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Food loss ans waste, referred next as FLW, has a great extent on the economic and behavioural patterns of consumption. In this paper, we aim to present statistical univariate and multivariate analyses based on a statistical study run during a period of several months in the Romanian territory. In this matter, the main purpose of the analysis developed in this paper is to determine several patterns of FLW phenomenon. This is made based on a methodology which comprises two main sections: the univariate analysis, consisting in statistical determinations of indicators and direct observation, and the multivariate analysis, related to the clustering analysis. The clustering analysis is based on the usage of hierarchical method, which has as final result the determination of clusters describing patterns of consumption related to food loss and waste. After the analysis was run, five main clusters related to food waste behaviour patterns were determined, with slight differences between food consumption habits, but with various combinations between the parameters taken into consideration. The obtained clusters offer important information for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to customize interventions and programs to target specific demographic groups or segments of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses a very topical issue, climate changes, increasingly present recently, with negative effects on our entire existence, with repercussions on agriculture and the way food is produced in general. In the last decade, climate changes have been increasingly present and adapting to these changes is essential. In this paper, two crops, barley and alfalfa are presented, and how these climate changes produced in the Sânnicolau Mare area during 2020-2022 had negative effects on the soils and, above all, on the production of barley and the number of mows in alfalfa. In the elaboration of the paper, the bibliographic study was combined with a series of laboratory analyses regarding the properties of the two types of soil identified. The idea was developed on the basis that we monitored the annual thermal and pluviometric regimes impact on crops and on soil evolution, through their distribution and through the specific adaptability of the plants to risk conditions in a short period of time. These climatic changes are obvious not only from one year or from one season to another: they appear within the same locality bringing obvious changes in terms of the amount of precipitation in a certain area of that locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of university education in providing access to the labour market (employment) is reflected in increased employment opportunities for the educated population. The relationship between the unemployment rate and educational attainment is evident: the unemployment rate decreases as one moves from lower to higher levels of education. It can be seen that the unemployment rate, in terms of its size and dynamics, is inversely proportional to the level of education: it falls as the level of education rises, and vice versa. The aim of the research in this paper is to respond to the need to teach students with practical solutions for getting the skills needed to be easily employable in the labour market after graduation. The paper used a quantitative (questionnaire) and a qualitative (bibliometric) analysis. The data studied through the research shows the need for final-year students to receive additional practical skills training for employability. Entrepreneurship education, in addition to the university curriculum, can provide them with a viable alternative to increase their chances of integrating into the 21st century labour market. The innovative character of the work derives from the concrete practical activities that supported the optional entrepreneurial training of IULS students from Iasi. We can affirm, following the study undertaken, that the development of such additional and adapted educational activities increases young graduates' practical skills needed on the labour market. The access to non-reimbursable European funds, which offer additional educational opportunities to students, must be continued in order to produce the major economic effects expected by the whole Romanian society, with the aim of reducing youth unemployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the market value for the agricultural properties - agricultural lands located within the Casimcea Administrative Territorial Unit (UAT), Tulcea county, Romania. What was analyzed is the fact that a well-executed market analysis can help a lot in the evaluation process. Thus, after choosing the case study, the exact identification of the agricultural land was made. The next stage was the realization of the market analysis. Thus, the current state of agricultural land transactions was analyzed at the European, national and local level. The actual evaluation of the land was done through the market approach and all the adjustments were explained in the content of this paper. The results revealed the fact that the final market value falls within the range found following the market analysis. The analysis is carried out also at the processing level, the results indicating also a quite high coefficient of variation. This paper has achieved its goal, that is to see the impact that the market analysis has in determining the market value of an agricultural land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the quality of research management of students in agricultural universities of Ukraine using benchmarking. The external evaluation of agricultural higher education institutions (HEIs) of Ukraine was conducted on the basis of the data of the State Scientific Institution "Institute of education content modernization" and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine regarding the results of the All-Ukrainian competition of student scientific papers in the fields of knowledge and specialties in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic years. The leaders according to the results of participation in the II round of the competition in the analyzed period were 9 HEIs: Mykolaiv National Agrarian University (NAU), National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv Petro Vasylenko National Technical University of Agriculture, Lviv NAU, Sumy NAU, Vinnytsia NAU, Poltava State Agrarian Academy, Kharkiv NAU named after V. V. Dokuchayev, Polissia National University. They annually had more than 10 winners of the competition of various degrees. Other agricultural HEIs of Ukraine should focus on their indicators in order to improve the quality of research management of students. The obtained results enable agricultural universities not only to determine the leaders based on the number of works awarded with I, II or III degree diplomas in the All-Ukrainian competition, but also to evaluate, compared to them, their strengths and weaknesses; to get new ideas for research management of students; to plan further scientific activities taking into account the indicators of HEIs-leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the possibility of transport development as a factor for the rural integration of a population of over 100,000 using the example of the city of Stara Zagora in Bulgaria. The analysis showed that improving the access of the rural population to the agglomeration areas can be done through the combination of inter-urban transport that connects the villages with the nearby city The purpose of developing this process is to increase the access of the rural population to the cities and, accordingly, to bring out the problems that the people of the villages have in terms of urban transport. Based on a proposed methodology, we propose to highlight the main public transport problems of the rural population. On the other hand, to propose different views and models to achieve higher efficiency of urban transport and its implementation in rural areas. In this paper, quantitative and qualitative analysis is used and the results are also used to assess the impact of price fluctuations on vegetable marketing channels including vegetable processing enterprises. Data on vegetable prices were extracted from the tempo on line database and the analysis was also based on interviews with key stakeholders in the vegetable processing chain. The results reveal a high coefficient of variation at the farm gate stage, which is also transmitted to the distribution and commercialization stage. The analysis was also carried out at the processing level and the results also show a rather high coefficient of variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present an updated evolution of vegetable agricultural production in Vrancea county, during the period 2017-2021, with focus on the county's contributions in total at the country level, using the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) as principal data source. In order to meet the objectives, the methodology of research was based on indicators frequently used in papers about vegetable agricultural production, represented as values and/or percentage units. In 2021, Vrancea county detained 108 civil employment population (with 17% less than in 2017), through 22 employers in agriculture (52% less than in 2017). Among the main findings from the analyse are the following: the areas cultivated with corn grains, oat, sunflower, vegetables (all), dried onion, tomatoes, total fruits trees, plum, apples, pears, cherries and burgundy decreased among the county between 2017 and 2021 period and the areas cultivated with wheat, barley and vineyards in bearing increased. About the production, at the county level, the production of wheat, oat, barley, total fruit trees, plum, apple, pears, cherries, burgundy and grapes increased and the productions like: corn grains, sunflowers, vegetables (all), dried onion, tomatoes, decreased in the analysed period (2017-2021). From the conclusions of this paper, we found out that besides the good image in terms of wine fields, is observed that total fruit production increased by 50%, which can mean a new growth area of the county, regarding of vegetable agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the effects of regional competition in the Albanian economy during the period 2005-2020. The Albanian economy is faced with numerous problems mainly related to unemployment, lack of competition in the market, the low level of foreign direct investments (FDI), the increase in consumer prices, the immoderate level of productivity and other elements with impact on the country's economy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the comparative advantages of different regions in terms of the efficient use of production resources available to them, facing the pressure of domestic production competition from imported products. To test or even measure the effects of influencing factors on regional competitiveness, econometric modelling was used in this study. The regression model in this analysis has the following form: Yt = β0 + ΣβiXit, where: with Yt the real GDP rate (used as a proxy for regional competitiveness) is identified as appropriate, and with Xt the set of variables that explain regional competitiveness. The data used were provided by: INSTAT, statistical yearbooks in years; publications of the Bank of Albania in years, for period 2005-2021. From the final results, we note that all macroeconomic variables taken into consideration have been statistically significant in their impact on GDP and automatically on Regional Competitiveness. Also, their impact seems to have followed the same sign as the raised expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to present a model of good practices in sustainable rural tourism in the mountain area of Romania, exemplifying a well known tourist village. from the Sibiu County. At the beginning, there were described the stage of development of rural tourism in the mountain commune named "Marginimea Sibiului", in terms of the structure of the tourist accommodation and public food units, touristic and anthropological objectives, the promotion of the tourist offer. Then, there were calculated and interpreted some indicators of the tourist circulation The second stage of the research analyzes the expectations of 360 tourists from a vacation spent in the tourist village of Gura Râului, the selected case study, as a model of good practices in sustainable rural tourism. The survey was carried out based on a structured questionnaire including 13 questions, which was utilized as a working tool. The respondents' answers were collected, summarized and then the data were statistically processed using Excel, v. 365 Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA. The results showed that Gura Râului becomes a more attractive destination for the rural tourism lovers and a real example of sustainable rural tourism to be followed by other mountain villages of Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania is organized with all the 41 counties into 8 development regions. Some regions have an important representation for quality schemes and products that enrich the cultural and gastronomic heritage of the area. Among the 4,857 certified products at national level, the highest share belongs to mountain products, an aspect which consolidates the national and not necessarily international representativeness. The purpose of the paper is to analyse the status of agri-food products with national recognition and products with international recognition regarding the attestation of quality schemes. The Pearson correlation coefficient and the linear and polynomial regression functions (2nd, 3rd and 4th degree) were used to analyze the relationship between the number of certified products and the number agricultural holdings. The data are collected from national and European registers (e-Ambrosia). For the certified products, the data were extracted for the period 2005-2023, and regarding agricultural holdings, 2002-2020 was analyzed. The results pointed out that there is no direct relationship between agricultural holdings and the number of certified products and that the center and northwest regions are the ones that best represent Romania in terms of agro-food products with gastronomic value and certified quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of plum and cherry, as stone fruit species, occupy a significant place in the plant agricultural activity of the Republic of Serbia. In this paper, on the basis of data from selected family holdings in the southern part of Serbia, the production results and evaluation of the economic justification of these two fruit species were investigated. Data collected through a survey were used for the research, and the economic evaluation was performed using static calculative methods. The most important economic indicators determined were: cost price, net profit (average amount), accumulativeness expressed through the rate and time period of investment capital. When producing plums, the average annual financial result is from 503,490 RSD/ha to 594,340 RSD/ha. The analysis determined that by investing RSD 100/ha in production of plum, 40 RSD is accumulated, and the average annual net profit is 425,313 RSD/ha. From the average amounts of net profit, investments made in raising plum trees plantations (1,080,000 RSD/ha) can be recovered during the third year of its exploitation. Although the yield of cherry per unit area is lower compared to the yield of plum, better economic results in the amount of 535,800 RSD/ha to 682,920 RSD/ha are achieved due to a much more favorable selling price per unit measure. For every RSD 100 invested in cherry production, 48 RSD of accumulation is achieved. The average net profit amounts to 492,099 RSD/ha, and the investments made in raising plantations of cherry trees (1,020,000 RSD/ha) can be recovered in the third year of its exploitation. In recent years, cherry have been very profitable fruit species in Serbia, due to the high demand and favorable selling price. With permanent education of fruit producers, as well as with various support measures at the state and local level, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of the existing business and improve the profitability of plums and cherry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper was to assess the impact of climate changes on agricultural development and food security in Ukraine and Slovakia using statistical data from Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, State Statistics Service of Ukraine, Eurostat, Food and Agriculture Organization and other sources. The comparison method was used to evaluate changes in agricultural development indicators, as well as climate changes in 1998-2021 in Ukraine and Slovakia. The main indicators of agricultural development used in the research were agricultural raw materials exports(%), agricultural raw materials imports (%), agriculture value added (% of GDP), agriculture value added (annual % growth), agriculture value added (current US$), cereal production (metric tons), cereal yield (kg per hectare), crop production index, food production index. Correlation and regression equations were used to establish the relationship between climatic factors and agricultural development indicators. The multiple correlations between air temperature and indicators of agricultural development was r=0.75 for Ukraine, r=0.69 for Slovakia. Using neuromodeling tools, the indicators of cereal production volumes and cereals yields in Ukraine and Slovakia in 2024-2033 were predicted. Tables were used to summarize the results. In conclusion, it should be noted that climatic conditions should be analyzed in each sector of crop production, and measures should be taken to adapt technologies for the gradual expansion of obligations for the production and export of agricultural products to world markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical fertilizers applied to Romania's soils represent a particularly important aspect in ensuring a qualitative and quantitative production. The expenditures that farmers have to be able to fertilize the soil correctly and with a sufficient amount have become over the years increasingly higher. The paper analyzes in evolution, over two periods of time, 2007-2014 and 2014-2021, 2 aspects: the surfaces of agricultural holdings, by classes of economic size; the main technical-economic indicators of the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural holdings, namely the expenditures per hectare of agricultural land with chemical fertilizers, in total and by types: N, P205 and K2O fertilizers, and the expenditures with chemical fertilizers to obtain 100 euros of plant production. The data were retrieved from the FADN platform and statistically interpreted using mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, growth rate, t-test of significance. The conclusion that emerges from the analysis undertaken is that there are big differences between the two analyzed periods, in both of them are signs of variations over the years and increases in chemical fertilizer expenses, but the second period, 2014-2021, shows a greater homogeneity of data, even decreases in the higher classes, while the classes (1) 2,000 - < 8,000 EUR and (2) 8,000 - < 25,000 EUR have increased expenditures per ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper was to assess the production capacity of the lands in Periam, Timiș County, in wheat, barley, corn, and sunflower. We chose 17 more important and better determining indicators and, based on them, we established, for each crop, the credit ratings, after which we classified the soils in the studied area into fertility classes. In accordance with the methodology for developing pedological studies, the degree of suitability was determined for each of the four crops: 91.73% of the area of this locality is represented by agricultural land, of which arable land represents 79.22%. and 0.41% is forested land. Following the evaluation of arable land (4,663 ha), it was found that 45.38% fall into the first class, 33.63% in Class II, 20.10% in Class III, and 0.89% in Class IV, with an average grade of 75. This makes these lands highly productive. As a general conclusion, each farmer should periodically evaluate the fertility of the farm soils, make a balance of the nutrient requirements for each crop by considering the plants' requirements according to the vegetation phase, the technology applied, the local soil land climate conditions based on realistic forecasts. In this way, a series of costs with fertilizers and soil work are reduced, the excess is eliminated, and the deficiency of nutrients is corrected, the recommended doses are fractionated and applied differently depending on the needs of the plant, the humidity, the reaction and the texture of the soil. Following the results obtained, it appears that these lands have a high production capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to make a comparison between the national situation and the realities related to the consumption of milk and dairy products at global and community level. For this purpose, total consumption and consumption per capita at the general level of the product group, for milk, butter and cream respectively, were used as indicators. At national level, total consumption reached 4,935 thousand t (average of the period 2017-2019), of which milk held 4,905.67 thousand t, butter 23.67 thousand t and cream 5.67 thousand t. Worldwide, Romania accounted for an average of 0.58% of total milk and dairy consumption, 0.59% of milk consumption, 0.21% for butter consumption and 0.16% in case of cream consumption. Related to the Community context, Romania held shares of about 3.30% regarding the total consumption of milk and dairy products, 3.38% for milk consumption, 1.37% for butter consumption and 0.24% for cream. If we refer to the situation of consumption per capita, there are averages of the indicator, as follows: 233.54 kg - total consumption, 232.04 kg - milk consumption, 1.20 kg for butter and 0.30 kg for cream. Reported worldwide, Romania exceeded 3.23 times the total consumption of milk and dairy products and 3.29 times the consumption of milk and in case of butter and cream only 82.19 and 66.67% beside the global level of the indicator were achieved. unlike European Union, Romania exceeded consumption at the general level of the product group and for milk, but for butter and cream the situation was unfavorable (about 1/3 of the Community consumption for butter and only 6.05% for cream). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aimed to analyze scientific production, using bibliometric analysis as a research method, with the aim of understanding the current structure of studies and future research directions related to creative accounting, how to use creative accounting practices and the role or in financial reporting. 13,463 documents published between 1999-2023 were identified in the Web of Science database and 24,461 researches in the Scopus database, which were refined according to 2 more terms: "user perception" and "impact on financial results". 80 articles were retained for the last stage of research, whose scientific content was analyzed with the help of VOSviewer software, performing both descriptive analysis and performance analysis, as well as scientific mapping from the perspective of the conceptual, intellectual and social structure. In order to determine research gaps, the 10 most relevant and influential papers were analyzed, these being established in relation to the number of citations, which was between 32 and 168. The research results highlighted the fact that half of the analyzed articles are reviews of specialized literature, which highlights gaps in primary research on creative accounting. What is worth noting is the fact that case studies or empirical studies based on questionnaires or the analysis of data sets related to financial reporting, address both aspects related to large companies listed on the stock exchange, as well as those related to medium and small companies. The studies followed the techniques of creative accounting and the way of financial reporting, both for private and state companies, both companies that benefited from external and internal financing, demonstrating the complex interest in the issue of using creative accounting. The gaps identified in this study will constitute future research directions in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism, as a form of spending free time, has undergone numerous transformations in the last period of time, this is due both to globalization that contributed to the internationalization of tourist experiences, but also to recent events (such as the Covid-19 pandemic, economic crises, etc), but also changing the perception of tourism consumers regarding how they can spend their free time. Traditional or well-known destinations have started to face overcrowding, which is starting to be felt negatively by both residents and visitors who are starting to change their consumption habits regarding the locations they choose as tourist destinations. On the other hand, the challenges of the modern world regarding the effects of global warming, the sharp increase in the population, the depletion of planetary resources, but also the much greater concerns of the current generations regarding these aspects, make the choices we make regarding the choice leisure destinations to change and become more responsible. In this context, creative tourism as an increasingly sought-after option, among a growing category of consumers. In this paper, we set out to analyze the perception that tourism consumers in Romania have regarding this form of tourism. The research assumed, on the one hand, a bibliographic analysis regarding the term creative tourism and how this notion has evolved from the moment of its definition as a form of tourism in the 2000s until now, as well as from a study of case based on the application of a questionnaire to measure the perception of consumers regarding this form of tourism, but especially on the awareness of its existence. The questionnaire had 16 questions answered by 124 respondents. The data were centralized and interpreted with the help of the Excel program, the results highlighting the fact that although some of the respondents practice creative tourism, it is quite little known as a concept. The answers given by the study participants highlighted the fact that they are interested in practicing activities integrated into creative tourism, considering that there are many advantages both regarding the experiences they create, with the interactions they establish with the locals or with the other participants. At the same time, the impact that creative tourism practices have at the local level (both economic and social) is recognized. We consider that these results are useful not only at the micro level, but also at the macro level, under the conditions that the development strategies of the field of hospitality will be thought in such a way as to promote, integrate and develop this form of contemporary tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an algorithm for organizing and grouping data related to the expenditures by education levels in Bulgaria. The built database is used as a source from which the necessary information is searched depending on the entered indicators and time interval. The considered indicators include the public and private expenditures by education levels for the period2012-2020. The extracted subsets of elements are processed and analyzed. In this connection, four groups of variables are calculated and discussed. The results show that the expenditures in four of the education levels (primaryand pre-primary education as well as upper and lower secondary education) grow over the last five years (2016-2020). The quoted indicator inpost-secondary, non-tertiary education isreduced gradually in 2016-2019. During 2015, as compared to 2014, the expenditures in the considered 7 levels of education decreased in the range from 0.29% to 7.81%. This work calculates the share of expenditure for tertiary educationbachelor, master and doctor in comparison with the total expenditures for education in the indicatedtime period. The obtained value of the variable for this education level is the highest. It is 29.74%. The values of this variable are significantly lower for the following two levels of education - tertiary education-professional bachelor and postsecondary, non-tertiary education. They are 1.54% and 0.29% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the role and importance of agriculture-based investments in sustainable development were investigated. For this purpose, a situation analysis of these matters was conducted for Yozgat province, which is from the 1st Degree Priority Regions in development. In the study, interviews were conducted with managers or expert personnel of institutions and organizations related to the subject. Data obtained via the interview were the primary data of the study. Papers and books published related to the subject, and data obtained from the database of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI) were also the secondary data of this study. According to the research findings, it is seen that significant investments based on agriculture have been made in the province. Among these investments, there are sugar factory (2 units), Kabalı Integrated Orchard (Turkey's largest integrated orchard), geothermal greenhouses, flour production (12 units), milk and milk products (12 units), meat and meat products (11 units). and fruit and vegetable processing-packaging facilities (4 units). With investment depended on agriculture, there have been positive developments in per capita gross domestic product, employment, labor force participation rate and unemployment rate in the province. While in 2004, gross domestic product per capita was USD 3,272, employment rate was 31.6%, the participation rate to labor force was 36.2% and unemployment rate was 12.8%, in 2021 these were, respectively, USD 4,869, 48.5%, 55.1% and 12%. In Kabalı Integrated Orchard, which is one of the largest orchards in Turkey, in addition to orcharding, there have been animal breeding activities such as goose, sheep and beekeeping. The cherry orchard located in the integrated facility is the third-largest cherry orchard in Europe. This study is important in terms of the sustainability of investments depending on agriculture and the formation of strong expectations for rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the meat industry, after the cutting, deboning and trimming phases, meat trimmings result from which minced meat is usually made. From an economic point of view, the superior utilization of meat trimmings is of interest. A method analyzed in this paper consists of the injection of trimmings in the meat muscle. The results obtained indicated a lower weight gain if the meat is injected with brine emulsion (between 8.37% and 9.84%) compared to samples injected only with brine (41.20% for pork ribeye and 45.7% for beef ribeye). However, protein content is inversely correlated with weight gain (r²=-0.88). The main disadvantage of the method lies in the fact that it decreases the preservability of the meat injected with meat emulsion compared to the control samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to test the aggregates chosen for an efficient application of granulated chemical fertilisers of different types during the optimal period, as well as to reduce the time and costs required for the agricultural work performed. The experiments were carried out within the IF Raicsics Mihailo Dragan Farm in the Commune of Sânpetru Mare, Timiș County, Romania. Depending on the capacity of the fertiliser hoppers of these machines, we chose the tractor with which to work in the aggregate. Obtaining high-quality crops at the lowest possible costs can only be achieved through the application of specific, perfected technologies, which allow a superior utilisation of both natural resources and inputs. Therefore, comparing the fertiliser machines studied, we notice a difference in terms of direct costs due to the technological characteristics of each one. That is why it is very important to calculate the economic efficiency of the types of aggregates chosen for different agricultural works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to follow the recent developments regarding the production and Romanian trade with fresh or dried walnuts in shell or shelled. Both statistical and specific indicators of international trade are used. The results indicated that Romania increased its production of walnuts and performed well in trade with shelled walnuts, and the trade balance was positive in the entire analysed period. Is not the case of the trade with walnuts in shell, where the trade balance was consistently negative. Most part of the Romanian trade with walnuts is either with EU countries or with the neighbour countries which are not EU members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A local development strategy allows the active coordination of the development process taking place in the territory, taking into account local characteristics, changes in the external environment and allowing a positive approach to territorial development in an innovative way. Local development strategies are characterized by at least seven characteristics recommended to local managers responsible for development: vision for the future, creativity, flexibility, activity, created for action, orientation to change and orientation to sustainable gain. The purpose of this paper is to highlight both the needs and requirements of the inhabitants of the Snagov commune, respectively the degree of satisfaction with the public services they benefit from, as well as the development vision of the Snagov commune. To obtain the information necessary for the study, the questionnaire method was used, and the group of people related to the sample filled in the requested data and expressed their opinions regarding public services, infrastructure, community projects. The key challenge is to ensure a balanced and sustainable development of the territory based on polycentric development, providing services to the surrounding rural areas, avoiding the decline of the rural population and ensuring the continued attractiveness of these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes an in-depth analysis of Romania's agrotourism services market, highlighting its evolution and regional/counties concentration. Romania, renowned for its cultural and touristic diversity, employs agrotourism to facilitate authentic interactions with local communities, offering insights into native culture. Utilizing Clarivate, Google Scholar, and Research Gate databases, the research employs statistical processing and graphical representation. Market concentration is gauged using the Herfindahl-Hirschman and Gini-Struck indices. Findings reveal a dynamic national sector with an annual growth rate surpassing 10%. Regionally, concentration levels are notably high, with the North-West, Center, North-East, and South-East collectively contributing over 75%. Countylevel concentration is moderate, indicating potential development even in areas with untapped resources. Romanian authorities actively promote agrotourism, capitalizing on rural development potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural area has faced and continues to face countless challenges regarding the lack of financial resources, the way to use material and human resources, labor productivity and labor mobility. Although Romania is a rich country in natural resources, the rural environment being predominant and having an old tradition in agriculture, certain factors stop or make rural development quite difficult. The present study aims to identify and analyze these factors that make rural development less than desired, ways to finance human resources through programs dedicated to the rural environment so that people who earn income from subsistence agriculture can also develop in non-agricultural fields, can achieve a performing agriculture and helps the economic and social growth of the Southwest Oltenia region. An important source of financing for the rural environment is funds from the European Union, which also contribute to the development of human resources in the area. To begin with, we considered the statistical analysis of the data on the evolution of the resident population in the region, the employed population, the net monthly salary that people in the region obtain according to the branches of the national economy, but also statistical data related to unemployment. Thus, for an overview of the existing situation, we continued with a SWOT analysis of the regions in order to establish investment priorities. Another important point in the paper, which helps us to observe the contribution of European funds to rural development, is the degree in care of the measures of the National Rural Development Program accessed as well as certain factors that made submeasure 1.1. to be poorly accessed. The conclusions of the study show that the South-West Oltenia region has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, with a population that, living mostly on the income obtained from subsistence agriculture, is in acute need of funds, additional training and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes an analysis of the local gastronomic services market in Romania. The growing interest in culinary tourism through Local Gastronomic Points is evident both globally and nationally. Gastronomic tourism can provide unique culinary experiences, especially in rural households. Clarivate, Google Scholar, and Research Gate articles were used for bibliographic research. The necessary data for the research were selected from the reports of the National Agency for Mountain Areas and the statistics of the National Veterinary Sanitary and Food Safety Authority. The information was statistically processed and graphically represented. The assessment of market concentration was conducted using the Herfindahl-Hirschman and Gini-Struck indices. The research results highlighted the dynamism of the sector against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic but also revealed some deficiencies at the local authorities' level. HHI and GSI values indicate a low market concentration at the county level. Local Gastronomic Point businesses have high development potential, significantly contributing to increasing people's income and rural area development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to analyse how the increase in the fertiliser usage in Romania in the last years, 2010-2022, made change in the imports value of these products. For this purpose, it was analysed first the recent evolution of fertiliser usage in Romanian agriculture, and then the impact on imports, using data provided by the European Commission and the International Trade Centre. The results of the quantitative analyse indicated that Romania is highly dependent of external markets in order to cover its internal needs for the usage of these products in agriculture. Both usage of natural and chemical fertilisers increased in the analysed period, and the poor internal production conducted to a very high annual growth rate of the imports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the analysis of the profitability threshold of bell pepper cultivation in the solar system in conventional farming and organic farming with proposed for the crop year 2022/2023. Thus, by using a system of indicators (specific indicators, result indicators and profitability indicators, production costs, capitalization prices and the degree of profitability per product unit can be estimated. Economic profitability is evaluated in terms of the use of production framework technologies in the production process and the rational use of raw materials, human and financial resources with the aim of obtaining low-cost and high-quality products. Agribusiness actions will always be based on crop profitability. The findings of the undertaken study can favourably influence farmers, giving them the opportunity to adjust their existing farm resources and capacities to achieve higher yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a global point of view, the Republic of Serbia has favorable conditions for cattle breeding and beef production, because there are favorable soil and climatic conditions, high production of roughage and fodder, available workforce, installed capacities of meat processing industries (for the production of beef and meat products) etc. However, it is not the only, or exclusive, parameter of the development of cattle production, because there are significant differences in the racial composition and production potential of cattle in certain production districts of the Republic of Serbia. The paper shows the period of the movement of the number of cattle, as one of the potentials for the production of beef, and the heifers that provide new heads for fattening. In the observed time period from 2012 to 2022, it is in permanent decline. According to the obtained data of the calculated value of base and chain indices for the observed time period of ten years, there is no hint of stabilization of breeding and increase in the number of cattle for slaughter. The average number of cattle in the Republic of Serbia was 898 thousand head with a tendency to decrease from 2.5% to 3.0%. At the end of 2022, the estimate of slaughter outside slaughterhouses in December was reduced to 16 thousand heads, however, the number of slaughtered heads increased from May and reached its maximum in October with 20.61 thousand heads and in November when there were 26.45 thousand heads. From this data, it can be seen that the total number of heads has been decreasing since December, which means that there has been stagnation in the number of slaughtered heads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper presents a statistical analysis of the Gross Domestic Product/person, at the national level, in relation to the member countries of the European Union, using statistical data published by Eurostat, Naational Institute of Statistics (INSSE), FAOSTAT and the World Bank. Based on the data centralization, calculations were made to determine some absolute and relative statistical indicators, such as the absolute change, the dynamic index or the dynamic rate. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and observe GDP per inhabitant evolution, in the period 2017 - 2022, as well as the hierarchy of European member countries, according to this macroeconomic indicator. Going through the work, it can be observed that the order of each member state in different hierarchies based on the GDP level, nominal or real, differs, depending on the perspective from which the data is analyzed. Not always a country with a high level of GDP is characterized by a higher level of well-being of the population. Also, a country that has not yet reached economic maturity in terms of GDP level, may have advantages over the already mature European economic markets over a longer period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the importance that circular economy models have in today's society and the concerns that both decision-makers and other interested parties have regarding this concept, in this paper we have proposed to analyze the relationship between the economy circular and tourism, starting from the fact that this is one of the sectors of activity that is characterized both by a high consumption of water, energy and natural resources, as well as by a large food waste, being also a producer of important CO2 emissions, as a result of the link it has with road, air, maritime transport, and not only that. The research methodology assumed the review of the specialized literature, being inventoried scientific papers indexed Web of Science, and starting from 2 keywords: "circular economy" and "tourism". From the 340 identified scientific works, following the application of several filters regarding language, title, keywords, 33 publications resulted. By applying a restriction regarding the relevance of these works, assessed on the basis of a minimum number of 3 citations, it was possible to establish a sample of 15 publications that were analyzed, identifying both the results presented by the author/authors, as well as the conclusions and the way in which that they could influences the application of circular economy principles in tourism. The analysis carried out showed us that the number of specialized papers in this field is relatively small, which is why, in order to obtain the most conclusive results regarding the proposed theme, we believe that, considering the importance of the theme, it will be necessary to continue the research on tourism and the circular economy. In this way, it will be possible to identify the solutions that will accelerate the sustainable development of tourism., which could thus meet both the leisure needs of tourists who, in turn, are increasingly concerned with the issue of sustainability, as well as the need to protect the environment, so that we allow future generations to enjoy what the new Planet offers us. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it has become clear that a system approach is important to improve not only the sustainability of agriculture but also nutrition, the analysis of food systems suffers from overcomplexity. In this context, the aim of the paper was to find ways to reduce the overcomplexity of food systems, using a new system approach which is essential for making our food production and nutrition more sustainable. The method was to structure the sustainability food as a three-dimensional system, by grouping and structuring the scientific approaches existing up to now in the specialized literature, searching and compiling through most of the paper having sustainable food as the main subject. The results were structured by creating a system through a set of four interrelated questions. It argues that the 'how' of food production and consumption, including the 'how much', is as important as the question "what" is produced and consumed. The 'who' dimension is of relevance for the socioeconomic pillar of sustainability, while the 'where' dimension puts our attention to geographical questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the time of technology and globalization, effective organizational communication is critical for a company success. In a continuous changing world, companies must take a strategic and effective approach to communicate with the employees, customers and third-party stakeholders. The objective of this paper focuses on the study of organizational communication in an international company, one of the largest providers of communication services in Romania, with office in Bucharest. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the way the company manages internal organizational communication and to identify ways in which it can be improved, with the ultimate goal to contribute to increase the company performance and competitiveness in the market. The case study carried out within the analyzed company had as objective the evaluation of organizational communication from the employee perspective, for which purpose, we elaborated and applied a questionnaire with 10 questions, on a sample of 100 people, in which we captured both their perception of the relevance, the frequency or transparency of information received from managers, as well as their opinion regarding the level of communication within the company, respectively, the employees involvement in the communication process and in the improvement of the organizational communication. The satisfaction regarding organizational communication was evaluated positively by a majority of respondents (64%). The quality of information received regarding projects and changes in the company was positively assessed by the majority of employees (66%). Communication between departments was generally considered positively (59%), and communication between management and employees was considered adequate by most respondents (69%). Regarding the employees involvement in the process of improving the organizational communication, the majority of respondents (67%) stated that they were not actively involved in this process. The results of the study also provided a perspective of how internal communication may affect the employee performance and satisfaction, as well as potential problems or constraints that could be resolved to improve the effectiveness of organizational communication within the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context, after a pandemic that has left traces in all socio-economic fields and during major geopolitical problems, Basic research is needed in order to identify directions for rapid and sustainable socio-economic recovery. The agricultural sector has played a particularly important role in speeding economic growth and development in less developed countries. As a result, we may argue that the agriculture sector has aided these countries' integration into global trade. The proposed paper aims to identify the degree of dependence of the Moldovan economy on agriculture and how this dependence can be transformed into a challenge that will help the country's economy. Also, the paper aims to identify the link between agricultural production and gross domestic product at the level of the Moldovan economy, as well as the need to create a stability in the labour market in agriculture. The above mentioned will be achieved in the conditions in which there is already a decrease in the labour force, a decrease due to medical, geo-political and migration factors. To develop a sustainable economy, sustainable agricultural public policies must be enacted, resulting in the attraction of personnel from metropolitan regions (where unemployment is higher) to rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on examining how ecotourism can help rural development. Eco-tourism is an important type of tourism that provides economic and social benefits to the local community by exhibiting rural life, culture, and nature in rural areas. The study was conducted in Yozgat province of Turkey using primary and secondary data. In this context, interviews were had with the authorities of the Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate, Yozgat Culture, Tourism and Development Association, and local administrations, plus it was observed in the field. Published publications and scientific studies on the subject were also used as secondary sources. According to the research findings, ecotourism was considered an effective and important model for the sustainable development of local communities. In the study, the eco-tourism potential of the province, strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T) were revealed by SWOT analysis. Opportunities and strengths were considered significant for sustainable ecotourism potential. Focusing on local tourism and rural development as a leverage point, this paper puts forward proposals on management strategies and offers a different viewpoint on the need for rural innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the performance audit regarding the management of the agricultural sector subsidy funds in order to determine to what extent the actions undertaken boosted the agricultural development process in the Republic of Moldova. The analysis revealed that the activity of subsidizing agriculture is primarily aimed at increasing competitiveness and the sustainable development of the agri-food sector. This situation leads to the modernization of the agri-food chain, facilitating access to capital markets for agricultural producers, adapting to climate changes and mitigating their effects on agricultural production, increasing rural employment opportunities, developing agricultural businesses, etc. The data on the subsidy activity were taken from the database of the Agency for Intervention and Payments for Agriculture from the Republic of Moldova, which is responsible for managing the subsidy fund. The results of the study highlight a fairly efficient management of financial means for subsidizing the national agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studied the impact of integrated plant nutrients management strategy (IPNM) on the agricultural return during current Syrian crisis through the application of camel manure and chemical fertilizers on the black cumin quantitatively and qualitatively. The fertilization treatments were denoted as T2 [N120-P30-K30], T3 [N120-P30-K60], T4 [5 t. ha-1camel manure], and T5 (1/2 [T3 + T4]), respectively. The no-fertilizer treatment (T1) was considered as control. Soil fertility, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and oil content were considered. Results have showed that organic manure(camel dung)decreased soil pH and OC/ON ratio and increased the availability of nutrients in the soil. What led the black cumin to respond by significantly increasing the following productive parameters: plant height, roots depth, number of primary and secondary branches,..etc. The treatment T5 recorded the highest IWUE values (5.2 and 6.2 kg.ha-1.mm-1) and the best oil content (33.3% and 34.2%) in the two seasons, respectively. Furthermore, the applied IPNM strategy had remarkably increased fertilization efficiency and economical feasibility (profit/total costs) in the order of T5>T4>T3>T2 compared to T1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper was to analyse the role of public agricultural spending as a panacea for agricultural subsector production in Cameroon. The data were taken from World Bank development database and processed using growth model, and error correction model. Despite the agricultural sector's significant contributions to the country's economy throughout the years, the country has made little headway in reducing it. Recent interest in the relationship between government spending and economic output has not focused on the central question of whether government spending, particularly agricultural spending increases agricultural subsector output or otherwise. With instantaneous and compound growth rates of 6.7 percent and 6.93 percent, 3.03 percent and 3.08 percent, 13.66 percent and 14.64 percent, respectively, the results demonstrated stagnation in agricultural and livestock subsector production and labor. In contrast, public agriculture spending increased at a faster rate, with instantaneous and compound growth rates of 6.09 percent and 6.27 percent, respectively. In the short run, agricultural land, labor, and public agricultural spending all have a substantial impact on animal productivity. Cutting public agricultural spending by 25% is the most cost-effective way to maintain crop and livestock production in the short term. Incentives such as tax reductions and infrastructure development should be established to attract more private investors, knowledge transfer, and significant capital inflows to ensure the agricultural sub-long-term sector's viability. In the short term, privatization of the government's agricultural development projects will be critical for efficient use of public resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower is the most important oil crop practiced in Romania, in terms of the constituent indicators of the primary supply, but also by the fact that sunflower seeds have a surplus trade balance at national level. Culture has a high productive potential, it comes to exploit the existing opportunities on the market, in terms of existing opportunities nationally and internationally. Over time, Romania has been a dynamizing factor of scientific research in the field, highlighting the concerns of researchers from National Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (INCDA) Fundulea for the creation of a quality genetic material. It should be noted that the favorability of sunflower cultivation is quite pronounced at EU level, both due to the pedoclimatic conditions and due to the existing traditions in certain areas (less tradition in the extreme Southern part of the EU), for the practice of other crops providing raw materials for obtaining oil or consumption habits of the population (olive - in the Mediterranean area). The topic of this paper was approachd based on the existing global and continental context for the period 2007-2019. The results showed that in this period 2007-2019, Romania cultivated (on average) 3.81 and 5.39 of the world and European area respectively (966.84 thousand ha compared to 25,325.47 and 16,298.01 thousand ha respectively), achieved 4.62 and 6.79% of the total production (1,919.96 thousand tons compared to 41,548.57 and 28,296.81 thousand tons). The importance on the international market is highlighted by the fact that Romania held 22.52 and 26.97% of the world and continental volume of exports (1,070.99 thousand tons compared to 4,755.42 and 3,971.52 thousand tons), and for imports, the shares were 3.96 and 6.05% (183.47 thousand tons compared to 4,629.84 and 3,220.90 thousand tons respectively). Romania is not an important player in the market of this product at European and global level, especially since sunflower seeds can reduce the deficit of the external trade balance, given the appropriate use of the specific national potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different capital structures and their impact on firm performance are one of the most studied topics in the finance literature. This study is an attempt to assess the impact of financial structure on profitability of agricultural enterprises in the Republic of Serbia, with the aim of evaluating the importance and nature of the contribution of the total, short-term and long-term aspects of debt to the success of the company. The financial performance of the selected sample of 38 medium and large agricultural enterprises in the Republic of Serbia was analysed in the period from 2018 to 2021. The findings of this paper indicate that total debt and short-term debt significantly determine the return on equity, while the effect of long-term debt is insignificant. The nature of the impact of all three aspects of financial structure is negative. The inclusion of size and growth of sales in the regression models showed that only annual sales growth significantly positively determines profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of the causes and consequences of food loss and waste has been extensively explored in the literature, given its significant impact on both the local community and the national economy. This paper suggests various comprehensive approaches concerning food loss and waste (FLW) in Romania, considering the broader European context of the FLW phenomenon based on a bibliographic study, a statistical approach of the causes dynamics analysis and a system-based approach leading to an integrated view of the phenomenon. In order to accomplish this purpose, we have used statistical material originated from national and European statistical institutions and we have processed it using direct observation and interpolation. Our objective was to identify various factors contributing to food loss and waste throughout the agrifood chain and analyse their impact on the FLW phenomenon. The findings revealed that the primary factors contributing to food waste are associated with economic aspects. This study serves as a foundational step for subsequent research endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize, one of the most popular cereal, originates from the Central America and is very versatile, being used in various fields. It is used in food, as feed and in industry. The purpose of the paper regards the choice of hybrids which is one of the most important factors influencing the productivity and quality of the maize. The area where the crop is located influences the choice of the most suitable hybrid, as it must be selected according to the average temperature during the growing period and the type of soil. In this study, the experiments were carried out in the climate and soil conditions of Moara Domneasca Research Station. To find the right hybrid, several hybrids were selected to grow and later to compare their harvest and choose the optimal variant. To obtain the highest production of maize, the chosen hybrid should be also as resistant as possible to extreme weather conditions, such as periods of drought grown in the Romanian Plain, on a specific soil and fertilized with different doses of chemical fertilizers. The economic efficiency of the applied fertilization system was also analyzed. As a conclusion, the two hybrids tested reacted positively to chemical fertilization. The SC4140 hybrid behaved better in the non-fertilized version, achieving higher yields than the P9903 hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper was to analyze cereal production in Dolj County and in Romania in the period 2017-2021 in order to identify the main trends, based on the statistical data provided by National Institute of Statistics and processing them by comparison method and time and structural indices. Dolj County has a total area of 741,401 ha (7th place at national level - 3.11% of the total), an agricultural area of 585,135 ha (2nd place at national level - 32.57%) and an arable area of 488,560 ha (2nd place at national level - 39.03%). The county is characterized by favorable agro-productive conditions for cereal cultivation, taking into account climatic factors and soils specific to the county (for example, sandy soils for rye cultivation). The county cultivated (on average) 331,450.80 ha with cereals, predominantly wheat and grain maize (60.5, and 26.53% of the total), obtained a total production of 1,567,667 t (predominantly wheat and maize with 54.89 and 33.96% of the total), and the average yield per hectare reached 4,728 kg. It can be said that Dolj County can decisively influence, in certain situations, the cereals market in Romania and the South-West Oltenia Region, but it must be aimed at improving the performance of this side of vegetal activity, in order to capitalize on the existing potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the behaviour of some wheat varieties under the years 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 conditions in Dobrogea area in demonstrative plots carried out at S.C. SPORT AGRA S.R.L. Amzacea, Constanta County. The main aspects emphasized in this research area have been: climatic conditions, obtained yield, and economical efficiency. Looking to the pathogens, for wheat Septoria tritici showed an AR between 17-27% and Pyrenophora graminea showed a low atack (AR = 4.5-17.5%). The pathogen Puccinia striiformis was present in low precentage (AR = 0-13.5%) in the 2018 April observations. For crop protection against pathogens, 2 foliar tratments with fungicides were applied, Artea 330 EC(ciproconazol 80 g/l + propiconazol 250 g/l) 0,4 l/ha, in March and Priaxor EC (fluxapiroxad 150 g/l + piraclostrobin 75 g/l) 1l/ha and in April respectively. Fungal treatments have stopped the development of foliar and ear diseases. The beneficial effects were found in the good yields obtained in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, except the years 2020 and 2023. In 2020 Otilia reached 2,370 kg/ha, Miranda 2,260 kg/ha and Solindo variety 4,297 kg/ha and Ursita 4,165 kg/ha in 2023. All these special yields have been obtained under non-irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to study the effectiveness of corn cultivation under different irrigation methods on the experimental field of the Askanian State Agricultural Research Station, which is located in the semi-arid, steppe, arid climate zone of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine, in the Kakhovsky irrigated massif. The investigation pointed out the effectiveness and provided an economic assessment of the use of different irrigation methods in corn cultivation. Two methods of irrigation (sprinkling and subsoil drip irrigation) were studied, with the maintenance of the humidity of the soil layer 0-50 cm at the level of 80% LMC and corn hybrids of different maturity groups. Under subsoil drip irrigation, the irrigation rate was lower on average by 24% than when sprinkled, on the other hand, the yield was higher on average by 40.9%, which significantly affected the cost price of the obtained corn grain. Subsoil drip irrigation yielded a net profit of 62% higher than sprinkler irrigation. and the profitability accordingly increased by 78.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is the analysis of the response of soybean seed yield and its component including (plant height, number of pods/plant, and 100-seed weight), water productivity and quality properties (physiochemical including protein and fats content and physiological including germination ratio, length of seedling shoots and roots, seedling dry weight, and seed vigor index) to seven irrigation practices were evaluated in a field experiment based on a randomized complete block design; the irrigation practices including sprinkler and drip system at full irrigation with 100% ETc (S100 and D100) and deficit irrigation with 80 and 60% ETc (S80, D80, S60, D60) and compared to furrow irrigation (F). Findings revealed that, S100 and D100 improved seed yield by 10.8 and 16.8% compared to F treatment. The highest yield components and water productivity was achieved by D100 treatment with values of 113 cm plant height, 115 pods/plant, 14.4 g weight of 100 seeds and 0.62 kg/m³ respectively. With the irrigation regime, protein content had a positive correlation while fat content had a negative correlation; the highest protein content was 28.75 and 28.20% achieved by S100 and D100, while the highest fats content was 22.91 and 22.63% achieved by D60 and S60. There is a positive correlation between the physiological properties and the irrigation regime; the highest physiological properties were germination ratio 98.3 and 96.7%, root length 8.7 and 7.33 mm, shoot length 1.98 and 1.87 mm, seedling dry weight 0.69 and 0.67 g and seed vigor index 117.9 and 110.8 achieved by D100 and S100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the demographic development trends in Bulgaria as well as to identify demographically problematic rural areas and the consequences of their development. Based on information from the National Statistical Institute, the demographic processes in the rural areas of Bulgaria for the period 2011-2021 are analyzed. The obtained results show the high rate of population decline in some regions of Bulgaria and the unfavorable values of the coefficients for demographic dependence and replacement. Rural areas of our country are experiencing faster depopulation than cities. This leads to significant territorial disparities in the manifestation of the observed processes. The last part emphasizes the need to implement regional demographic policies aimed at stimulating families with children and reforming professional education. It is also recommended to implement a proactive immigration policy to attract Bulgarians living abroad and immigrants from third countries with the necessary educational and professional qualifications to reduce the negative effects of the labor shortage in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of globalization, rural tourism offers diversity in close connection with regional specificity. In this sense, there is an increase in the tourist offer oriented towards the traditional, towards the authentic. The entrepreneurial attempts to reflect the local authentic in the field of tourism are not well defined, often the specific traditional elements are not respected, creating an inappropriate mixture of architectural, gastronomic and cultural styles. Thus, the need to define the concept of authenticity in rural tourism based on vernacular culture is noted and this is the main aim of this paper. Also, theoretical items such as rural space, rural tourism, vernacular, and authenticity are defined and systematized, and essential parameters like elements, principles and methods for substantiating authentic rural tourism are synthesized. These ideas are critically analyzed, and discussed, based on representative documentation from Romanian and foreign literature to which the authors added their modest contribution. Authentic rural tourism offers interesting experiences precisely through originality, local specificity, diversity, in a cultural and geographical framework that completes the knowledge and offers the tourist a truly authentic experience. In this way, an increase in tourist interest is achieved and the foundations are laid for sustainable, representative economic activities at the rural level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector in Moldova is highly exposed to natural factors and hazards, resulting in uncertain incomes and high production volatility. Crop insurance plans against different risks plays a crucial role in supporting farmers' yield and revenues. The aim of this paper is to assess the development of subsidizing production risk insurance policy as a method to enhance agricultural resilience and alleviate the effects of climate change in Moldova. The analyzed data is based on the analysis of regulatory documents for policies regarding subsidizing productions risks insurance. For data analysis, secondary data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and Agency of Interventions and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA) was used. The data refer to the amount of subsidies applications for risks insurance, insured areas cultivated with different crops and its harvests, main risks insured by farmers, distribution of subsidies for risks insurance by development regions and the insurance companies. The subsidization of crop production risk insurance in Moldova has played a vital role in bolstering agricultural resilience and minimizing the adverse effects of climate change. By offering assistance to farmers and promoting the implementation of risk management practices, the government's objective is to stabilize income levels and promote sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, it is crucial to continuously monitor and evaluate these policies to ensure their efficacy and fair distribution of subsidies across various regions and insurance providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to present the consumer perception on the local gastronomical points given their novelty on the market and their huge importance for the rural development. A study was conducted among the population of Cluj County using an online questionnaire. Results indicate that the consumers are preoccupied to consume local food and drinks when they travel to rural destinations. There is a positive attitude towards the LGPs among the respondents which find very attractive all the LGPs characteristics meaning serving traditional meals made from local raw materials within the locals kitchens. For a traditional local menu with a limited assortment the consumers are willing to pay between 31-45 lei. The respondents consider that the LGPs are important within the rural areas and their creation represents an opportunity both for tourism development and for rural resident's incomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]