CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF DEFENSE AGRICULTURE: SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL IN AREAS RURAL

Santrauka

Critical infrastructure located in rural areas plays a fundamental role in ensuring agricultural continuity, food security, and the socio-economic stability of the state. Contemporary rural infrastructure faces increasing pressure from complex and interrelated threats, including cyberattacks, climate-induced disasters, hybrid threats, supply-chain disruptions, and limited technological and financial resources. These challenges are particularly acute in Poland, where a significant share of strategic infrastructure supporting agriculture is dispersed across rural regions. The article aims to identify the key challenges associated with protecting agricultural critical infrastructure in rural areas and to propose strategic solutions that enhance its resilience and long-term security. The study is based on a critical analysis of domestic and international literature, legal regulations, security strategies, and policy documents related to critical infrastructure protection. The analysis reveals significant gaps in existing regulatory frameworks and management practices, especially in addressing the specific conditions of rural areas. The findings emphasize the necessity of integrated risk management, cybersecurity development, public – private partnerships, and active involvement of local communities. The article proposes systemic, organizational, and technological measures to strengthen resilience, reduce cascading failures, and improve crisis response capabilities. The results contribute to ongoing research on critical infrastructure protection by highlighting the rural dimension, which remains underrepresented in existing studies, and by offering practical recommendations for policymakers and security practitioners.