements of forming a cluster and can agricultural producers benefit from financial assistance under the program of Innovative Economy. And thirdly, you should consider the importance of agricultural producer groups and their organizations in the creation and functioning of clusters associated with the agri – food production.Uniwersytet Marii Curie–Skłodowskiej w Lublinie925727