Organic Farming from the Economic Perspective for Romania

Abstract

Romania's accession to the European Union in 2007 produced several changes and advantages, but also various rules to follow and objectives to achieve. Some of the proposed objectives were the achievement of climate neutrality and environmental protection. The effects associated with global warming and environmental degradation have a significant impact on people's quality of life, both in urban and rural areas. In this sense, public programs and plans have an important contribution to the course of ecological improvement and bring methods that aim to achieve notable changes at the environmental, social and economic level. Organic agriculture in Romania currently occupies an important role in the country's economic development, it is a strategic branch of the economy because the population's interest in organic products is growing and farmers' profits are not negligible. The researched topic is current and important, because the subsidies granted by the European Union through European funds are consistent for the agricultural sector and have increased every year, being supplemented by the funds offered from the national budget of Romania. The purpose of this research is to identify the advantages of practicing ecological agriculture for Romania and for farmers, from an economic point of view, but also for the benefit of the environment and the climate. The results obtained through this study can support farmers to move towards organic farming, as it exposes the way to access agricultural subsidies and the compensatory payments possible to obtain. The opportunities that arise due to the development of this agricultural sector are diverse, namely: products with higher prices, traditional occupations, ecotourism with attractive incomes, sustainable development of agriculture, diversity of products and the formation of new market areas.