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The purpose of this research was to identify the main tendencies in raw silk trade at the global level and in the EU main producing and trading countries like China and India in Asia, and Italy, France, Romania, Germany and Spain in the EU. To attain this goal, the data referred to the last decade divided into two sub-periods 2013-2017 and 2018-2022 for allowing the comparison and quantification of the differences. The methodological procedures included the use of fixed basis indices, absolute and relative differences among sub-periods, comparison, trend regression equations and R square served as statistical tools to process the data from ITC and OEC World. The results pointed out the decline by 43.2% in world raw silk production which attained 91 thousand MT in 2022 vs 2013. The global raw silk export decreased from USD 3.12 Billion in 2013 to USD 1.91 Billion in 2022 (-38.8%), while the import went down by 38.8% from USD 2.41 Billion to USD 1.65 Billion (-31.54%). In consequence, trade balance remained positive at USD 0.26 Billion in 2022, but being 2.5 times smaller than in 2013. In the EU, in 2022, raw silk export was USD 0.46 Billion (-46.5% lower vs 2013), while import value attained USD 0.62 Billion (- 37.4% vs 2013), resulting a negative balance of - USD 0.16 Billion. China maintained its top position as a silk producer and exporter, with a positive trade balance, but negative in 2020-2022. The Asian competitors India, Uzbekistan and Vietnam increased production and their trade as well. The EU is a very important raw silk importer, so that its trade balance is negative (-USD 0.16 Billion in 2022). Italy is a remarkable top silk importer in the world, and France, Romania, Germany and Spain are also representatives. Silk textiles remain of high attraction for fashion industry, a reason to expect as production and commerce to flourish in the future, as in the EU is a new orientation to reduce the wastes caused by fast fashion based on synthetic fibers and to encourage the production of healthier and environment friendly natural fibers like silk which has to sustain fashion, textile and apparel industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamics of raw silk production in the period 2011-2022 at the global level and in the top six producing countries using the official data and usual methods in such a research: fixed basis and structural indices, descriptive statistics, regression equations, coefficient of determination, correlations, absolute and relative differences, comparisons etc. The results showed that, at the global level, raw silk production accounted for 91,221 Metric tons in the year 2022 being by 30% smaller than in 2011. The top silk producing countries are China, India, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Thailand and Brazil. While in China, Thailand and Brazil production has substantially declined (- 52%, -33.5%, -23%), in India, Uzbekistan and Vietnam silk production increased by 58.6%, 116.7% and 113.4%. The share of all these six countries in the global production is 99.2%. In 2022, the highest weight belongs to China (54.8%) and India (40.1%). It is expected as silk production to raise taking into account that it is an eco and skin friendly product, and also a biodegradable product, while synthetic fibers are polluting. However, the high production cost, market price fluctuation and other restraining factors could affect small farmers dealing with sericiculture. For the developing countries, silkworm rearing and silk production sector is a profitable business which offer jobs, income, a better living standard, reducing poverty, hungry, gender discrimination, preserving biodiversity and conserving soil quality and contributing to the sustainable development in the rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyze the land use at the global level and in the European Union in the period, 2000-2021, in order to identify the changes and trend pointing out the status of agricultural land and by category of use. Fixed and structural indices and suggestive illustration were used to show the variations and trends for agricultural land, arable land, crop land and permanent meadows and pastures at the global level, for the top countries with the largest agricultural area and in the EU-27 by member states. The global agricultural land decreased, in 2021, being 4,787.5 Million ha, by 1.8% smaller. The world crop land increased to 1,579.8 Million ha in 2021, being by 5.7% larger. Of the global agricultural land, 33% is cropland and 67% permanent grasslands. The larger cropland is in Asia, Americas and Europe. The largest countries in cropland represent 39.3%, while the largest countries in grasslands 23.2%. About 40% of the EU's territory is represented by agricultural land and belongs to France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Finland, Italy, and Romania. The EU agricultural land decreased to 162,905.8 thousand ha, being by 10.83% smaller. Cropland declined by 9.4%, and permanent grasslands declined by 13.71%. Cropland accounts for 68%, while permanent grasslands for 32% in the EU. The EU keeps 3.4% of the global agricultural land, 7.01% of crop land and 1.62% of grasslands. In the most EU countries agricultural land declined. In the EU, it is a high concentration of agricultural land, but no concentration in arable land, cropland and permanent grasslands. The world agricultural land per capita declined from 0.24 ha in 2000 to 0.20 ha in 2021. The highest cropland per capita is in Oceania 0.77 ha, Europe 0.39 ha, Americas 0.37 ha, Africa 0.21 ha and Asia with only 0.13 ha. In the EU-27, the average is 36.56 ha agricultural land per capita. The expand of the agricultural land has to be stopped, as it is enough food to nourish the global population. New agro-eco technologies are called to increase crop yield and productivity to protect environment and biodiversity. The reduction in meat production and consumption will protect forests and cropland, and stopping deforestation will orient the people to a healthier and green diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyze milk resources availabilities and utilizations in their dynamics in the period 2014- 2021 pointing out the state of production, import, export and availabilities for human consumption in order to assess in what measure food security and efficiency in milk trade are assured. The data provided by National Institute of Statistics were processed using fixed basis index, regression equations, determination coefficient, graphically illustration and comparison method. In 2021 versus 2014, the results reflected that: utilizable internal production declined by 9.3%, accounting for 51,750; availabilities for human consumption remained relatively stable, in 2021 being 48,881 thousand hl (+ 0.53%). The weight of availability of milk for human consumption in utilizable internal milk production increased from 85.21 % to 94.45%. Import reached 12,988 thousand hl, being 2.58 times higher. The share of import in availability for human consumption increased by 16.28 pp, reaching 26.57%. Milk export was by + 57.28% higher attaining 3,152 thousand hl. The share of export in utilizable production went up from 3.51% to 6.09%. Export/import ratio declined from 0.40 in 2014 to 0.24 in 2021, reflecting a negative milk trade balance. Milk consumption per capita reached 255.6 kg in 2021, being by 4.66% higher than in 2014. In 2021, a Romanian could consume in average 721.3 g milk per day compared to 689.1 g in 2014. The self-sufficiency rate decreased from 95% in 2014 to 84.02 % in 2021, due to the decline in utilized internal production. To diminish milk crisis, it is needed to offer more subsidies for sustaining dairy farming and to stop the decline in the number of dairy cows, in milk production and marketed milk and reduce imports. Processors have to offer Euro 0.5 per milk kg to Romanian farmers and not a discriminatory price of Euro 0.2.-03. Imports have to be reduced and export to be encouraged after assuring the market requirements by internal production. In this way, both self-sufficiency rate and the efficiency in milk trade could be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is the analysis of the competitiveness of the EU top 10 honey exporting countries. Based on World Bank data for the period 2018-2021, Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA), Trade Balance Index (TBI), Production Mapping (PM) and Comparative Export Performance Index (CEP have been determined. RCA results proved that the comparative advantage is "strong" for Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Greece, "moderate" for Spain, "weak" for Poland and Belgium, while Germany, Italy and France have "no" advantage. The RSCA positive values showed that Spain, Hungary, Poland, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria are advantaged in honey trade, while Germany, Italy and France are disadvantaged. According to TBI results, Spain, Hungary, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria are net exporting countries, while Germany, Poland, Belgium, Italy and France are net importing member states. Romania has a high comparative export performance against France, Italy, Germany and Belgium (CEP>5), a moderate performance against Poland and Spain (2

The paper aimed to analyze the competitiveness of top 16 honey exporting countries in the world in the period 2018-2021 using World Bank data, based on the specific indicators Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA), Comparative Export Performance Index (CEP) and Trade Balance Index (TBI). The results showed that in 2021, New Zealand, Argentina, Ukraine, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Brazil, India, Spain, Vietnam, Poland and Mexico had a comparative advantage, while EU, China and Germany have a comparative disadvantage in the international honey market. A strong comparative advantage belongs to New Zealand, Argentina, Ukraine, Hungary and Romania, and partially to Greece, a moderate comparative advantage belongs to Brazil, India, Spain, Mexico, Vietnam and Greece in specific years, a weak comparative advantage belongs to Poland, Vietnam, China and Spain in specific years, and finally, China, EU and Germany are disadvantaged. The highest RSCA is characteristic to New Zealand, Argentina, Ukraine, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Brazil. New Zealand has the highest CEP against EU, China, Germany, and the smallest CEP versus Brazil, Romania, Hungary, Greece and mainly Ukraine. New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, Hungary, Mexico, followed by India and Vietnam have a high TBI being net exporting countries. EU, Germany, Poland had a negative TBI, reflecting that they are net importers and also Greece in 2018. As any country desires to be more competitive, exports and imports have to be kept under control, larger amounts to be available to be sold at the best price and the geographic area of influence to be extended looking for new trade partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed the evolution animal sector regarding livestock and production in Romania in the period 2007-2020. Two sub-periods: P1- 2007-2013 and P2 2014-2020 were compared for assessing if the achievements in P2 were superior. The data from the National Institute of statistics regarding livestock and production by species were processed using fixed basis index, structural index, regression equations, coefficient of determination, multi annual mean per decade, absolute and relative differences between P2 and P1, in order to emphasize the trends and changes during the studied period. The results emphasized the following: the number of bovines, pigs and poultry decreased, while the number of sheep and goats and bee families increased both in P2 and P1. The total animal live weight at slaughter diminished due to the lower and lower live weight of bovines and pigs. However, the increased live weight at slaughter of sheep, goats and poultry had a positive impact. Milk and egg production declined and continued in P2, while wool and honey production increased. Despite that agricultural production value in animal sector increased by +20,420 trillion Lei in 2020 versus 2007, it was by 68.61% smaller than the agricultural production value achieved in the vegetal sector. In consequence, the contribution of animal sector to agricultural output was just 31.39% in the year 2020. The gaps in domestic production have to be covered by imports to meet consumers' requirements and this will deepen the deficit in agro-food trade balance. The reduction of CO2 emissions in agriculture, where 50% come from animal sector, obliges farmers to set up strategies destined to promote animal products obtained from more environment friendly technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper purpose was to assess the impact of climate change on wheat, maize and sunflower yield in the period 2017-2021, using statistical data from National Institute of Statistics (NIS) and National Administration of Meteorology (NAM) and other sources. Comparison method was used to evaluate the deviations between the registered air temperatures and precipitations and the 1981-2010 climatological norm. Graphic method reflected the dynamics of monthly air temperatures and rainfalls in each year. Descriptive statistics for mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation reflected an more comprehensive image upon air temperature, precipitations and yield. Correlations and regression equations were used to establish the intensity of the kinks between climate factors and yield. The highest average air temperature In Romania was 12.130C in 2019. In the period 2017-2020, the average annual temperatures exceeded the climatological norm 1981-2010 accounting for 9.10C. The lowest rainfalls, 614.2 mm, were recorded in 2019, being below of 633.1 mm the norm for the period 1981-2010. The high temperatures associated with drought and low precipitations have deeply affected yield of many agricultural crops, including maize, wheat and sunflower. The highest wheat yield 4,888 kg/ha was achieved in 2017, and the lowest one, 2,966 kg/ha in 2020. Maize registered the highest performance of 7,644 kg/ha in 2018, and the lowest one, 3,977 kg/ha in 2020. Sunflower carried out the high performance 3,041 kg/ha in 2018, and the lowest one, 1,858 kg/ha in 2020. The worst agricultural years for these three crops was 2020, but 2017 favored wheat, while 2018 favored maize and sunflower. The correlation coefficient had in general small values between average temperature and yield, but a higher link with precipitations level. The multiple correlation between yield, air temperatures and precipitations was: r= 0.817 for wheat, r = 0.116 for maize and r = 0.504 for sunflower. In the South Eastern Dobrogea, the driest area in Romania, the rainfalls declined by 65% in the period 2018-2020 having a deep negative impact on sunflower seeds yield, which decreased from 4,282 kg/ha in 2018, to 1,503 kg/ha in 2020. The correlation between precipitations and sunflower yield positive and very strong (r = 0.737). As a conclusion, the climate conditions should be analyzed in each farm and farmers have to take measure to adapt the technologies for sustaining production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to analyze cereals production and price at farm gate, also farm inputs prices (seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, fuel and herbicides) in the EU in the period 2016-2021 and also partially in 2022 in order to identify the trends in the main cereals producing countries France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Italy, Spain and Hungary and to propose a few alternatives to farmers how to adapt to climate change for sustaining production. Eurostat data regarding cereals production and price at farm gate and also prices for farm inputs were used, graphically illustrated including trend regression equation and coefficient of determination. The results pointed out that EU cereals output accounted for 272.6 million tonnes in 2022, being by -8.2% lower than the peak of 2019. Wheat and maize production is 128.19 million tonnes and, respectively, 55.1 million tonnes, meaning lower levels than before. Cereals output declined in the main producing countries: France, Germany, Romania, Spain, Italy, Hungary, but increased in Poland. High temperatures, heat waves, severe and long droughts, low precipitations were the main causes related to climate change. Cereals price at the farm gate increased, and also production costs went up due to the raise in farm input prices which started since 2021 and exploded in 2022. High price for diesel, seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, herbicides, were recorded compared to their levels in 2015. The highest increase of producer's price ranged between +60.7% in Hungary and +31.8% in Spain. In Romania it was +40%. Compared to 2015, in 2021, the growth rate of farm inputs price was: +15.8% for diesel, +10.8% for seeds, +9.8% for fertilizers, +5,13% for herbicides and +3% for plant protection products. In the future, farmers have to increase production rethinking cereals structure, using more high potential varieties and hybrids, resistant to drought, diseases and pests; to extend biodiversity and use crop rotation to preserve soil nutrients; to implement technologies with fewer inputs and conservative agriculture for assuring the sustainable development of cereals production, protecting environment and preserving biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper purpose was to analyze the present situation of the mountain areas in Romania from a sociodemographic, economic and environmental point of view in order to identify the main positive and negative aspects and to establish what objectives and measures have to be considered for assuring the sustainable development of the mountain regions in the coming future. The statistical data provided by Eurostat, FAO, National Institute of Statistics and National Agency for Mountain Areas were statistically processed in their dynamics using trend regression equations, graphical illustration and comparisons. The results pointed out that the Carpathians cover 37.8% of Romania's area and are predominantly rural. The share of the mountain municipalities is just 37.8%(12th position in Europe), the residents account for 5.53 million (6th position) meaning 25% in the total population (11th position), agriculture (mainly animal growing) and forestry are the main activities. In 2021, in the mountain regions there were registered 3,147 producers who carried out 1,164 mountain products, the highest weight belonging to vegetal, dairy and beekeeping products whose sale was assured by 135 Local Gastronomic Points. The contribution of the mountain areas to GDP was Euro 48.7 million, for which Romania came on the 8th position among other European countries. The actual challenges the mountain areas are facing are: the decline and aging of the population, migration of young people to the cities, weak infrastructure, livestock decrease, grasslands degradation, weak promotion of mountain products, lack of connectivity and communication between settlements, a low valorization of the natural and human resources. In consequence, as the Mountain Law provides, it is needed a new approach regarding the development of the mountain economy by valorizing in a more effective way all the resources, paying attention to the diversification of the activities, creating new jobs, stimulating entrepreneurship to increase production (agriculture, forestry, handicrafts etc) and encourage more services (education, medical, cultural, tourism, trade, credit etc), facilities for supporting young people to remain in the localities of origin, improving infrastructure (roads, bridges, houses and village restoration, connectivity to IT and mobile network, digitalization etc), involving both the local authorities and all the residents to intensify their efforts to support the mountain areas in their way to a sustainable development upwards 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed the EU's livestock and animal production in the decade 2012-2021 using the Eurostat data which were statistically processed using dynamics and structural indices and regression equations. The results pointed out that the EU livestock declined by about 9%, so that in 2021, it numbered 77.54 million bovines, 142.73 million pigs, 63.23 million sheep and 12.45 million goats. EU had 5.7 million animal holdings in 2016, by -37.6% less than in 2005, representing 54.28% of the total number of the EU farms. The highest number of bovines are reared in France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Poland, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Romania. While their number decreased in France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Romania, in Ireland, Spain, Poland and Italy it increased. Pigs are mainly grown in Spain, Germany, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Belgium and Romania. While in Spain and Denmark it recorded an upward trend, in Germany, France, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Belgium and Romania pig number declined. Sheep are especially reared in Spain, Greece, Romania, France, and Italy. The sheep number increased by 14% only in Romania, while in the other countries it decreased. Goats number increased in Italy, Romania and France, while in Greece and Spain it registered a downward tendency. Animal output volume and value registered an increasing trend. Milk production increased by +10.3% reaching 160.14 million tonnes in 2020, of which 70% is produced by Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Romania and Austria. Meat production accounted for 43.92 million tonnes in 2021, being by 11.50% higher than in 2012. In its structure, 52.3% is pork, 31% is poultry meat, 15.5% is beef and veal and 1.2 % comes from sheep and goats. France and Germany are the largest meat producing countries. Beef is mainly produced in France, Germany and Spain, poultry in Poland and France, pork in Germany, Spain and France, sheep meat in Spain, France, Ireland and Greece and goat meat in Greece and Spain. In 2021, the animal output value accounted for Euro 162.81 million being by 7.1% higher than in 2012. France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland and Denmark contributes by 70%. In the future it is expected to continue the decline in livestock, the increase of yield and its quality, farmers paying more attention to organic farming, animal health and welfare, food quality and security and also to environment protection and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed Romania's agro-food export, import and trade balance with the EU-27 countries in the period 2013-2021 using the empirical evidence from National Institute of Statistics. Fixed basis and structural indices, as well as Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), Gini-Struck Index (GSI) and the Coefficient of Concentration (CC) were used to characterize the concentration degree of the agri-food trade. In 2021, export value accounted for Euro 5,471.8 Million, import value for Euro 8,459.7 Million and the trade balance registered a deficit of Euro -2,987.9 Million. The figures reflect an increase both in export and import, but import exceeded the export reflecting that Romania is a net importer of agro-food products. The highest market share in Romania's export is kept by Italy, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Hungary, France, Greece, Belgium and Poland, while the main import partners are Germany, Hungary, Poland, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Belgium. The concentration degree both in case of export and import is small as proved by the values of HHI, ranging between 0.0845 and 0.0996 for export and between 0.1065 and 0.1106 for import. GSI values ranged between 0.2220 and 0.2406 for export and between 0.2687 and 0.2764 for import. CC values were below 0.5 also reflecting a competitive market. To diminish the dependence of imports, agro-food export has to be stimulated by the increase of agricultural production which has to provide more products with high value added and of a higher quality to enhance competitiveness, and also imports have to be revised and a better resource allocation is needed to strengthen internal production and cover better domestic consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed rural population, rural working age population, civil population occupied in agriculture and agricultural output value using the data from National Institute of Statistics for the period 2008-2020. Trend line, regression equations, coefficient of determination, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient represented the methodological means for processing the data. Romania had still a high labour resource accounting for 6.23 million persons in 2020, by 10% more than in 2008. In the period 2008-2020, the population able to work declined in almost all the regions, except North East and Bucharest Ilfov, but, the rural population having the age to work increased in various proportions in all the regions. However, civil population occupied in agriculture declined by - 30% from 2,407 thousand persons in 2008 to 1,681 thousand persons in 2020. Population aging and migration are the main causes of this decrease. The decline in the territory ranged between -31.3% in North East and -25% in Bucharest-Ilfov. Agricultural production value increased by +21.6% from Ron 66,993 Million in 2008 to Ron 81,400 Million in 2020. In 2020, the highest agricultural output value was achieved in South Muntenia, North East, North West, South West Oltenia, South East. Analyzing the linear dependency between the ranks of civil population occupied in agriculture and agricultural output value, we noticed that in 2008, it was not found such a connection, as Spearman's correlation coefficient was rS = 0.1004, tcrit 6;0.05 was 1,943 and RI = 0.4748 < 0.1943. However, in 2020, between the ranks of the two studied indicators was found a linear dependency reflected by rS = 0.739, RI = 2.26, tcrit 6;0.05 was 1,943, therefore RI > tcrit. As a final conclusion, while the population occupied in agriculture decreases, agricultural production value increases due to the decline in civil population occupied in this economic sector caused by aging and migration, increased performance in agricultural production, grace to technological progress and a better farm management, price volatility for agricultural products, financial support according to the CAP of the EU and Romania's Government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed the evolution of the surfaces where chemical fertilizers were used, total consumption of fertilizers and the average consumption per surface unit in Romania and also by micro-region of development in order to establish the trends in the use of the fertilizers, and its concentration degree in terms of Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, (HHI), Gini-Struck Index (GSI) and Coefficient of Concentration (CC). The empirical data were collected from National Institute of Statistics for the period 2007-2020. Romania's mineral fertilizer consumption accounts for 5% of the EU total consumption, for which the country is ranked the 7th after France, Germany, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom and Italy. Compared to the EU mean of 77.2 kg Nitrogen fertilizer consumed per ha UAA in the year 2018, Romania applied less than 60 kg, a level which is far away from over 100 kg used by Belgium, Netherlands, Czechia and Denmark. In 2020, the average consumption of mineral fertilizer in Romania reached 98.16 kg/ha, which is still lower than in the Western EU countries. In the year 2020, the average consumption in Romania was exceeded, in the descending order, only by the West, Bucharest-Ilfov, North West and South West Oltenia regions. If in 2007, it was observed an uniform consumption of fertilizers among the eight micro-regions of Romania, in 2020, a slight moderate concentration was noticed in terms of HHI, GSI and CC. The regions with the highest share in mineral fertilizer consumption in Romania, in the decreasing order, are: West, South Muntenia, South West Oltenia, North East, South East and North West regions. The EU policy regarding the sustainable development of agriculture reducing the use of chemical fertilizers for protecting environment, biodiversity and ensuring food safety is welcome, but it has to be adapted to the actual average consumption and also taking into account the local needs of each country regarding the growth of productivity, farmers' income and profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to analyze the efficiency of labor force input in the EU using the most representative indicators: agricultural production and gross value added per 1,000 AWU and also of Factor A in the decade 2011-2020. The applied methodology included fixed basis index in 2020 vs 2011, average annual growth rate in the interval, and market share. In the period 2011-2020, the EU agricultural output value and gross value added have definitely increased, accounting for Euro 411.77 Billion and, respectively, Euro 176,96 Billion in 2020, while labour input continued to decline reaching an employment rate of 4.37%. In 2020, the EU agricultural output value per 1,000 AWU accounted for Euro 60 Million while GVA for Euro 20.83 Million. While Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Sweden, France are in the top compared to the EU average for agricultural output per AWU, Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Poland, Croatia and Romania are situate in the opposite corner. Compared to the EU average of Euro 20.83 Million for GVA/1,000 AWU, Netherlands, Denmark, France, Germany are on the top positions, while Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland and Romania are on the last positions. Indicator A or Factor income reached 124% in 2020 being by 24% higher than in 2010. The highest Indicator A belongs to Bulgaria and Hungary, while the lowest one to Germany, Austria, Finland, Netherlands and Belgium. In conclusion, the efficiency of the use of labour force differs from an EU member state to another depending on its efforts to increase net gross value and decrease labour input. Only the growth of agricultural output, the optimization of intermediate consumption, the raise of net GVA, the decline in labor input but using only a high qualified, conscious, responsible, workable labor force and taking measures to face the climate change, the EU could grow the labour productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed honey production in the EU-28 in the period 2008-2019 using the data provided by FAOstat. Regression equations and average annual growth rate have pointed out a general increasing trend in honey production both at the EU level and in almost all member states. In 2019, the EU produced 280 thousand tonnes honey, of which 76.44% was carried out by the largest producing countries: Spain, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Poland, France, Italy, Bulgaria with over 10, 000 tonnes per year. Other countries like Portugal, United Kingdom, Czechia, Croatia, Austria had a moderate production ranging between 5 and 10 tonnes per year, and their share accounted for 12.07%. The remaining of 11.49% was assured by the other 12 countries. The average growth rate of honey production was 3.07 at the EU-28 level, but the highest growth of over 6% was registered in the Baltic countries, Croatia and Italy, and a moderate growth rate varying between 4 and 6% was recorded in the main producing countries and also by Czechia. Spain, France and Bulgaria had growth rates below 2%. In Denmark production stagnated, and in Austria, Ireland and Slovakia declined. Important EU funds are destined for the implementation of the national apiculture programmes 2020-2022 for sustainable beekeeping development, enhancing technical endowment, improving apiculturists' education level, sustaining young apiculturists, increasing the number of beehives and honey production level and quality and for assuring healthy and strong bee colonies. Bees have to continue to support agricultural production by pollination, rural areas development, a clean environment, balanced ecosystems and biodiversity preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]