The paper points out that the long-term programmes carried out by research institutes being under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are focused on both analysing the current status of sustainable agriculture in Poland and supporting its development. The assumptions and goals of the three following long-term programmes implemented by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation-State Research Institute in Puławy in relation to present changes of the Common Agricultural Policy and widely-accepted priorities of social progress were described. The paper has proved that longterm programmes promote professional links between the scientific communities and lead to establish cooperation between the science and advisory services responsible for transferring research findings into practice. Additionally, it was revealed that the outcomes of long-term programmes offer strong support for The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as for national and local authorities.