Sustainability and Competitiveness of Romanian Farms through Organic Agriculture

Abstract

Currently, the development of any sector involves respecting the principles of sustainability, which means economic, social and environmental development. Moreover, organic farming is a very important field for ensuring sustainable development. Romania has great potential for the development of organic agriculture, especially due to the large number of available farmland and reduced use of fertilizers and other chemicals. However, the development of organic farming in Romania is in an early stage, due to the numerous problems that Romanian agriculture is still facing. Concern for the environment should be reflected at the level of production processes and consumption. As market demand influences and stimulates production, we can ask the question to what extent stimulating the consumption of organic products through green marketing can boost organic agriculture development and competitiveness of Romanian farms. Using several methods of research, such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, statistical methods and by calling on studies, reports and data series on organic farming in the EU and Romania, this paper highlights Romania's position in terms of the level of development of organic agriculture and recommends several ways to improve the outcomes obtained by Romania in the field. Moreover, based on regression equations, the trend of convergence of Romanian organic agriculture development in relation to the EU countries is analysed. The paper demonstrates that one of the measures that can be taken by Romanian farms is green marketing strategy development that can stimulate both consumption and production of organic products. Therefore, with increasing interest in the development of organic agriculture in Romania, green marketing can play an increasingly important role in promoting the benefits of consuming organic products, thus contributing to business development of organic products as well as to the development of Romanian agriculture. Promoting organic agriculture through the use of green marketing techniques is useful for improving human, environmental and economic health, in the context of sustainable development.

Assessing Impacts of CAP Subsidies on Financial Performance of Enterprises in Slovak Republic

“…In order for the CAP to respond to new challenges, it is necessary to carry out reliable measurements and assessments of the economic development of European agriculture and to assess the impact of the policy on this development, particularly in the context of the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The concept of sustainability in agriculture has been analyzed in many scientific studies; the major approaches for assessing sustainability of farming enterprises have been discussed by Guth and Smędzik-Ambroży [12], Bachev [13], Aceleanu [14], Št'astná et al [15], El Bilali [16], Agovino et al [17], Czyzewski et al [18], Gaillard [19], Bachev [20], Slatmo et al [21], Mwambo and Furst [22], and others. The question of justice between generations in using exhaustible resources, intergenerational equity, and the theory of sustainable growth was also answered by Solow [23], Hartwick [24], and Common and Perrings [25].…”

Economic and Social Sustainability through Organic Agriculture: Study of the Restructuring of the Citrus Sector in the “Bajo Andarax” District (Spain)

“…The ability of any sector to support a defined level of development is directly linked to the fulfillment of the principles of sustainability [1]. Sustainability is a three-dimensional concept that encompasses economic, environmental, and social aspects [2].…”

“…Despite the fact that the desire for sustainable agriculture is universal [11], there is no consensus on how to achieve such an ambitious goal [12]. Organic farming has been considered in prior research as an important means to ensure sustainable development [1]. In this context, organic farming is viewed as a means to produce food through the integration of cultural, biological, and mechanical practices aimed at preserving natural resources, biodiversity, animal welfare, and Most villages in this district enjoy limited options for economic growth, have a very aged population, and suffer from high unemployment rates [6].…”

Research on Food Behavior in Romania from the Perspective of Supporting Healthy Eating Habits

“…Regarding the food products with eco-friendly characteristics and certifications, many studies have proven a high interest of consumers, the main reason being the fact that they provide a high amount of nutrients with positive impact over health, first contributing to the fortification of the immune system and to the reducing of risk for food allergies or NCDRDs [46][47][48][49]. The consumers' awareness of the nutritional and sanogenetic benefits of the ecological foods lead to the consolidation of their favorable image and to the expanding of the eco trend [50].…”