Financing organic Agriculture in Romania through Strategic Plan Interventions

Organic farming, as a sustainable food system, is an essential pillar of the European Green Deal. The target agreed upon by the 27 Member States in the European Green Deal for the area cultivated under organic farming is 25% of the total agricultural area of the EU by 2030. It is an ambitious objective that aims to combat the decline of biodiversity in Europe and worldwide, and to transform food systems into global standards for agriculture sustainability, and to protect human health and the environment. In this context, organic farming is emerging as a strategic sector for sustainable rural development, generating multiple benefits: protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, reducing pollution, and promoting public health. However, its development is conditional on the existence of adequate financial mechanisms capable of compensating for the additional costs and income losses associated with organic practices. Access to finance remains one of the main challenges for organic farmers in Romania, which makes the role of public policies and support schemes crucial. In this sense, this article aims to analyze the functioning and impact of interventions DR-04 and DR-05 of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023- 2027, dedicated to the conversion and maintenance of organic agriculture, as key support instruments for the green transition of Romanian agriculture.