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In the magical universe of the American playwright John Cariani, the explosion of symbols and metaphors completes the creative process of both the actor and the spectator. The ease with which deep themes of human nature are approached is due to the mastery with which references of the soul are used in the identity of real and mundane objects. The characters carry their love in bags, their heart in sacks and their hope in inches. The magical world where the city of Maine exists but does not exist at the same time, is the world where any human dream or thought or need can become reality. The contemporary language of the text brings the soul closer to its organic understanding. One will focus their attention on the inner and outer structures of the characters, on the human themes approached, on the acting tools necessary for the organic assumption of the performance. Almost Maine, a universe of dreams and hopes, was staged in Romania in six theatrical institutions relevant to the contemporary artistic landscape. The space between real and imaginary, concrete and magical outlines the inner world of John Cariani characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life-cycle cost analysis is a method used to assess long-term economic efficiency among equivalent competing processes or products. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nature and level of costs for an organic orchard located in Southern Romania, using a complex approach covering the entire chain of production, through its life span. The research results, based on a dynamic analysis and an integrated evaluation of the orchard's performance, were ranked on investment and operational costs and broken down into three categories (establishment, production, post-harvest, transport costs). The highest costs, representing 151,726 EUR/ha/20 years, about 52.72% of the total operational costs and 50.4% of the total farm costs/ha/20 years, were recorded in the exploitation stage. The scenarios for the sensitivity analysis considered different levels of average yields (40 and 60 tons/ha, respectively) with different rates of sold productions (85%, optimistic scenario; 70%, pessimistic scenario). The hot points identified at the production stage were the use of agricultural machinery, several pesticides, the costs of seedlings, anti-hail nets, plastic boxes, and labor costs, while at the post-harvest stage, there were those related to labor and energy consumption. The transport stage had important costs with respect to tractor operations and the track. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for soybeans in Europe motivates breeders, researchers, and growers to find suitable cultivars to adapt and extend the soybean crop to improper climate areas. Weed control is a crucial aspect of crop technology in organic agriculture, but particularly for soybean crops. In laboratory conditions, the cumulative stress index for seedlings was determined to identify the susceptible cultivars. A field experiment with 14 soybean accessions and 2 sowing dates was conducted under organic farming conditions over the course of three years, from 2020 to 2022. Plant population density was found to be significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.1) negatively correlated to the degree of resistance to low temperature as well as infestation degree with weeds (for p < 0.05 and p < 0.1), with the exception of early sowing in 2021. Yield was significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.1) correlated with plant population density, with the exception of optimal sowing in 2022. Early sowing variants emerged with vigor in the first two years, breeding lines and registered varieties showed low input, and organic agriculture systems showed low yields in the drought years of 2020 and 2022. Although early sowing even in the first two years proved to be a practice that increased the cultivars' performance, in 2022, due to the long period of chilling stress in the field, this option had negative effects on yield due to the high weed frequency. Therefore, the early sowing strategy for the soybean crop in this particular case of non-irrigated conditions in a temperate continental area proved to be a risky practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn crops in Romania shelter a large number of insects and spiders, some of them harm the plants (pests) while others are useful (natural enemies). Bearing in mind the wide variety of species present and the high numerical quantity of recent years, we set out to find and exploit those capable of keeping pests under control in the context of the current focus on biological solutions to the detriment of chemical ones. Thus, in 2021-2022 we analyzed the set of pests and natural enemies from 2 lots of corn grown organically, from 2 agricultural companies in the western region. The results showed a great diversity and positive interactions, analyzed both in the open field and in cages. The effectiveness rate of ladybugs in preying on aphids was high (81%) and that of spiders in preying on leaf beetles (Diabrotica, Oulema, Phyllotreta and Chaetocnema) was still high (76.25%). The activity of the parasitoid wasps was reflected in a lower effectiveness rate (parasitized aphids) (14.84%), as was the case of the oophagous wasps that parasitized 10.71% of Ostrinia and Helicoverpa eggs. The future approach to pest management in organic corn crops should include exploitation of existing natural enemies, an affordable solution at low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of the scandals regarding the contamination of food with dioxin and nitrophenol, the Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE - "mad cow" disease), the avian and swine flu, the infection of some vegetables with the enterohemorrhagic strain of the bacterium Esterichia coli (EHEC), as well as the fears regarding the use of genetically modified organisms, the request of agricultural products and ecological food increased a lot at the beginning of this millennium. An opportunity for the transition from subsistence agriculture to an agriculture based on economic principles is represented by systems of exploiting poultry on the ground, with free access to outdoor paddocks, as well as ecological growth. In this context, the present paper tries to bring to the fore some opportunities in the organic breeding of some poultry with a special taste, such as capons. The main objectives followed were: some historical landmarks regarding the growth of capons; the review of the practical elements of capon growing and some case studies that show the opportunity of capon growing in Romania for a successful business. The used methods included searching of the various databases with the latest publications in the field and identification of some relevant results. The breeding of capons represents an opportunity for Romanian farmers who want a profitable business, especially since currently, in Romania, the number of such micro-farms is very limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to determine the quality indicators variation of three organic apple varieties during one year postharvest storage under controlled atmosphere conditions as following: O2 - 3%, CO2 - 5%, relative humidity (RH) (%) - 95%, temperature (T) (˚C) - 1˚C. Apple varieties like 'Golden Delicious', 'Red Prince' and 'Gala' were harvested from an organic orchard in Arad County, Romania. The quality indicators analyses were conducted in triplicates for each apple variety and consisted in determination of dry matter content, total soluble solids, total titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and total anthocyanin content. The obtained results indicated that ascorbic acid and total anthocyanin content values decreased during one year postharvest storage for all three apple varieties. Indicators like dry matter content and total titratable acidity registered decreases between 19% and 52%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic agriculture is a domain that is growing rapidly both in Europe or worldwide and in Romania. However, there is a limited number of researches which, by the used methodology, are able to offer a definite and appropriate image of the Romanian market of organic products. In this respect, we considered as relevant to conduct certain market researches which can offer a wide image of the Romanian market of organic products. The present study aimed to briefly present some ideas learned from these researches concerning the level of confidence that the Romanian consumer has in organic products and the way in which the level of confidence may influence the purchasing behavior. Among the most important conclusions, it could be mentioned the low level of confidence that a large number of Romanian consumers has regarding the organic products, the decision to buy organic products is strongly influenced by the confidence expressed by the consumer, as well as the lack of confidence in organic products represents one of the main reasons for not buying it, in some cases being more important than the high price. After a deeper analysis, the final conclusion is that, at least partially, the low level of confidence in organic products is determined by the confusion and the low information level, on one hand, and by some producers' practices that so not seem to comply with the certification community norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological products may represent a valid alternative for Romanian agriculture. The national agricultural potential, significant for the organic production, is represented by large farming areas, which are fallowed for a large period of time, a small number of industrial polluters in Romania and Romania's tradition in agriculture. The increasing demand in organic farming products, which became manifest at a community and international level, may represent an opportunity for local farmers. The poor development of intensive farming production in Romania may represent a strategic advantage in developing the ecological agricultural sector. The present paper proposes an organic product concept assessment, an identification of Romanian agriculture's opportunities to obtain organic raw materials, an ecological product domestic and international market description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an analysis of food products market in Romania and its importance in the national economy. Grain market is an important part of Romanian agrifood sector, which is constantly developing, especially after Romania's accession to the EU, cereals occupying more than 65% of the cultivated area of the country. Grain market analysis is necessary because of the multitude of problems facing this sector: the high degree of perishability of production; existence of increased competition on the domestic and international market; high degree of self-consumption in the individual farmers; territorial dispersion of supply, with large regional differences and seasonal fluctuations; the imbalance of domestic supply-demand that facilitates recourse to imports or increased exports; existence of a price system directly affected by international prices; obtaining products uncompetitive in international markets in terms of quality; organizational and functional deficiencies in taking domestic production market, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was the assessment of nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) content in the mixed feeds and eggs from two different production systems (organic and conventional). Were analyzed 40 samples of mixed feed and lay eggs from Brown hybrid at the age of 27 weeks in two units in Romania. Sampling and the preparation of samples were performed in compliance with the rules of the standards in force in Romania and harmonized with EU legislation (SR 13175:1993); the method for the determination used was spectrophotocolorimetry method (UVmini 1240 SHIMADZU). Analysis of mixed feed samples revealed statistically significant differences (p⩾0.05) between the two systems (organic vs. conventional) for the nitrate content but significantly distinct (p⩽0.01) for nitrite content (0.49 vs. 1.71 ppm relative to a feed with a moisture content of 12%), values well below the maximum allowable 15 ppm provided by legislation in Romania. In the case of the nitrate content of analyzed eggs, there were distinctly significant differences (p⩽0.01) for whites samples (0.83 vs. 2.65 ppm fresh product) and mixtures samples (0.18 vs. 0.15 ppm fresh product) and statistically insignificant (p⩾0.05) for yolk samples. In the case of nitrite content of eggs from the two production systems were very significant differences (p⩽0.001) (0.16 / 0.27 ppm vs.0.06 ÷ 0.22 ppm fresh product). Higher values of nitrite in eggs from organic systems may be due to access of poultry on grassy paddock and additional consumption of green fodder, its analysis revealed an average of 0.83 ppm at 12% moisture feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of organic farming is now a daily current international, regional and local consumption because food resources consumption caused by long periods and processes for obtaining food through mechanization, chemical treatment or genetic engineering that have roughly considerable natural capital. The paper "Organic farming in Romania" is for all those interested in what involves practicing organic farming and aims to clarify the terminology specific ecological, biological or organic and identifying legislative framework which is conducted under the auspices of the processes for obtaining organic products and determining the chronological debut for European and national interest for organic farming. The research involved a detailed study of the terminology related to the field and scoring notions considered the most important and easy understanding of ecological process, identify the main objectives of organic farming, with its operating principles. To determine whether Romania practice organic farming competitive or debutante, we analyzed the statistics provided by FAO and Eurostat for United Nations that led to weak enlightening conclusions, which is why I felt the absence of national centralization hampers such research process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decades agriculture has changed character with the development of new knowledge, machinery and chemical industry. This agriculture enabled the world to produce food that kept in pace with population growth, but this was not achieved without side effects on the health of people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses issues of air quality in the area of Slatina city regarding the pollution index - sulfur dioxide, describing the main characteristics of the polluter, emission sources, and especially its evolution in time and space of the concentrations and the annual trend, correlated with causes that may increase or diminish the monthly and annually concentrator's values. Data was collected and provided by The Environmental Agency of Olt County and The Analysis Laboratory for Evaluation of Emissions of ALRO S.A. Company. During the analyzed period, 1996-2006, there were no average monthly levels in the time and space distribution higher than the maximum allowed concentration, which is of 0,125 mg/m³ in 24 hours; also, the annual average values of the index follow a decreasing trend. However, when put together with other urban polluters, the vegetation along with the population of Slatina city is put under discomfort. Towards the end of the article, there are presented conclusions mentioning the main effects over the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essential component of the bee chain analysis in the North West Region is the comparison of different production practices: stationary beekeeping versus pastoral beekeeping; conventional beekeeping versus organic beekeeping. In the area of scientific research at a national level these issues have not been considered so far. The research methods used for these comparisons were the survey and the focus group. Following the quantitative and qualitative data analysis, the advantages and disadvantages of the above mentioned beekeeping practices were identified: stationary beekeeping generates products designed primarily for use in the household or within the close network of friends, does not require significant resources, but the productivity of the hives is lower. By practicing pastoral beekeeping instead, a higher productivity is obtained, but the expenses for the travel are high and the risks associated to moving the hives are significant. In terms of the comparison between the economic efficiency of conventional versus organic beekeeping, although 82% of the respondents agree at the declaratory level with the principles of organic beekeeping, this type of beekeeping it is not yet sufficiently attractive for several reasons: bureaucracy, the difficulty of selling the products within the country, very expensive periodic inspections, higher costs and greater risks. The practical implications of the present research are meant to provide solutions to beekeepers from the North West Region and not only, in order for them to choose the most efficient production techniques, consistent with the three components of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental component [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of European honey markets, the Romanian market is considered as one of the most powerful, with a rate of 100% self-supply and multiple export opportunities. The Romanian beekeeping sector, characterized by a fast dynamic during 2000-2010, has adapted to current trends, responding in this way to the growing demand for the production of organic products, necessary for a healthy lifestyle. The first organic beekeepers were registered in 2000 and their number reached 1018 in 2009. Starting from these data, the present research is based on a perception study on organic beekeeping in the North West of Romania, the study being a part of a complex analysis of the beekeeping chain, carried out within the postdoctoral research project "A technical and economic analysis of the beekeeping in the North West Region of Romania in order to ensure the sustainable development of the beekeeping chain". The results of the present study show that the vast majority of beekeepers agree with the principles of organic beekeeping and more than half admit that they are aware of the costs that this type of beekeeping entails. Organic beekeeping, as a particular orientation towards a certain set of principles that guide the production of honey, is in its early stage in Romania. The support of this type of beekeeping is done through various forms: supporting a percentage of the fee for inspection and certification by NRDP measures, through the National Beekeeping Program as well as the national export strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of ecological products is an expensive "fashion" on the international market. However, the production and processing of the row BIO materials represent a complex problem, which demands solutions. The Romanian BIO products market has a favourable image, even though consumption represents only 1% of the total consumption. 90% of the raw materials are exported. Unfortunately, the products exported return to Romania, processed, with 4-5 times higher prices. The direction for a clean and healthier life style is designed. Its evolution will decide the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five wine grape varieties (Aromat de Iaşi, Pink Traminer, Italian Riesling, Feteascā regala, Muscat Ottonel ) were tested in 2007, in Gherla, Cluj county, Romania, under two types of cultural practices: organic and conventional. The conventional system has comprised the use of two systemic fungicides: Ridomil gold MZ 68WP and Melody Duo 66,8 WP and two contact fungicides: Folpet 50 WP and Dithane M 45 in the interval may 3rd decade until June the 1st decade. The organic treatments were applied in the same interval with the following products: Bordeaux mixture 0,5% + purine of greater nettle fermented 1/20 dillution and copper sulphate 1% and at the end of the interval, with Bordeaux mixture 1% + soluble sulphur 0,4% and Trichodex 25 V/P. In this study the following parameters were observed for the five wine grape varieties: the number of grape clusters on vine stock, the average weight of the grapes, the absolute productivity index (API), the relative productivity index (RPI) and the grape production. The experiment was a bifactorial one (type of culture x cultivar) with four table grape varieties grown in two types of culture systems (conventional and organic). The Feteascã regala and Italian Riesling varieties, cultivated in an organic system has registered higher values for almost of the studied parameters by comparison with values from the other three types in the conventional system, which suggests that there is a possibility of choice, from the present wine types of cultivars with a high adaptability to the organic culture system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania has tradition and a great potential to improve its production of medicinal and spice plants. Whether this important potential is used within the organic farming system, this will create new opportunities for small farmers. Medicinal and spice plants grown within the organic farming system could have a significant contribution to the following aspects: clean agriculture, new technologies, healthy products, environmental protection and conservation of the natural resources. In Romania, there are possibilities to produce and obtained organic medicinal and spice plants products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of natural, green, organic products represents an increasingly important subject for contemporary society, organizations, consumers and researchers. Demographic and cultural factors, traditions and consumption habits, along with the individual desire to adopt a healthy lifestyle in accordance with principles of sustainability and environmental protection are relevant vectors in the search, choice and consumption of green products. Producers and retailers have identified the interest of modern consumers, introducing a varied range of green grocery and non-food products to match expectations and needs. Using the case study method, this paper highlights the transition of the organic market in an emerging European country: Romania. During the era of state economy, organic and natural products were interchangeable, but after liberalization of the market, the rise of the organic sector began with the establishment of inspection and certification bodies, establishment of procedures, and the appearance of specialized agricultural farms, processors and sellers. Consumers understood soon enough the advantages and benefits of organic products and a healthy lifestyle, and the market for organic products has been developing steadily. We show the current state of development and discuss its evolution, outlining the different market statistics, and making recommendations regarding future development possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The „Marmelada de mătceşe" product is specific for Alba county mountain area. The traditionality of the product is given by the preparational tehnologic process, recipe and simplity as well as product preparation rapidity. By the organic point of view the product does not contain pollution elements like nitrates, pesticides or heavy metals. The product can be framed in the legal standards of a traditional product from the P.O.D. cathegory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]