EXPLORING ROMANIAN AGRI-FOOD COOPERATIVISM AS A WAY OF CONSOLIDATING SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

European agriculture is a sector that is in a decisive moment of transformation. The transition from small farms to viable and sustainable businesses is difficult and often traumatic. One of the ways to face these changes is through the grouping of farmers creating agri-food cooperatives. This model has proven successful in Sweden or Finland but has not been developed equally in all territories. Romania is a country with no deep-rooted cooperative tradition. However, it has exciting and promising initiatives that may represent an alternative development path, especially in rural areas. This paper addresses the current situation of agri-food cooperatives in Romania, analysing its immediate past and exploring the opportunities that arise in the future through a scientific literature review. Results help to better address future actions on cooperative promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]