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Domestication and cultivation of useful plants are correlated with the evolution and development of human civilization. The current evolution of agricultural technologies has allowed the development of new concepts of intelligent agriculture, based on ITC. In order to optimize crop production, pest control, soil and plant growth monitoring and better information collection for farmers, in the context of the world's growing population, smart agriculture will need to make more use of information technology. The future of agriculture in the coming years will be the result of the connection between satellites and intelligent technical means, both with monitoring and control of agricultural activity. The article presents the trends of smart agriculture and aspects related to the development of Romanian agriculture. The obtained results allow the development of more extensive analyzes, the presented study being part of the documentation related to the doctoral research.

A dynamic competition in a free market comprises its own mechanisms for balancing the supply and demand of goods and services. The paper proposes an analysis of companies in the agri-food sector in Moldova, focusing on their turnover and geographical distribution by regions. Open-access articles from Clarivate, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate were used for the literature review. Official data provided by National Bureau of Statistics were utilized for the research. The results showed a significant increase in cumulative turnover for operators in the food industry during 2015-2021. In 2022, regarding the concentration level of companies across different geographic regions, the highest concentration was observed in Chisinau Municipality and the lowest in the ATU Gagauzia. The study highlighted an Inverse Herfindahl-Hirschman Index in Chisinau Municipality and a minimum the ATU Gagauzia Region. The analysis conducted is part of the doctoral training stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an analysis of rural development in Romania within the broader European context, focusing on the impact of digitization. Drawing from scientific databases and official sources, the study collected and interpreted data from both European and national statistical systems. The research results showed a significant evolution of digitization in the rural environment, but also the continued existence of significant gaps compared to urban areas. The significant increase in internet access rates in Romanian villages, the use of modern digital technologies in local public administration, or a high level of interest in accessing Smart Village funds are aspects highlighted in the article. The conclusions of the study can be useful to public authorities for the development of strategies aimed at rural development. The research conducted is preliminary in nature, being carried out within doctoral studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on the comparative analysis of income and expenditure trends in agricultural households in Romania. By using a comparative analytical framework, an investigation was conducted into how the evolution of income and expenses influences the economic condition of agricultural households. The primary aim of this research was to recognize fluctuations and patterns in the incomes of agricultural households, while examining how these factors influence farmers' purchasing choices. Through comparative analysis, we gained deeper insights into the expenditure structure in agricultural households across the development regions in Romania. Specialized articles from the main scientific databases were used for documentation. The research was conducted using official statistical data provided by the National Institute of Statistics for the period 2018-2022. The study's results highlighted that understanding the evolution of incomes and expenses in households, with a focus on the agricultural category, can enable the development of appropriate economic and social policies to support the overall well-being and economic development of Romania. Thus, it can be appreciated that the conducted research can provide valuable information in the analysis of sustainable development in the agricultural sector, for the improvement of farmers' quality of life and rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of the actions undertaken by the ANSVSA inspectors during the 2023 summer season in the areas of tourist interest within Constanta County. Based on the analyzed data concerning the Summer Season Command period and the periods and areas overcrowded with tourists, specifically from June 26, 2023, to September 3, 2023, several conclusions can be drawn: The research highlights the fact that food business operators still require support in order to meet food safety standards and to comply with the legislation in force. These issues have resulted in increased inspections in order to prevent food safety risks, including the prevention of food poisoning. A total of 2,245 units were inspected, leading to the enforcement of 471 penalties for offences, totaling 4,962,200 RON, and over 2 tons of non-compliant food were confiscated. These conclusions provide an overview of the evolution of the activities conducted by food business operators in the South-East Region of Romania, indicating both the challenges to and opportunities for their development and the continued implementation of good hygiene and food safety practices. [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 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 voluntary withdrawal from the international market, including Romania, and the recall of food products by consumers are based on the precautionary principle. The withdrawn batches pose certain risks to consumers, and food safety emphasizes prevention. The paper proposes an analysis of food recalls in Romania, based on official communications from relevant public institutions. From 2016 to 2023, the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority in Romania reported 337 food recalls, with the majority initiated by FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) traders. Batches of fruits and vegetables, followed by ices and desserts, cereals and bakery products, as well as meat and meat products, were frequently removed from the market, primarily due to suspected presence of allergens, chemical contaminants, or microbiological issues. In terms of origin, the withdrawn batches were predominantly imported from Turkey, China, or Latin America. The research provides relevant information about the food withdrawals and recalls policy in Romania and will enable the development of a broader study regarding the capacity of companies operating in the domestic market to handle critical food safety incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the free market economy, industrial and production globalization, the development of new forms of trade and the introduction of special facilities in special areas led to an economic boost. FEZs can cover various types of economic activities, depending on government policy and specific objectives for each goal, being created to stimulate industrial production and manufacturing of goods. According to the official information on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, there are 7 FEZs operating in the Republic of Moldova in 2023. In 2022 the increase in income, as a continuity effect in the national economy, in the 7 economic zones operating on the national territory, constituted approximately 663 million US dollars. The biggest share of investments was made in the FEZ "Bălți" - the amount of investments 281.64 million US dollars. During the years 2009-2022, in the FEZ, the positive evolution of the investment growth rate indicator was recorded by 37.6%. The study is preliminary, being the basis of complex research, which will be developed within the doctoral training program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture evolves from day to day, so that, among the traditional crops, whole fields of lavender have appeared. Apart from its decorative uses, lavender has many other uses, both in the cosmetic and food industries. Lavender growing can become a profitable business for farmers, entrepreneurs and gardeners alike. Lavender is often grown for the benefits of the products it produces. Lavender is a perennial plant that is rarely attacked by pests. As it is considered a niche business, lavender is often grown on small areas. Analysis of the state of vegetation and condition of agricultural crops is done using multispectral drone cameras. These combine data from several separate sensors, so that it is possible to quickly analyse the evolution of the plants, the presence of weeds and insects, the lack of water, etc. In this article we will highlight the impact of using a drone analysis for the purpose of monitoring the state of vegetation as well as the opportunities in finding solutions to control pests and other factors on a field cultivated with lavender in Campia Romana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes an analysis of the fishing sector in Romania, from the perspective of the exploitation of natural resources. Romania's hydrographic network represents over 3.5% of the country's total area. Fishing and aquaculture are activities carried out in all regions of the country. In the areas along the rivers and the Black Sea, fishing is the primary source of income for the population of the region. In the last decades, fish production from aquaculture has regularly exceeded the catch. Romania's foreign trade with fish and aquatic products has an unbalanced balance, with a significant dependence of the domestic market on imports. The average annual fish consumption per capita in Romania is below the European average, although a positive evolution has been recorded in the recent period. The implementation of European projects by the companies operating in the Romanian fishing sector is difficult, the degree of access to the funds available to the domestic sector being characterized by a relatively low level of absorption. The lack of effective measures from the public authorities to support the national fishing sector will accentuate its decline, and the domestic market's dependence on imports from abroad will continue to grow. The research results can be useful to companies in the fishing sector, for accessing European funds, and to public authorities, in developing appropriate public policies and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes an analysis of the effective rate of absorption of European Structural Funds in Romania, allocated to the national agricultural sector, in the period 2019-2022.The research was carried out on the basis of the official information, provided by the Romanian and European statistical systems. National Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The results of the research show a strong correlation between the effective absorption rate of the European Structural Funds and the total net investments in the agricultural sector at the national level. Agriculture can be considered as a model for the other domestic economic sectors from the perspective of the degree of absorption of European funds. Considering the importance of the agricultural sector, it is necessary that the value of net investments increases, regardless of the source of financing used, but above all that farmers make the most of the opportunity to access non-reimbursable structural funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present the procedure of managing public procurement contracts for sustainable agricultural products from the public entities perspective (with reference to setting criteria for selecting the suppliers, contract management, etc), but also from the perspective of the selling companies (from drafting the tender to products being delivered). The research is based on data processed by Eurostat (2012-2021), but also on information taken from the Romanian Electronic Public Procurement System (2018-2022). The analyses in the paper concern indicators such as: the procurement of agricultural products from Romania, and at European level the organic production of animal products, the number of processors of sustainable agricultural products, etc. In conclusion, since the public institutions buy large quantities of agricultural products, but the market for sustainable agricultural products is restricted, a global strategy for rethinking the public procurement in this area is clearly required. The work is relevant both for the contracting authorities with respect to the management of public procurement for agricultural products, but also for the companies with respect to the business management of public contracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research proposes an comparative analysis of the evolution of labour costs in the national agricultural sector in the period 2017-2021. The study was conducted using data provided by the national and European statistical systems. For bibliographic documentation, the official releases of the National Institute of Statistics, Google Scholar, Clarivate Analytics, and ResearchGate were taken into account. The results of the comparative analysis of labour costs have shown a steady increase across all sectors of activity at the national level in Romania, including in the agricultural sector. The agricultural sector records costs significantly below the national average, an important aspect to be considered in the development of strategies for optimizing the management of agricultural enterprises. The lack of balance in labour costs can have effects on the financial performance and competitiveness of businesses, as well as on the job market and the overall economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes an approach of the small and medium-sized enterprises activity process in the field of public procurement, given the fact that these companies are the basis for the development of the European economy. The involvement of Romanian SMEs in public procurement represents more than 60% of the total concluded contracts during the period 2018-2020. The originality and novelty of the research derives from the analysis carried out on the SMEs attendance to public procurement in Romania and from highlighting the main causes for bids rejection. Public procurement can be an incentive tool for the development of innovative products/technologies and to support SMEs. The development of public sector contracts is one of the growing opportunities for these companies. Research has shown that the chance of SMEs being awarded public contracts decreases by around 15% due to lack of skills required by the tendering procedure or lack of staff training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]