IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ntu/ntugeo/vol9-iss2-113-120.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Development of the Organic Food Market in Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Perspective on the Supply Chain

Author

Listed:
  • Mihai Stoica

    (Marketing Department, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies)

Abstract

Organic food is seen as a less harmful alternative to conventional products, both in terms of personal benefits as well as environmental benefits. Therefore, because health became a major concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, green consumption was one of the alternatives through which people tried to take care of their health. Changes also occurred in the organizations involved in the organic food market, these being forced to adapt to the new market context. This paper aims to highlight the most relevant characteristics of the organic food market in Romania, in the context of the Covid pandemic, from the perspective of the supply chain participants. The research method used was the in-depth individual interview, conducted among specialists from organic certified companies. The research was conducted among producers, processors, distributors and retailers, to provide an integrative view on the researched topic. The results showed that the growing interest of consumers in recent years in leaning towards organic food has been accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic. This trend was intensified by the "democratization" of organic products observed among general retailers, which determined the gap between the prices of organic food and similar conventional alternatives to be smaller. However, the Romanian organic food market is still a niche, characterized by a low level of education among consumers regarding green consumption and by the lack of involvement of institutions empowered in the development of this market. These realities also lead to a small number of organic certified processors, which is reflected in the significantly limited number of locally packaged organic products. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a significant and unexpected impetus, sustained efforts must still be made by stakeholders to develop this market segment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mihai Stoica, 2021. "Development of the Organic Food Market in Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Perspective on the Supply Chain," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 9(2), pages 113-120, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntu:ntugeo:vol9-iss2-113-120
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.globeco.ro/wp-content/uploads/vol/split/vol_9_no_2/geo_2021_vol9_no2_art_012.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2021
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Magdalena Śmiglak-Krajewska & Julia Wojciechowska-Solis, 2021. "Consumer versus Organic Products in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities and Barriers to Market Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Lelia Voinea & Dorin Vicentiu Popescu & Mihai Teodor Negrea, 2015. "Good Practices in Educating and Informing the New Generation of Consumers on Organic Foodstuffs," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(38), pages 488-488, February.
    3. Mihai Stoica & Mihai Mehedințu & Magdalena Stoian & Alin Stancu & Alina Filip & Mihai-Ioan Roșca, 2020. "The Organic Food Market in Romania," Journal of Emerging Trends in Marketing and Management, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 1(1), pages 280-288, August.
    4. Andra-Teodora Porumb, 2021. "La Tradition €“ Vecteur Important De Promotion Et Gage De Qualité. Le Cas Des Produits Roumains Du Terroir (Tradition - Important Promotion And Quality Guarantee Vector. The Case Of Traditional Roman," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 324-335, July.
    5. Sidali, Katia Laura & Spiller, Achim & von Meyer-Hofer, Marie, 2016. "Consumer Expectations Regarding Sustainable Food: Insights from Developed and Emerging Markets," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 19(3), pages 1-30, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Stoica Mihai, 2021. "Green Brand Positioning for Organic Food: A Content Analysis of Corporate Websites," Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Oeconomica, Sciendo, vol. 66(3), pages 57-76, December.
    2. Apak, Ömer Ceyhun & Gürbüz, Ahmet, 2023. "The effect of local food consumption of domestic tourists on sustainable tourism," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Stefan Bojnec & Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag & Carmen Valentina Radulescu, 2019. "Locally Produced Organic Food: Consumer Preferences," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(50), pages 209-209, February.
    4. Sławomir Kalinowski & Aleksandra Łuczak & Adam Koziolek, 2022. "The Social Dimension of Security: The Dichotomy of Respondents’ Perceptions during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Joanna Smoluk-Sikorska & Mariusz Malinowski, 2021. "An Attempt to Apply Canonical Analysis to Investigate the Dependencies between the Level of Organic Farming Development in Poland and the Chosen Environmental Determinants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-26, December.
    6. Iulia C. Muresan & Rezhen Harun & Felix H. Arion & Anca Monica Brata & Ioan Aurel Chereches & Gabriela O. Chiciudean & Diana E. Dumitras & Camelia F. Oroian & Olivia Paula Tirpe, 2021. "Consumers’ Attitude towards Sustainable Food Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Winnie Isabel Sonntag & Achim Spiller, 2018. "Measuring Public Concerns? Developing a Moral Concerns Scale Regarding Non-Product Related Process and Production Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, April.
    8. Feyza Tekinbaş Özkaya & Mustafa Gürol Durak & Onur Doğan & Zeki Atıl Bulut & Rainer Haas, 2021. "Sustainable Consumption of Food: Framing the Concept through Turkish Expert Opinions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-25, April.
    9. Anca Monica Brata & Aurelia Ioana Chereji & Vlad Dumitru Brata & Anamaria Aurelia Morna & Olivia Paula Tirpe & Anca Popa & Felix H. Arion & Loredana Ioana Banszki & Ioan Chereji & Dorin Popa & Iulia C, 2022. "Consumers’ Perception towards Organic Products before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study in Bihor County, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    10. Katia Laura Sidali & David Huber & Guenter Schamel, 2017. "Long-Term Sustainable Development of Tourism in South Tyrol: An Analysis of Tourists’ Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-9, October.
    11. Syed Shah Alam & Maisarah Ahmad & Yi-Hui Ho & Nor Asiah Omar & Chieh-Yu Lin, 2020. "Applying an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Sustainable Food Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Aleksandra Kowalska & Monika Ratajczyk & Louise Manning & Milena Bieniek & Radosław Mącik, 2021. "“Young and Green” a Study of Consumers’ Perceptions and Reported Purchasing Behaviour towards Organic Food in Poland and the United Kingdom," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-23, November.
    13. Mirela Ionela Aceleanu, 2016. "Sustainability and Competitiveness of Romanian Farms through Organic Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-19, March.
    14. Wenguang Ge & Xinyu Bai & Zheng Zhang & Qianqian Gao, 2022. "The Impact of Consumer Participation Certification on the Trust of Eco-Agricultural Products Based on the Mediating Effects of Information and Identity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, March.
    15. Krisztina Melinda DOBAY, 2023. "Transition To Sustainable Value Chains And Agri-Food Systems Through Collective Actions – Evidence From Organic Beekeeping," Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Institute of Agricultural Economics, vol. 20(1), pages 79-94.
    16. Fred A. Yamoah & Adnan ul Haque & David Eshun Yawson, 2022. "Consumer Psychology on Food Choice Editing in Favor of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-12, August.
    17. Agnieszka Dudziak & Anna Kocira, 2022. "Preference-Based Determinants of Consumer Choice on the Polish Organic Food Market," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    18. Yue Wu & Katalin Takács-György, 2022. "Comparison of Consuming Habits on Organic Food—Is It the Same? Hungary Versus China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    19. Barbara Urszula Buraczyńska & Anna Elżbieta Żelazna & Agnieszka Barbara Bojanowska, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Behaviours of Polish Consumers in the Organic Products Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.
    20. repec:aud:audfin:v:21:y:2019:i:50:p:209 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Lelia Voinea & Diana Maria Vrânceanu & Alina Filip & Dorin Vicențiu Popescu & Teodor Mihai Negrea & Răzvan Dina, 2019. "Research on Food Behavior in Romania from the Perspective of Supporting Healthy Eating Habits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-26, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    organic food market; green products; organic consumption; supply chain; emerging market; COVID19; pandemic.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M00 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - General - - - General
    • M10 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - General
    • Q00 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ntu:ntugeo:vol9-iss2-113-120. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Stefan Ciucu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/feuntro.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.