Publications
Publications
Scientific articles and research results, with abstracts, identifiers and citation formats.
From Resilience Diagnosis to Investment Prioritization: An Integrated Composite-Indicator Framework for Place-Based Agricultural Policy Across Romania’s NUTS-2 Regions
The study proposes an integrated framework for assessing the resilience of crop farms and the relative prioritisation of investments across Romania’s eight NUTS 2 regions. The Composite Farm Resilience Index (ICRF), based on productive, economic, technological, environmental and organisational pillars, is linked to a Strategic Investment Score (SRIS). The method combines standardised indicators, expert-determined weights, gaps relative to the regional benchmark and relationships between indicators. Sensitivity analyses, Monte Carlo simulations and the successive removal of individual regions test the robustness of the results. Production stability, access to the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) and the digitalisation of farms emerge as common priorities. At least two of the top three priorities remain consistent in 55 out of 56 comparisons. The framework supports the territorial focus of agricultural policies and the strategic review of CAP investments beyond 2027.
- agricultural resilience
- composite indicator
- investment prioritization
- CAP post-2027
- Romania
Open recordIdentifiersDOI: 10.3390/agriculture16161702Assessing Farm-Level Digital Maturity in European Agriculture: The Digital Farm Index and Investment Barriers to Agriculture 4.0
The transition toward Agriculture 4.0 aims to improve farm performance and sustainability; however, existing macroeconomic indicators do not fully capture the depth of farm-level digital adoption. This study proposes the Digital Farm Index (DFI) as a tool for assessing digital maturity and regional disparities in European agriculture. The research combines bibliometric mapping of the scientific literature with an empirical DFI assessment for 18 European Union Member States using Eurostat data. The empirical assessment utilizes multiple linear regression, log-linear scale modeling, and hierarchical clustering to analyze adoption patterns and structural determinants. The index integrates four dimensions: connectivity, precision agriculture, robotics, and farm management information systems (FMIS). Results indicate that adoption is concentrated in larger farms, as area-weighted digital maturity (DFI-Hectares) consistently exceeds farm-level adoption (DFI-Farms). CAPEX-based cost modeling suggests the existence of a technological indivisibility threshold, whereby digitalization may become an entry barrier for fragmented farms with limited economies of scale. Multiple linear regression suggests an East–West structural trend: while farm size influences the territorial diffusion of technology, a more consolidated regional innovation ecosystem appears more relevant for farm-level adoption. Findings also highlight a hardware–software imbalance and limited use of data-driven managerial tools. Support policies should therefore move beyond equipment subsidies and include technology transfer networks, digital skills, and managerial data-integration tools.
- Digital Farm Index (DFI)
- Agriculture 4.0
- cost of digitalization
- farm performance
Open recordIdentifiersDOI: 10.3390/agriculture16141565Emerging Technologies in Rural Development: A Scoping Review of Current Knowledge
The paper maps applications of emerging technologies in rural development through a scoping review structured around four pillars: economic, social, environmental and governance. It analyses 129 English-language articles published between 2015 and 2025 and identified in the Web of Science Core Collection, following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Information was synthesised in thematic tables and compared across pillars. The findings show accelerated publication growth after 2020. Machine learning, deep learning and the Internet of Things dominate applications in precision agriculture, telemedicine and water management. Gaps persist in biodiversity monitoring, climate adaptation, services for older people and the rural circular economy, while governance is the least represented pillar. The proposed integrated framework and knowledge map can guide research and public policy towards balanced and sustainable rural transformation.
- rural development
- emerging technologies
- sustainable development goals
- emerging future
- development perspectives
Open recordIdentifiersDOI: 10.3390/agriculture16101081Agricultural Policies, Crop Type, Tillage Systems and Fertilization as Drivers of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Romania
The study examines the influence of crop type, tillage systems and nitrogen fertilisation on humic carbon in Romania, using national data for 2005–2024 covering wheat, maize, sunflower and rapeseed. Carbon inputs from crop residues, roots and rhizodeposition were calculated in R using IPCC coefficients and then analysed in SPSS through factorial ANOVA, multiple regression and Pearson correlations. Crop type and tillage systems significantly affect humic carbon values, with the highest values found in oilseed crops and conservation systems using minimum tillage or no tillage. Nitrogen fertilisation shows the strongest positive effect among the quantitative factors examined. The conclusions support conservation soil management aligned with the CAP and GAEC standards, together with an assessment of economic performance and soil and climatic conditions.
- soil carbon sequestration
- Common Agricultural Policy
- tillage systems
- conservation tillage
- Romania
Open recordIdentifiersDOI: 10.3390/agriculture16010012Digital Farm Index (DFI): Regional Disparities in the Digitalisation of Agriculture in Romania
The paper analyzes the state of digitalization in Romanian agriculture, aiming to assess regional gaps in farms’ digital maturity. The study pursues two objectives: to develop and validate the Digital Farm Index (DFI) based on Eurostat data for 2023, and identify regional profiles of technology adoption in commercial farms (Standard Output > €100,000). The research is guided by two hypotheses: technology distribution is uneven across regions, and agricultural specialization influences the type of digitalization. Calculated using asymmetric weights, the indicator aggregates four dimensions: connectivity (20%), precision agriculture (35%), robotics (25%), and management systems (20%). The results confirm the hypotheses and indicate distinct regional profiles. The North-West region records the highest DFI score (25.50), while the Center region leads in automation (38.04%), mainly due to the livestock sector. The North-East region stands out at the managerial level (9.27%), whereas South-West Oltenia faces severe connectivity gaps (22.54%). Comparatively, the national DFI reaches 20.89 when calculated based on the number of farms and 25.83 when calculated based on hectares, demonstrating the concentration of digital technologies in large-scale holdings. The study concludes that agricultural policies should be tailored to specific regional realities rather than based on uniform approaches.
- Agriculture 4.0
- Digital Farm Index (DFI)
- regional disparities
European Digital Innovation Hubs and the Agri-Food Sector: A Scoping Review of Current Knowledge and Sectoral Gaps
This scoping review examines the literature on European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), focusing on gaps concerning the agri-food sector. Searches in Web of Science, Google Scholar and MDPI, conducted between January and May 2025 and supplemented by reference tracking, identified 84 publications. These were classified by methodology, interaction level and sectoral relevance. Ecosystem-level research predominates, while hubs’ internal dynamics and European network coordination remain understudied. Only 1.7% of EDIH beneficiaries who had received services by September 2024 came from agriculture. Many contributions rely on theoretical frameworks or case studies with limited geographical coverage, without empirical validation. The paper sets out priorities for research supporting an equitable and evidence-based digital transformation.
- agriculture
- agro-food
- agri-food
- digitalization
- digital transformation
Open recordIdentifiersDOI: 10.3390/agriculture15212305
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