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The research on the utilisation of agricultural land in agricultural holdings has the aim to present the problems and opportunities European CAP policy brings in Bulgarian agriculture. We have used statistical methods as well as academically approved approaches to systematically assess how changes in CAP policy, have changed the landscape of agriculture and what positive and negative changes are the result of the implementation of EU norms. For competitiveness, we have presented data from the pre-EU accession and, using the graphic method, showed the changes during the research period. We try to highlight some processes in public relations regarding land use as an indispensable factor for production, as well as to define certain reasons for the registered changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern conditions a new type of business plan is necessary to accommodate all of the factors and a defined aim is the first part of understanding the agricultural holdings needs. Based on a critical review of the concept of business models in the method of the aspect developed a model for cooperation between science and business, which includes units in the chain of research institutes - companies offering names - manufacturers - consumers, the main focus is on production, where the effects of agricultural holdings. The following methods are used in the development and implementation of the model: analysis of causal relationships, descriptive analysis, comparative analysis, constructive calculation method, expert evaluation, survey method, in-depth study, partial replacement budget, profit matrix and others. This business model combines 10 components in its framework and has the aim to foster and evaluate cooperation between agricultural holdings and scientific institutes. As a result of the changing nature of competition, new approaches based on innovation must be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim in this article is to present a conceptual model of the transformation problem in Bulgarian agriculture and the process of its development. The model allows analytically distinguishing activities in the economic, political and socio-cultural spheres with an impact on the quality of the living environment. With the help of this model, main mechanisms (tools) could be highlighted to illuminate the researched process with examples of the transformation in other Central European countries after 1989. The research is aimed at revealing the paradigm of social interrelationship and synergistic opportunities for potential benefits from combining the influence of the political factor – the transformation and the community agricultural policy; and economic activity – the socio-economic prerequisites and the national socio-cultural specifics with the human living environment. The research reveals processes of structural dichotomy, concentration of agricultural land in an ever smоller number of farms and expansion of the production of extensive crops at the expense of intensive productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to highlight certain trends in Bulgarian agriculture. The article is based on representative empirical information from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) and Farm structure survey (FSS). Changes in land use are registered with a significant impact on the development of land relations in our country. The results reveal processes of different nature and express the effect of the dominance of the Community agricultural policy on the economic conjuncture for the development of agriculture in our country. The dichotomy in the used agricultural area is an expression of increased competitiveness, which is inherent mainly in the production of extensive crops, with the presence of significant features for monoculture agriculture. At the same time, systemic problems in the intensive crops stand out, for the production of which Bulgaria possesses monopoly natural-climatic conditions. These results highlight the role of land relations and reveal/bring out potential opportunities for increasing the importance of agriculture in improving public relations and the socio-economic environment not only in the sector but also in the country as a whole. The Covid-19 challenge creates the preconditions for re-evaluating some existing stereotypes. The results of surveys over the last ten years reveal processes of consolidation of the utilized agricultural area and its concentration in a small number of large agricultural holdings. Extensive crop production is increasing. Intensive production, vegetables, fruit and livestock fall into the group of "vulnerable sectors". The number of small actors is decreasing; the processes of medium-sized ones are unstable. This creates difficulties in establishing sustainable family farms and is a potential risk of depopulation in some rural areas in Bulgaria. The registered processes are in dissonance with the goal setting of the Common agricultural policy (CAP). FADN 2020 reaffirms this trend, as the utilized agricultural area in Bulgarian agriculture continues to grow and monoculture production remains sustainable. The crisis with COVID-19 has revealed a number of problems in the supply of agricultural goods, which is an occasion to rethink the role of national policy to provide consumers with products of local origin and frames the need for cognition in the analysis of complex contemporary socio-economic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Collective memory" contributes to the development of economic activity in any field of the material production. The aim of the present study is to learn about the impact of the psychological and social phenomenon "Collective Memory" on Bulgarian agriculture and economy. What changes are applied in the agricultural sector because of this phenomenon had been a long-standing question for researchers, because of the role of the sector for expansion of local communities, prosperity of the regional economy and for strengthening the national economy. The focus of this study is to reveal how collective memory is changing the shape of Bulgarian agriculture. The study of this phenomenon uses interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to apply an appropriate methodological framework. Using the scientific method, the authors approve appropriate methodological solutions, including desk research, interviews, and fieldwork in mountainous and valley areas in Bulgaria. We share other authors idea, that the created collective memory, no matter real or imposed affects the translate to behavior of the individuals and nations. Collective memory is built under the influence of several factors, one of which is the state presentation of events to society. Collective events are most likely to contribute to a long-term collective memory or be the factor for social perception of the past, when they influence long-term social change, are emotionally charged, provide an abundance of social and emotional enterprises, are often perform / rehearse through the media, connect with collective introduction and commemorative rituals, which can be recognized by institutions and individuals. To take a closer look at "Collective Memory" in Bulgaria, we have presented various components / factors in the formation of collective memory and added a "case study" to present relational effects on the phenomenon / process in agriculture by applying theoretical framework that includes: Socio Historical Theory and Dynamic Theory. An example in this filed we are interested in, is the state of land relations after the development of the planned economy, the sale of land in natural restitution that cause problems in Bulgarian agriculture, which is a direct manifestation of collective memory. This is evident from the analysis of the narratives in conducting field work. The importance of the process of memory restoration is shown, in which memory is a factor, that strengthens the evidence of the past and the opportunities for transportation to the present active introduction at individual, local, regional, and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of agriculture as a primary sector is defined differently in different times. The importance of this kind of economic activity in the perceptions of the individual, the groups and the society is defined/determined by its role for the existence of man. The idea of agriculture in the minds of both the individual and society as a whole is evolving. Homo sapiens, as the highest biological species, develop and upgrade its ideas about the environment and change its behavior to a natural factor. In the primary sector, this behavior is of existential importance. During the years of development of the societies, the rethinking of the relation biological factor-institutional environment in agriculture is in the direction of creating synergy opportunities with a positive sign. Considering intensification of a number of crisis phenomena, the philosophy of life nowadays is changing. In agriculture, given its importance for the physical health of the population, a number of policies have changed in recent decades in order to create synergies between the biological factor and the institutional environment in which the subjects in the primary sector operate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to frame the boundary and substantive links between nature-economic activity-socium, located on the platform of the current concept of bioeconomy as an element of linear and circular economy. Using the scientific method the genesis, development and prospects of the bioeconomy are traced. The example of the production of plant proteins, in particular the production of fodder peas, illustrates the importance of the natural element, the transformation of substances in nature and the importance of socium in promoting the concept of the bioeconomy. The current challenges and the preservation of parameters of human living environment in the coordinate system are: the future is development protein is the future; socium is refining the legal framework of society in order to preserve the nature's parameters for generations to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to outline certain trends in the development of Bulgarian agriculture resulting from the application of the Community policy framework for the support of the primary sector. Given the chosen way of support of the Bulgarian farmers, after 2007 significant structural changes took place in the Bulgarian agrarian sector, which are also transformed into structural imbalances. Over a period of 10 years, the relative share of total production (TP) from the crops sub-sector has been steadily growing, while the TP from the livestock sub-sector has been steadily decreasing. Imbalances also occur at the subsector level. Subsectors "Livestock", "Vegetables" and "Fruit" are categorised as "vulnerable subsectors" and are subject to bound support. These subsectors have great potential as Bulgaria has monopoly natural assets, which are a prerequisite for creating products with high added value. Under CAP 2020+, national advantages are prioritised, which creates opportunities for restoring the importance of agriculture in the national economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is an outcome of IAE researches, revealing the significance of agriculture for the national economy, the trends of development of the main production sub-sectors, the restructuring, the efficiency and the financial stability of farms, according their size and specialization. The purpose is to make an assessment of the impact of direct payments implementation, the coupled support under CAP and the main RDP measures. The expected impacts of the new CAP 2014-2020 mechanisms have been analyzed and the possible challenges with CAP 2020+. The methods of descriptive, comparative and regressive analyses have been used. The data are from reports of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and State Fund “Agriculture”, the appraisals for RDP, the monitoring and the periodicals of the FADN for the period 2007-2016. It was postulated that the significance of the agricultural sector, expressed by its share in the GDP, diminishes despite the slight increase of GVA from the agriculture. The number of farms has strongly decreased, mainly of small livestock and mixed farms. The production efficiency increases as a result of the considerable increase of incomes from subsidies. Without them the profitability norm is low or negative and threatens the farms’ reproduction. The direct payments scheme (SAPS) helps the net income increase in the farms, but causes an unbalanced development of agriculture. The sectoral sustainability is not guaranteed, as producers are oriented towards activities with highest subsidy rather than the best future. The coupled support has a positive impact on subsidies’ reallocation to sectors with a small size of land. It does not lead to an increase in the production which is necessary for Bulgaria, but only increases incomes. The CAP 2014-2020 avoids some distortions but does not change the logic of subsidization. The significant RDP financial resources boost the recovery of agriculture, but the allocation of funds by priority is insufficiently justified and leads to discrepancies between the objectives and results. Shortcomings of the implementation of CAP and RDP provoke significant challenges to the CAP 2020+. In our opinion, Bulgaria should present a different point of view and propose mechanisms and incentives providing improvement of the production structure (raising animal production); increasing the competitiveness of production and the efficient resource use; allocation of larger share of funds for modernization of livestock farms and facilitating the procedures, focusing only on the most important environmental problems (e.g. erosion soil), inclusion of a part of the requirements for environmental and wildlife protection as an obligation for all farmers receiving subsidies. SAPS subsidies should be changed, taking into account other factors in addition to land size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]