QUALITY FOOD PRODUCTS REGIONAL POLICY. CASE OF AGROTRANSILVANIA CLUSTER, ROMANIA

Authors: Cristina CHIFOR, Felix ARION

Abstract:

Particularly traditional foodstuffs could be exploited for branding and marketing and are essential for authenticating a national or ethnic culture. It has been referred to as `culinary nationalism` or `gastro-nationalism` when nations assert ownership of particular foods and give them institutionalized protection. The European Union (EU) has developed quality schemes as legal mechanisms for controlling ownership and control over certain food products in the context of the globalized food market. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to identify the specific certification schemes to integrate Romanian traditional agri-food products with focus on the study case of AgroTransilvania Cluster, where under the umbrella of the Cluster were created 4 voluntary certification schemes. To measure the impacts of these voluntary certification schemes had to be into consideration the position of the state institutions, the interpretation of traditional products by different national actors, and producers’ intentions. Certification schemes and Food security works hand in hand which bring us to the conclusion that certificate products are more reliable to human consumption and friendly with the environment than the conventional ones.

Published: Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development – Vol. 23, Issue 2, 2023