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The food industry is becoming more customer-centric and requires faster reaction times in order to manage food crises and catastrophes. Effective traceability systems reduce the risk of negative publicity, litigation, and recalls by preventing the creation and sale of dangerous or inferior items. The current system of food labeling is unable to ensure that food is genuine, of good quality, and safe. As a result, traceability is used to help ensure food safety and quality while also increasing customer confidence. Food safety has elevated to a global priority in recent decades. Food safety concerns consumers, producers, and regulatory authorities all, and traceability systems are crucial in resolving these challenges. As a result, several techniques for maintaining proper traceability in the food industry have been devised. Document-based systems, information and communication technologies, alphanumerical codes, barcodes, holograms, radio-frequency identification, nuclear processes, and nanotechnology are all covered in depth in this article. Immunoassays, DNA polymerase chain reaction, omics, and isotope ratio analysis are among the primary approaches for food traceability analysis covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural communities face significant challenges, mostly because of globalization, demographic change, and rural-to-urban migration. Rural farmers make up a large portion of the population in every developing country, including The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). When rural farmers lack access to knowledge, general services, early warning systems (drought, pests, diseases, etc.), improved seedlings, fertilizer, agricultural equipment, credit, market prices, and information that would help them achieve the maximum agricultural yield, they are not only left in the dark but are forced to seek formal employment in urban areas. In KRI, over 90% of water is used for irrigation, and more than a quarter of irrigation withdrawals are deemed unsustainable. Climate changes all have an impact on water availability. Significant agricultural output is reliant on surface water, groundwater, or a mix of the two for irrigation. Over the last 20 years, a growing body of literature has examined the lack of agricultural water policy and a competent agricultural extension program has resulted in many difficulties in terms of water scarcity and the migration of rural people to urban areas in Sulaimani Governorate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of fruit and vegetables is essential for a healthy lifestyle and preventing many diseases. Still, in Romania the consumption is very low compared to the countries of the European Union. The main aim of the research was to determine the consumer behavior of local fruit and vegetables for the urban consumers in Cluj-Napoca. A study was conducted using the questionnaire. Result indicated that consumers purchase fruit and vegetables 2-3 times per week, and most of them spend between 50-80 lei per week for this food category. The most preferred place of purchase is the farmers markets and the local origin is a very important criterion during the decision-making process of purchase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the impact of training on the productivity of beekeepers in Sulaimani City, Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq. Data for the paper was collected from questionnaire surveys from April until August 2019. The sample size was of 82 beekeepers, but in the end 54 questionnaires were validated. Data analysis was conducted by using standard statistical and economic processes. The study revealed that training plays a vital role in enhancing the productivity of the beekeepers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous knowledge of traditional food can have high potential and a major role in achieving a sustainable food security system. Rural women usually have responsibility in securing household food security by applying their indigenous knowledge of food processing and preservation. This study was conducted in Shahrazor plain, which is a culturally and historically rich area in Kurdistan region of Iraq, to investigate Kurdish rural women's indigenous knowledge of food processing and preservation and their role in achieving and sustaining household food security. The data in this study showed that 100% of the respondents still apply their indigenous knowledge of traditional food processing and preservation methods depend on the availability of the needed resources and family members or market demand on these foods. Generally, most of the respondents are making some specific foods especially dairy products such as Masti Kurdi (Kurdish Yogurt) 72.89%, Paniri Kurdi (Kurdish Cheese) 37.35% and Dou (a sour yogurt-based beverage) 34.94%; and processing cereal grains such as Sawar 37.95%. Despite the fact that, Kurdish women still practice their indigenous knowledge of food processing and preservation but there are some ancient foods which are less practiced by the Kurdish women household, particularly fermented food and sundry food. Women in rural areas of Kurdistan region has a wide indigenous knowledge of food processing and preservation which offer a number of traditional Kurdish food products and a big contribution to improving food security in the region, sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giving the high number of semi-subsistence farms in Romania, Measure 141 "Supporting semi-subsistence farms" under the National Rural Development Program 2007-2013 was designed to transform them in commercial farms. The main objective of the research was to find out how the financial support received was used by the farmers in Alba County, in the last year of the project and to what extent the financial support was a real help. Results indicated that generally it was, but farmers are not yet prepared to meet customer's requirements and cannot face big producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism activity increased during the last years, especially in the developing countries, represeting an important source of income. Kurdistan Regional Government has a high touristic potential due to its unique tourist sites. The aim of this research was to identify the entrepreneurial intention of rural residents to invest in tourism. The method used was the survey based on questionnaire. The data were collected from 320 respondents and analyzed using descriptive statistics Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test. The findings indicate that rural residents with lower level of education and eldery are more interested to become entrepreneur. The main motivational factors to start up a business are: need of additional income, self-asseration, and self-dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]