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The paper aimed to present the research results on some environmental challenges and priorities of climate resilience. The research work was carried out in 2021 and referred to the analysis of the transcendence character corresponding to the environmental policies according to the strategic guidelines of recovery and resilience for sustainable development and green transition. Although sustainable development of the Romanian water sector has been approached in the past, the present paper has new research related to the water security and its role in building the climate resilience of agriculture and rural development in the European Union and our country. From a methodological view, there are used accumulations and outcomes from the specialty literature, from previous researches, the own data processing in figures and tables to describe some conceptual relationships, comparative analyses of the developmental state and the climatic vulnerability of the Romanian water infrastructure sector. The conclusions and recommendations highlight backlogs, needs and opportunities in the context of implementing the European Green Deal and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. [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 use of pesticides is a growing problem for the environment given the negative impact it has on the quality of soil, groundwater and surface water, biodiversity and ecosystems, but also on human health. To these are added the emergence of new diseases and pests that must be combated, precisely as a result of changes in the environment and climate change. However, their use is necessary, given the growing need for food, as a result of the exponential growth of the world's population and the reduction of areas for agriculture. The use of the latest generation pesticides, their correct application leads not only to the increase of their productions and to their profitability, but also to the protection of the environment and the preservation of biodiversity. In this paper, we aim to analyze the evolution of pesticide consumption in the E.U. and at the level of Romania in the period 2011-2019. The research methodology involved the bibliographic study, the consultation of domestic and international databases, the analysis of statistical data, their interpretation and the formulation of conclusions on the current situation compared to the base year, so that we can estimate what future developments will be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work aims to analyze the existing situation in Romania compared to other EU countries, regarding bovines herds, given that this species is one of the ones that causes the highest level of greenhouse gases, with a direct effect on the environment and global warming. This is the reason why the subject has become a priority not only at the community level, but also worldwide. Through the Common Agricultural Policy, important funds have been allocated at the level of the European Union, which will continue to be allocated, not only for the reduction of climate change, but also for the adaptation of the states of the world to these existing climate changes at the global level. Given the path in which animal husbandry influences sustainable development, through the study we have followed both the effective changes, but also the obtained productions, with a direct impact on consumption. It was found that both at the community level, as well as at the national level, there was a decrease in bovines herds in in the period 2016-2020, the reasons being primarily of an economic nature, but equally important being the social and environmental ones. The analysis was carried out starting from the data published by the National Institute of Statistics and Eurostat, data that were then processed and analyzed with the help of statistical methods. Based on these, the conclusions were formulated that show us that in Romania the number of bovines herds decreased by 11% in the period 2016-2021. At the European Union level, Romania ranks 10th in terms of bovines herds and 20th in terms of density/100 ha. Although there are advances in terms of applied technologies or more productive breeds, at the global level the objectives pursued by the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions have not been influenced by these advances, which makes the activity of raising bovines to be considered one with effects negative effects on the environment, but also high consumption of energy and water, which in turn have a negative impact on climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The irrigation sector is a major issue in European agriculture considering the potential impact of climate change and increasing demand for food in areas undergoing economic development. The main objective of this paper has taken into account the analysis and description of trends and current status of irrigation in the European Union (EU) regarding a series of technological, economic and social factors. Achieving this goal involved literature review and analysis of databases dedicated to the subject. The data analysis targeted irrigable and irrigated agricultural areas, types of used irrigation and types of irrigated crops. Results of the analysis show a picture of the wide variety of irrigation sector in the EU. The development of this sector must consider the multifunctional role of agriculture in establishing a balance between economic, social and environmental variables in different European regions and countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the concept, evolution and current situation of climate vulnerability in the European Union and highlights the needs for future developments in this sector, in the context of sustainable development and green recovery. The analysis of the current situation reflects some issues of the climate vulnerability in Romania compared with some other Member States, as well as within the development regions of Romania. There are also approached and highlighted some aspects regarding domains with higher vulnerability to climate change and the impact on the agriculture in Romania. The analysis of Romania's vulnerability to climate change was performed based on calculations present in global analyses, which followed the evolution of several composite indicators. The results place Romania in a relatively good position at global level, due mainly to the low exposure to sea level rise. On the other hand, the agricultural climate vulnerability is high due to droughts and floods, as manifestations of extreme weather events in Romania seriously exposed to damage in agriculture. The conclusions reflect the need for further analysis in this area and also provide some recommendations for improving further policy at national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weather changes significantly affect people's lives. Climatic data recorded so far indicates a progressive warming of the weather. Agriculture is one of the most affected branches due to its dependence on the evolution of the weather throughout the entire plants growing season. Agroecology can be one of the correct and concrete answers to the challenge of climate change, as this type of agriculture respects the natural balance of Earth, reducing human impact as much as possible. The current research presents the situation of agroecology in our country, as well as the evolution of organically grown crops areas. Although over the last 10 years, in Romania, the trend has fluctuated slightly with both decreases and increases, starting with 2017 the evolution of organic cultivated areas follow a positive trend. Organic farming follows the same positive trend in European Union and also worldwide. As concerns the types of organic crops grown in Romania in 2019 the largest area is occupied by cereals (32.09%), followed by permanent crops of meadows and hayfields (29.2%), then by industrial crops (19.82%). The smallest ratios of organically cultivated areas are represented by tuberous and root plants, as well as vegetables. Wheat is the most widespread crop, followed by maize, sunflower and barley. Other organic crops in our country, but cultivated on smaller areas, are rye, triticale, oats, rice, soybeans, potatoes and sugar beets. The increase of the surfaces on which the agroecology extends corresponds to the necessity of the humanity to return to the natural state, just how agriculture was from its beginnings, in order to slow down the climatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation in agriculture occurs in response to the requirements of increasing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, given the intensification of social and political pressures on combating the climate changes effects and ensuring food safety. Through innovation in agriculture is seeking for new solutions to increase the performance of economic entities in this domain and also to ensure sustainable development of the agricultural domain. The conducted research involved, first, a theoretical approach based on reviewing the specialized literature, which allowed, later, devising an empirical study on the relationship innovation - performance in agriculture, at the European Union level (EU-28). To answer the research question, in the study there were used the following data analysis methods: multiple linear regression analysis, correlation analysis, comparative analysis. The main results of the study show that, in most countries, agriculture has recorded performance gains. The highest levels of performance were recorded in those countries characterized by a high rate of investment in research - development and education of agricultural entrepreneurs. From the analysis of statistical relationships between indicators appears a positive influence of innovation on the performance of agriculture. Also, the results show that improving the economic performance is inversely related to the improvement of the environmental performance of agricultural entities, whereas the adoption of measures to minimize the consumptions of inputs does not ensure economic performance as it should be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]