Models of farms in spatial terms in sustainable and multifunctional development of rural areas in Poland

Abstract The study aimed primarily to develop spatial farm models in sustainable and multifunctional development of rural areas. The secondary objective was to define the matrix of possible farm models, visualize their dislocation, and recommend multifunctional rural development. It was assumed that the types of model farms depend on the criteria that make it possible to assess the agricultural development potential and the size of agricultural production. Thus, it was assumed that agricultural production conditions influence the farm model but are not always of crucial importance. There are many possibilities for developing various production activities that are not strictly related to agricultural production conditions. The research was carried out with the GIS tool using multi‐criteria and spatial analysis techniques. The research made it possible to determine the models of farms in the rural areas in a specific region, however, the proposed model is suitable for use in other regions or countries.