Agricultural policy in Poland supports the functioning of numerous types of agriculture, including the model-based one: traditional, industrial, environmental, induced development and sustainable growth. The CAP objectives and mechanisms, as well as individual characteristics of Polish agriculture indicate that in the long run its pattern should be based on the dual model. Certain farms, while maintaining the basic requirements of environmental protection, should implement production methods ensuring high economic viability (industrial agriculture); other farms should base their development on methods more ecosystem-friendly, which enable the use of the environmental and social and cultural assets at hand (sustainable agriculture). This article defines the most important development stages of global agriculture, indicates the connection between the necessity of State’s intervention-based policy and sustainable development, presents selected characteristics of Polish agriculture with an analysis of the most important effects of implementing the CAP and illustrates the conclusions concerning the shape of the future long-term agricultural policy in Poland.