Bioeconomy related perspectives for boosting agriculture development in Romania

Abstract

Situated at the crossroads between several sectors, from biology, biochemistry, agronomy, management and economy to technology, the bioeconomy represents all uses of bio-resources, whether they come from agricultural land, sea, forest or waste materials. The current bioeconomy strategy of European Union identifies agriculture as one of the sectors mainly supplying biomass. In the last decades, agriculture was constantly transforming towards a knowledge intensive sector. Being almost entirely the physical support for agriculture, the rural regions are expected to become a key player in the development of the bioeconomy activities of the near future. In the modern biobased economies, the rural regions represent more than just a source of raw materials to bioeconomy industries. Future opportunities for the development of the agricultural sector in Romania, thus boosting rural development were identified by conducting a SWOT analysis of the domain through agriculture development.

The Contribution of the Agricultural Labour Force in Romania to the Sector’s Economic Performance

“…This observation highlights a gap in the current debate, neglecting the synergistic potential of investing in both technology and employee skill development to maximise economic outcomes and improve performance within the industry [9,10]. Despite changes in the economy, agriculture continues to play a vital role in Romania's economy, making a significant contribution to the country's gross domestic product and providing essential food and resources for the population [11][12][13]. The Government of Romania and the agricultural industry are working together to support and attract young people to join the industry through technology and infrastructure investment programmes and initiatives, as well as the provision of training and education in the field [14,15].…”

Bioeconomy in Romania: Investigating Farmers’ Knowledge

“…In the framework of the 2018 Strategy, the EC identifies the main role of agriculture in the development of the bioeconomy as the supplier of raw materials for biomass production [8][9][10]. On the other hand, other researchers believe that agriculture can contribute to the development of the bioeconomy by its ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change, achieve sustainable farming systems, and use efficient and clean technologies [11,12].…”