Agri-food Products Research Articles

Marketing logistics support for the export of cereals from Ukraine under the conditions of marital state

The research paper aims to improve the marketing logistics processes to support grain export supplies from Ukraine during martial law conditions. Research methodology. The research was based on the dialectical method of cognition, fundamental economic theory, logistics, and marketing. It also drew from scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on the issues of marketing logistics and the formation of supply chains for agri-food products. The research utilized a wide range of general and specialized methods, including in-depth monographic study of assigned tasks, theoretical generalization and comparison, historical-retrospective analysis of the development of marketing, sales, and logistics management, functional-cost and statistical analysis, heuristic assessment and analysis of logistics processes in the agricultural sector, correlation-regression analysis, and graphic representation of research results and economic trends. Research results. The critical aspects of the influence of Russian military aggression on essential logistics functions and costs for logistical support of export supplies of corn from Ukraine, as well as its main competitors, are determined based on the application of the Aglink-Cosimo economic-mathematical recursive-dynamic partial equilibrium model. Elements of scientific novelty. Using the Aglink-Cosimo model, we developed several scenarios to predict the impact on the harvest and export levels of all crops in Ukraine and the level of wheat exports from Ukraine in 2022/23 MR and world wheat prices. If Ukraine loses its export opportunities completely, it will result in a 19% increase in the world price of wheat. Practical relevance. The practical significance of the results is the development of science-based proposals for improving marketing logistics support for agricultural enterprises specializing in corn-producing for grain. Keywords: marketing logistics, export, logistics supply chains, grain crops, corn, logistics costs, alternative logistics routes, Grain Corridor, Aglink-Cosimo economic-mathematical model.

Valorization of Peach Fruit and Wine Lees through the Production of a Functional Peach and Grape Juice.

The valorization of agri-food products not only represents important economic and environmental benefits but can also be a source of potentially profitable, functional, and safe ingredients. This study aimed to valorize peach fruit and wine lees (WL) by producing functional juice. WL were incorporated at different concentrations (1.5 and 2%; w:w) in unpasteurized peach and grape juice and subsequently stored under refrigeration (5 °C). The antimicrobial activity of WL in peach and grape juices was assessed against Listeria monocytogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as physicochemical, nutritional microbiological, and sensory acceptability. The maximum addition of WL to the juice (2%) showed a significant inhibitory effect against L. monocytogenes (4-log reduction) and increased the content of total soluble solids (TSS) (10%), total polyphenol content (TPC) (75%), and total antioxidant activity (AOX) (86%). During storage, AOX, TPC, TSS, pH, and titratable acidity (TA) remained stable. A significant correlation was observed between TPC and AOX. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast counts increased during storage. Fifty-seven percent of tasters (n = 26) rated the functional juice positively. Thus, these agri-food products could be useful for producing functional juices with a longer shelf life, contributing to their valorization.

There's Something in What We Eat: An Overview on the Extraction Techniques and Chromatographic Analysis for PFAS Identification in Agri-Food Products.

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of anthropogenic chemicals used in a range of industrial processes and consumer products. Recently, their ubiquitous presence in the environment as well as their toxicological effects in humans have gained relevant attention. Although the occurrence of PFASs is widely investigated in scientific community, the standardization of analytical method for all matrices still remains an important issue. In this review, we discussed extraction and detection methods in depth to evaluate the best procedures of PFAS identification in terms of analytical parameters (e.g., limits of detection (LODs), limits of quantification (LOQs), recoveries). Extraction approaches based on liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), alkaline digestion, and solid phase extraction (SPE), followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis are the main analytical methods applied in the literature. The results showed detectable recoveries of PFOA and PFOS in meat, milk, vegetables, eggs products (90.6-101.2% and of 89.2-98.4%), and fish (96-108%). Furthermore, the low LOD and LOQ values obtained for meat (0.00592-0.01907 ng g-1; 0.050 ng g-1), milk (0.003-0.009 ng g-1; 0.010-0.027 ng g-1), fruit (0.002-0.009 ng g-1; 0.006-0.024 ng g-1), and fish (0.00369-0.017.33 ng g-1; 0.05 ng g-1) also confirmed the effectiveness of the recent quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method (QuEChERS) for simple, speedy, and sensitive ultra-trace PFAS analysis.

A Case Study of Consumer’s Attitudes towards Agro-Food Markets in Danube Microregion in COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of human life including consumer behavior. The main aim of this paper was to identify basic patterns of changes in consumer attitudes towards agri-food products under the influence of the 2020 pandemic and to better understand to what extent and what kind of food market problems appeared for the inhabitants of the Danube microregion. For this purpose, an explorative study was elaborated. Assuming that the experience of COVID-19 affected consumer attitudes and sense of food security, a hybrid survey was conducted in the Danube microregion (Croatia, Serbia and Romania) during 2022. Data collected from a total of 903 respondents were statistically analyzed in SPSS. Descriptive statistics, PCA, ANOVA and t-Test were employed. The main results have shown that although the surveyed population of the Danube microregion during the pandemic in 2020 was generally not afraid of food shortages, food was in most part available for their families and their shopping habits have not changed to a large degree, the experience of the pandemic has raised the level of awareness about some issues related to food and specifically the prices of food products. Also, three different patterns of attitude and behavior towards food and agriculture, which emerged as a result of the experience of the pandemic in 2020, were identified. These patterns also proved to be different for different segments of the population. The findings suggest the need for stronger support for the development of locally affordable food systems with the use of ICT as a coping mechanism in crises.

Consumers’ purchase propensity for pasta tracked with blockchain technology and labelled with sustainable credence attributes

IntroductionPasta is a key product in Italy’s agri-food industry, consumed due to its ease of preparation, nutritional richness, and cultural importance. Evolving consumer awareness has prompted adaptations in the pasta market, to address concerns about social, environmental, quality, and food safety issues. This study examines Italian consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for pasta in local markets, analysing their behaviours and preferences.MethodsFor this purpose, we used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) technique combined with a latent variable model. We also collected 397 valid online questionnaires.Results and DiscussionThe results reveal an interest utility among all respondents to pay a price premium of €1.16, €0.82, €0.62, €0.41, and €0.36 for 500 g of pasta, for the use of blockchain/QR code (BC) technology on the label, providing data on credence attributes such as safety, environmental and social sustainability as well as business innovative practices, respectively. As such, this research has private and public implications. On one hand, this research may bridge the scarcity in studies regarding consumer preferences and WTP for BC in the pasta value chain, preventing agricultural frauds, ensuring the sustainability and quality of agri-food products like pasta, and protecting and educating consumers through clear and transparent information. On the other hand, this research may incentivise pasta businesses to meet social and environmental consumers’ demands while simultaneously enhancing their financial performance.

Biodynamic, organic and integrated agriculture effects on cv. Italia table grapes juice, over a 3-year period experiment: an 1H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics study

BackgroundThe new trend demanding for “natural” agri-food products has encouraged the application of more sustainable and eco-friendly farming methods, which limit or avoid the use of synthetic chemicals. This approach is increasing in viticulture, one of the sectors with the highest commercial value since grapes and derived products are largely consumed foodstuffs, with appreciated nutritional and sensory features. In this work, 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) was applied for the metabolic profiling of cv. Italia table grapes samples, from the same origin area, cultivated with different treatments (biodynamic, organic and integrated) and collected in three subsequent vintages. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed on NMR-data with the aim of comprehensively researching the possible influences on metabolites due to the use of diverse agricultural practices.ResultsBoth inter-annual variability (2020, 2021 and 2022 vintages) and different vineyard treatments (biodynamic, organic and integrated) resulted as significant drivers for samples differentiation in the preliminary unsupervised analysis of the (1H NMR spectra derived) metabolic profile data. Nevertheless, supervised data analyses showed that inter-vineyards variability, due to application of diverse farming methods, had a comparable discriminating effect with respect to harvesting years. Ethanol, sugars (as α-/β-glucose), organic acids (as malate) and amino acids (as arginine, leucine, glutamine) resulted the most viticultural practices-dependent metabolites. Interestingly, results from pairwise comparisons between treatments indicated the biodynamic samples with respect to the organic ones as the best-observed differentiation. This was followed by the biodynamic vs integrated and organic vs integrated samples comparisons, in decreasing discrimination order, as confirmed by the descriptiveness and predictive ability parameters of the corresponding pairwise OPLS-DA models.ConclusionsResults highlighted that metabolites’ composition in cv. Italia table grapes juice is significantly affected by the use of different kinds of vineyard managements (biodynamic, organic and integrated, here investigated). Metabolomics study, here employing 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analysis, offers powerful tools to elucidate the metabolic differences among classes of samples.Graphical

The empirical study on the results of the certification of enterprises from the Republic of Moldova in the ISO 22000 and ISO 22005 systems

The European Union's food safety policy aims to protect consumers' health by ensuring compliance with production and control rules, hygiene of agri-food products and preventing their contamination with harmful substances. In its first stage, this objective can be applied in the Republic of Moldova, an EU candidate country, by implementing the ISO 22000 and ISO 22005 food safety management system, which establishes the basic requirements for the design and application of a traceability system for food and agri-food products. The study focused on identifying food and agri-food enterprises in the Republic of Moldova, which are certified by the ISO 22000 and ISO 22005 international standards. The advantages of these certifications and the barriers encountered were identified as well. In order to achieve this objective, there was carried out the survey according to the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) method, based on the completion of an online questionnaire created with the help of Google Drive.

Ukraine in the markets of organic agri-food products of the European Union: Analytics, trends, and prospects

The study of the role of the Ukrainian agricultural sector in meeting the demand for organic products in the European Union is vital for understanding and maximising the benefits for Ukraine. This is crucial in the context of the development of the organic market and expanding cooperation with Europe, which indicates the relevance of the problem discussed in the present study. The purpose of this study was to identify the current position, dominant trends, and prospects for increasing Ukrainian organic imports to the European Union. The methodological framework of this study included the general and special methods of scientific cognition: monographic, dialectical, tabular, graphical, abstract and logical, and comparative analysis. The study analysed the vectors and dynamics of development of organic agriculture in the European Union, specifically, identified the growth of domestic and import demand for organic products, expansion of the list of commodity items, the existence of a gap between supply and demand, and high concentration of the commodity structure of imports. The study found the principal factors that ensure Ukraine’s leading position among the key importers of organic food: geographical location, increase in domestic production of organic products, improvement of the system of its certification, and establishment of partnerships with the European Union. Ukraine’s position in most commodity groups of import demand for organic products has been strengthened: specifically, Ukraine’s share of imports has increased, and its structural characteristics have improved in terms of increasing the share of high value-added products. The study highlighted the barriers faced by Ukrainian exporters when entering the European market and acting as a deterrent to expanding the volume and range of exported organic products. The areas for increasing the potential of Ukraine in meeting the demand for organic products in the European Union were outlined. The findings of this study provide valuable information for producers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders involved in the development of the organic market in Europe and sustainable agriculture. The outlined priorities for the development of organic production in Ukraine can underlie the development of a national programme aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Ukrainian organic industry in the markets of the European Union.

COMPETITIVENESS OF THE TURKISH AGRI-FOOD SECTOR IN TRADE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION

The purpose of this study was to assess the competitive position of the Turkish agri-food sector in trade with the European Union. The study focused on agri-food products arranged as per the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS1-24), and relied on data collected in two years, 2010 and2022, retrieved from UNCTAD and Eurostat resources. The authors used the Widodo product mapping scheme to arrange the products. The results provide grounds for concluding that Turkey and the EU witnessed growth in bilateral agri-food trade. Between 2010 and2022, the exports from Turkey to the EU increased by89% whereas imports went up by84%. In the years covered by the study, Turkey had the greatest comparative advantage and the highest degree of export specialization in the following product groups: preparations of vegetables, fruit and nuts (HS20), fish and crustaceans (HS03), vegetables (HS08) and edible fruit and nuts (HS07). Conversely, Turkey showed no comparative advantages in (and was a net importer of): cocoa and cocoa preparations (HS18), cereals (HS10) and meat and edible meat offal (HS02). The mix of products traded can be viewed as rational and consistent with the classical theory of trade. Turkey’s comparative advantages provided a source of a beneficial specialization. In turn, imported products were those in which Turkey is not self-sufficient.

First Study of the Territorial Determinants that Facilitate the Export Survival of Agro-food Products: The case of Castilla-La Mancha Wine (Spain).

Summary: This research seeks, by analysing tangible and intangible attributes, qualities and values, to respond to determine the main territorial elements that add value to wine and positively influence export survival. The hypothesis is put to test by examining the case of wine in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). The main assertion is that history, geography, and production are critical factors for increasing the value of a wine. In addition, these elements generate dynamic externalities such as wine tourism, which in turn improve the image, boost demand and the value of the wine. The findings of the study are applicable to other agri-food regions, sectors, and products.

Value chains of selected products as elements of sustainability of agricultural production

The value chain concept is often used in the analysis of agricultural competitiveness. Its application seeks ways and activities that add value to products. The focus is on finding opportunities for efficient monitoring of modern trends, challenges and business risk assessment in order to sustainably produce processing and marketing of agri-food products. The production of fruits and vegetables by small producers is characterized by short chains from production to product placement, without adding value. There are numerous critical points in the analyzed chains, such as quality of input, processing, drying and storage of products, lack of training and financial resources for storage and preservation of products after harvest. The link between primary production and the processing industry should ensure stability for primary producers in terms of the market, and entities in the processing industry for continuity in the supply of raw materials of domestic origin. In order to improve product value chains, and thus the competitiveness of the national agri-food sector, it is necessary to improve productivity in primary production, horizontal and vertical integration, as well as additional investments in processing capacities. The key areas in the legislation and its implementation in order to improve the value chain of livestock products are: animal husbandry, hygiene on farms and in meat processing plants, as well as environmental protection. These are some of the priorities that should create the conditions for the possibility of exporting live animals, meat and meat products to the EU. Improving the milk value chain would contribute to better efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of production, milk quality, especially in microbiological terms (reduction of the number of bacteria and somatic cells). Conditions should be created for the adoption of good agricultural practice, adaptation to market requirements, reaching standards in the field of animal welfare and health, improving the genetic potential of animals for milk production, hygiene and environmental protection. Quality is an important factor in competitiveness and sustainable agricultural production. As the main elements of the quality management system and adding value to products, the appropriate standards are applied: ISO 9000, HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000, ISO 14000, HALAL standard, Kosher standard, BRC standard, GOST-R standard, Demeter, GLOBAL GAP, IFS standard . In order to overcome and solve environmental problems of agricultural development, more and more importance is attached to the application of animal protection policy measures. Domestic and international standards and regulations for environmental management ISO 14001 are applied, including the EU Environmental Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). Genetic potentials and biological diversification are important for the development and sustainability of agricultural production. The richness of flora and fauna, genetic resources and great biological diversity constitute natural comparative advantages in every respect, especially for sustainable agricultural production and environmental protection.

Possibilities and forms in labeling of agri-food products

There is an intense competition in the agri-food market and because of that the consumers are becoming more and more insecure in terms of the product's origin, producer's reputation, production methods and the product's quality. The supply of the domestic agriculture is still based on the traditional agricultural products and actions are needed to increase the supply of protected and branded products. In order to increase the popularity of domestic products on the market, it is necessary for them to differ in some way from a similar competition products. Labeling of agri-food products is an opportunity for consumers to notice domestic products on the supermarket shelves. The additional benefits from the protection procedure also contribute to the prevention of misuse of the name and / or origin of the product. In this way, the product is differentiated on the market, it builds consumer sureness in terms of reliability in the quality and the name of the product. Unlike our domestic market, where the protection and labeling of agri– food products is very modest, in the developed countries this way of adding value to the products is extremely present. The types of brands that are used for the differentiation are various, and this paper starts from three forms: individual, collective and official. These brands are firtsly based on quality and origin. The use of the individual brands is suitable only for sufficiently large individual farmers, who can guarantee a satisfactory quantities and uniformed product quality. From the agriculture point of view, the forms of product labeling that results from the community work of the homogenous group of producers are especially interesting, because it enables to small producers of traditional products mostly, or producers who produce according to organic principles, to protect their own products. Through the association, preconditions are created both for the creation of brands and for the protection of geographical indications. In the certification of organic production, umbrella (“roof”) brands are present and they do organic agriculture labeling in order to guarantee a sufficient offer in terms of quantity and quality. Protection, brand development and branding in the domestic market is at the very beginning. It is evident from the examples that individuals or producer groups create and develop collective brands through trademark protection. Others use regulations of the protection of geographical indications or organic production, design their own symbols to differentiate their products on the market, but without any legal protection. Republika Srpska through its strategic documents or strategies adopted for the needs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management encourages individuals in protection and branding. They should introduce branding, protection of collective designations of geographical origin and certification of organic products. In addition to the mentioned labels, there are other opportunities for the development of national marketing or regional labels that could be created by various organizations, either public or private. In order to improve the process of labeling and protection, it is necessary to conduct educational activities with producers in terms of pointing out the role and the importance of product identification with one of the labels, all in accordance with the suitability for protection of products. Actions are also needed to inform consumers in terms of understanding and recognizing certain labels on potential domestic products.

The developmental role of tourism in rural areas

Rural areas in the Republic of Serbia occupy about 85% of the territory, where about 55% of the total population lives, while in the Republic of Srpska rural areas occupy about 95% of the territory and about 83% of its population lives in them. Rural tourism is a common name for various activities and forms of tourism that occur outside cities, ie urban areas and those areas where mass tourism has developed. It is conditioned by the tourist attractions that are located in these rural areas. The importance of rural tourism is reflected, above all, in the very important interaction of agricultural production, traditional agri-food products, presentation of traditions, traditional gastronomy and tourist services, and the use of already existing resources. Considering that the statistics of rural development capacity in Serbia and Republic of Srpska are based on estimates, it is assumed that a significant part of overnight stays, which are realized in spa and mountain areas, can also be treated as realized overnight stays in the field of rural tourist offer. Observing the general state of rural development in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, it can be noticed that there are a number of limiting factors that condition the unenviable position of the rural tourist product on the tourist market. Some of them are as follows: low level of achieved quality of services provided, insufficient knowledge of new approaches to rural economy development in both competitive domestic and foreign tourism markets, lack of adequate institutional framework to ensure the coordinating role of the state and greater involvement of local authorities. in integrated rural development, poorly developed infrastructure, inadequate diversification of activities, dominance of sectoral policies. Respecting the census of agriculture and the statistical definition of agricultural holdings, the importance of a rural tourist household, ie a household located in a rural area and engaged in tourism, or as a more appropriate name for a tourist family farm must be mentioned. In addition to tourism in rural tourist households, in rural areas we encounter many special forms of tourism. Tourism in rural areas equally includes the activities of tourists (multi-day visitors) and excursionists (one-day visitors). Rural tourist households are generally considered to be basic rural tourism. However, for the development of rural tourism, not only rural tourist households are sufficient, but also other facilities on the rural tourist household itself and in the rural area. Other catering infrastructure is also needed: rooms and canopies for serving food, rooms for wine tasting, brandy, fruit and vegetable products, arranged approaches to the rural tourist household and parking lot, arranged tourist attractions (real, tourist available), restaurants, defined wine and brandy roads, marked bicycle and hiking trails, pilgrimage routes, receptive tourist agencies, ie designed and organized rural tourist destinations are needed, with all possible feasible contents of the tourist rural product. The quality of the rural tourist offer is affirmed as an important factor only in the new age, after it has been in the background for a long time, ie in the shadow of quantitative values. For each destination or company, it is important to be competitive in order to successfully sell their products on the market, and enable loyal tourists. In order for the quality to achieve its true level of development, certain specific circumstances should be determined, and that, along with modern technological development, is a very intensified competitive competition, especially pronounced on the global market.

Agrarian integration: Theoretical foundations

The benefits of international economic integration have led to an increase in the number of integration groups. The sensitivity of the agri-food sector to liberalisation and its importance have led to the allocation of a separate chapter in regional trade agreements. The importance of foreign trade and food security, as well as their special significance for Ukraine, which has signed dozens of regional trade agreements and is one of the largest exporters of certain types of agri-food products, confirm the relevance of the study. The aim of the article is to analyse the theoretical foundations of international economic integration with a focus on the agricultural sector, identify its specific features and develop relevant proposals. To achieve this goal, the author used the methods of theoretical generalisation, abstract and logical, specification, analysis, and synthesis, which allowed to study the features of international economic integration in the agricultural sector, to formulate conclusions and proposals. The information base was based on scientific research, regional trade agreements, etc. As a result of the work carried out, the development of international economic integration was analysed with due regard to the agricultural sector. The article suggests allocation of the main goals of integration, their classification, definition and substantiation of risks. Among the main objectives of integration in the agricultural sector, it is proposed to allocate the following: ensuring the domestic demand for food of the required quality at an affordable price, taking into account the comparative advantages of the member states, increasing exports to third countries, based on the potential of the member states, and solving social problems. Taking into account the goals of sustainable development and global problems of mankind, it is proposed that the main goals should also include environmental issues and rational use of resources. The goals of integration are defined as one of the main prerequisites for its successful development, which is confirmed by the content of the relevant treaties and agreements. In practice, international economic integration can contribute to solving the problem of food security and development of the agricultural sector, production, in particular through the inflow of new technologies, foreign investment, etc. The development of intra- and extra-regional trade is envisaged as a result of harmonisation of product quality standards, increase of its competitiveness, etc. This should be facilitated, first of all, by a clear definition of goals, their implementation through an appropriate set of measures defined by country, and monitoring of implementation

The Contribution of Marketing to The Distribution of Agri-Food Products in Albania and the Possibility of Import Substitution

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analysis of the existing situation in the development of the competitiveness of agricultural products and the possibility of replacing imported products. Theoretical Framework: This analysis will be studied in the framework of the impact of marketing to increase the performance of local products in the market. Method: During the work, the quantitative method of data collection was used, mainly the questionnaire was used for data collection. A combination of primary and secondary data was used. We collect 50 data from companies. But we finalized 30 data for analysis. Research methods in this study include multivariable methods along with factor analysis, regression techniques, correlation, and forecasting techniques. Results and Conclusion: The agricultural sector has a fundamental importance in the social and economic development of the country. This sector contributes about 19% to the country's GDP (INSTAT, 2023a) and covers 36.4% of total employment (INSTAT, 2023b). The companies of the agri-food sector and agricultural farms in Albania, through the application of marketing, should identify their potential and opportunities, where in addition to these opportunities, good management based on development plans is required for each product or agricultural culture Research implications: It is a fact that Albania has not moved much in the direction of increasing production capacities, not meeting the demands and needs of consumers with local production and distribution of agri-food products. Originality/value: Part of this study shows that agricultural product manufacturing companies have well-integrated marketing components, especially promotion and distribution channels.

War in Ukraine: Impact on global agri-food trade

The conditions and trends of the global agri-food market are elastic to crises and conflicts involving major market players, which threatens food security by blocking sustainable international trade opportunities due to the destruction of production capacity and value chains, as well as supply channels to consumer countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the specific features and consequences of the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict on world agricultural trade and food security at the national and global levels. The scientific conclusions are the result of the application of economic and statistical (time series, index, and factor analysis) and dialectical (induction and deduction, analysis, and synthesis) methods of scientific cognition. It was found that the universal features of wars include the ability to influence the global economy, create new geopolitical and economic uncertainty, rapidly increase prices for critical resources (energy), and ensure destabilisation of global value chains. As a result, the disruption of sustainable trade flows caused by military conflicts is an important source of changes in the global economy and the situation of individual countries and regions. It was proved that military operations on the territory of Ukraine led to restrictions in agriculture and forced adaptation of agribusiness to the factors of critical vulnerability. There are trends towards a reduction in production and the breakdown of conventional supply chains for agri-food products due to the destruction of the logistics infrastructure, which, together with a reduction in exports of agricultural products and fertilisers from Russia, has led to a rise in world food prices. As a result, the “price” of the Russian-Ukrainian war for the global economy is being formed, with growing hunger and poverty, as well as the environmental footprint of military operations. The practical significance of the findings of this study lies in the possibility of their application in strategic planning and substantiation of the areas of post-war reconstruction of the national economy in general and its agricultural sector specifically, as well as the restoration and strengthening of Ukraine’s role in global food chains and combating hunger

Driving the Ecological Transition of Agriculture through Voluntary Certification of Environmental Impacts: An Exploratory Literature Review on the Olive-Oil Sector

Human population growth has resulted in increased food consumption, followed by agrifood production intensification. Human activities have a significant impact on the environment, causing, among other things, air and water pollution and biodiversity degradation. In an international context where there is strong concern about environmental issues, it is also necessary to direct food production towards more sustainable models. In this context, the use of frameworks for certifying the environmental footprint of agrifood products can be a lever to promote sustainable production and consumption. The objective of this paper is to explore the opportunities for certifying the environmental footprint of products, focusing in particular on some of the main environmental claims: global warming, water depletion, and biodiversity loss. The olive sector was selected as a case study since it is the major tree crop in the Mediterranean countries, and it has strong impacts on human health and the environment. We employed a literature review in the SCOPUS database and the knowledge of experts in the main environmental certification sectors. The study revealed the possibility of adopting various mitigation strategies and improving environmental performance, while also pursuing certain market objectives related to certified products.

CFD simulation of double-pass solar dryer with air return

An indirect solar dryer was designed and manufactured in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. It is equipped with three parameters including two air intake ports, a fan and a removable hot air recovery system. Vacuum CFD simulations were performed in order to observe the influence of these parameters on the effectiveness of the device. The fan switched off speeds of 9 m/s and made the air distribution uniform in the drying cabin. The natural convection operation made it possible to reach 62°C in the drying chamber compared to 55°C for the forced convection operation. The unique opening of the low air intake port in operation accentuates the temperature variations in the cabin compartments with differences of + 5°C from one level to another. The hot air return system has a positive impact on temperature trends because it allows values of 65°C to be reached inside the chamber, ideal for drying agri-food products. However, this recovery reduces the air velocity in the cabin, which is a disadvantage for the performance during products. This problem could be solved by increasing the fan power.

ЗМІНИ АГРАРНОЇ ТОРГІВЛІ УКРАЇНИ З ЄВРОСОЮЗОМ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ

The article examines current situation about foreign trade in agri-food products between Ukraine and the European Union. Special emphasis is placed on its key indicators after the beginning of free trade zone and full-scale war. Differences between the pre-war period and achievements during the war are highlighted. The unchanged product structure of food supplies from our country to the EU market is showed, with a noticeable increase in its total volumes and diversification of the geography of sales in favor for the states with which transport connections were optimal. As an addition, a general description of agricultural imports to Ukraine from the European Union, its main statistical and analytical characteristics is given. The chronology of the introduction protectionist measures by European countries to various food products of Ukrainian agriculture is given. The conditions and restrictions under which our agricultural exports in 2023 work, especially those introduced by Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, are considered. A comparison of the dynamics of its statistical indicators in different periods of 2023 is made to identify the direct consequences of the restrictions, additionally taking into account the termination of the use of the «grain corridor». At the same time, attention is drawn to the unrestricted flow of food imports from the European Union. Possible challenges and threats that will affect mutual sectoral trade between the parties in the short term is characterized, as well as options for the further development of cooperation. An assessment of the final value of Ukraine's food exports to the EU for 2023 is made, taking into account trends of the 4th quarter in the current year. Proposals and recommendations of a scientific nature are given to optimize bilateral sectoral relations at the current stage of cooperation.

Effects of Pre-Germinative Treatments and Temperatures on Tassel Hyacinth [Muscari comosum (L.) Mill.] Seeds

Muscari comosum (L.) Mill. is a spontaneous plant that grows in the whole Mediterranean area, including the Basilicata and Puglia regions (southern Italy), where it has received inclusion in the Italian National List for Traditional Agri-Food Product (TAP). The food and medicinal uses of bulb are ancient due to its antioxidant properties and high variety of nutrients, such as starch, sugars, and minerals. Muscari seed is characterized by morpho-physiological dormancy, and in order to achieve uniform germination, some pre-germinative treatments are needed. In this research, the effects of hydro-priming and osmo-priming, i.e., PEG 8000 and KNO3, as well as three germination temperatures (4, 10, and 20 °C), have been evaluated. In general, the average results pointed out that the pre-treatments increased the germination index (GI) by 5% and the germination percentage (GP) by 3% compared to the no-primed control. The germination temperature of 10 °C significantly reduced the median germination time (T50) by 5.4 days and the mean germination time (MGT) by 5 days compared to temperature at 4 °C. In particular, the best results were obtained by “hydro-priming treatment × 10 °C” interaction, in terms of T50 (34.9 days) and MGT (36.3 days). This combination decreased the T50 by 10.5 days and the MGT by 9.6 days compared to the “control × 4 °C” interaction. Pearson’s correlation matrix results highlighted a significant positive link between T50 and MGT (r = 0.993). In conclusion, these techniques enhanced the germination potential so that the use of pre-treated seeds could be included in a cultivation protocol to improve the germination phase and satisfy the growing demand for Italian bulbs.