Factors, challenges and obstacles for internationalization of Romanian agro-food products

The world-wide process of structural transformation is a result of the emergence of new challenges with long-term effect; which requires a strategic vision in the agro-food trade, together with the implementation of concrete actions by the authorities. Increasing global population, increasing pressure on natural resources and global warming are leading to a new framework at international level. In Europe, the aging process is an additional challenge. All these aspects will have profound implications for agriculture and rural areas. Global food demand is increasing, a large scale of urbanization, rising input prices, pressure on water resources and increasing vulnerability of crops and animals to climate change will limit food production.

Even in these conditions agricultural sector of Romania has a huge potential. Domestic food demand could be covered if this potential will be exploited with technological resources and would not depend so much by climatic factors. Also Romania could export significant quantities of agro-food products. On the other hand, Romania suffers from one of the most pronounced structural divisions of agricultural land between all EU member states and also between the new member states. Precisely for this reason, Romania loses a lot in terms of production and export of agro-food products, in competition with developed countries. This paper analyzes the competitive position of Romanian companies in agro-food value chains. The article also answers to one of the most important questions. Are Romanian companies competitive in the agro-food value chains? What are the factors, challenges and obstacles for internationalization of Romanian agro-food product? In order to answer these questions, a quantitative research was performed using statistical data obtained from International Trade Center, for the year 2019 and Romanian National Committee for Macro prudential Supervision, 2020.