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The recent policy of Green Deal aims to a transition towards ‘healthy, equitable and sustainable communities’. One of the key sectors analysed within the Green Deal is the agri-food chain, with the strategy ‘From Farm to Fork’, aiming to design a sustainable food system from production to consumption, passing through industry processing, distribution, and all the related activities. For the agricultural sector, the objectives are in line with those presented in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, from technologies and digitalization, to organic farming. Concerning the transformation and distribution phases, the Commission is promoting the technological and technical innovation, the restructuring of companies and the improvement of the quality of work. The aim of this study is to perform a Life Cycle Assessment related to one of the main products of a company in the agri-food sector in central Italy. The product analysed was durum wheat pasta. A cradle-to-gate analysis was performed, starting from the cultivation of the wheat, arriving at the final pasta product. Different transformation steps were evaluated (e.g., cleaning, grinding, compression, extrusion). The analysis was aimed to identify the most critical phases along the chain, to plan improvements in terms of efficiency of the production process, with consequent enhancement of the environmental performance.

The article examines the issues of intersectoral price relations in agri-food chains in Ukraine. It is proved that the imbalance of relations between different spheres of the agro-industrial complex due to price disparity causes the withdrawal of financial resources from one industry to another, without creating conditions for expanded reproduction. The factors influencing prices in agri-food chains are systematized: inflation, disparity, currency fluctuations, sales channels, etc. It is confirmed that the subjects of entrepreneurial activity of the agricultural sector of economy operated in conditions of price disparity during 2000–2019, which led to a relatively low value of their profitability. At the level of a participant in the chain of food industry entities, the price index for food industry products has been exceeded over the agricultural level, but there is a very low level of profitability – 1.4% in 2019. Analytically proved existence of a disparity between retail prices for food and agricultural products provides a profitability of wholesale and retail trade at 15.8–23.3%. Violation of the equivalence of exchange in supply chains at the level of wholesale and retail trade leads to the entry of agricultural enterprises into vertically integrated associations of the holding type. It is substantiated that ensuring the equivalence of exchange in agri-food chains requires the introduction of a set of value-added tools in the agricultural sector of antitrust regulation, market infrastructure development, rural cooperation and integration, and support for the development of small producers.

Agri–food sector is one of the biggest and most supported economic sectors in the EU. It is a key sector for sustainable economic development and food safety and security. The EU Common Agricultural Policy (hereinafter CAP) is its backbone – it helps farmers with income support and market measures on the one hand and, on the other hand, it ensures sustainable rural development in individual EU countries. Despite of the huge support agricultural sectors in Member States are facing serious problems – in Slovakia it is especially the low level of domestic agricultural production, low quality of food products, high unemployment rate especially among young people, ageing of population and abandonment of rural areas. Looking for solutions for these problems mentioned there is a great challenge for relevant public authorities and for the academic sector, as well. Based on these facts the initiative to submit a project proposal has arisen within the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence – which would respond on challenges in this field. The project (Centre of Excellence for European Agri-Food Chain – CEEAG 611446-EPP-1-2019-1-SK-EPPJMO-CoE) has been granted and its main focus will start from important and irreplaceable role of agriculture and food industry in national economies of (not only) Member States via ensuring their food security under conditions given by the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – one of the most supported policies in the EU.

On March 11, 2011 the strongest recorded in Japan earthquake occurred which triggered a powerful tsunami and caused a nuclear accident in the Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Plant Station. The triple 2011 disaster has had immense impacts on people life, health and property, social infrastructure and economy, agri-food chains, natural and institutional environment, etc. in North-eastern Japan and beyond Due to the scale of the disasters and the number of affected agents, the effects' multiplicities, spillovers, and long time horizon, the constant evolution of the nuclear crisis, the lack of "full" information and models of analysis, etc. the overall impacts of the 2011 disasters is far from being completely evaluated. Besides most information and publications are in Japanese. The goal of this paper is to assess the socio-economic and environmental impact of Match 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. Firstly, a short description of the three events is presented. Next, the overall impacts on population, health and displacement assessed. Third, the effects of economy are evaluated. After that, diverse impacts on agri-food chains are presented. Finally, the impact on natural environment is assessed. A wide range of official governmental, farmers, industry and international organisations, and Tokyo Electric Power Company data as well as information from publications in media, research and experts reports, etc. have been extensively used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]