ROMANIA – MERCHANT MARKET FOR FOREIGN FOOD PRODUCTS

Abstract

This paper presents a synthesis of the changes that have taken place at the level of the Romanian food industry since the revolution in 1989 until present. The method used in the elaboration of the paper focuses on extensive documentation based on the viewing of several Romanian documentary films, media articles and statistical data collected by different official websites (Eurostat, NBRi, NISii, MARDiii) concerned with the subject addressed. The majority of the films under analysis present concrete examples of the issues that the Romanian food industry is faced with and the reasons that have led to the transformation of Romania from a producer into a merchant market for foods produced abroad. In the final part of the paper, I have highlighted two projects – initiated by Lidl and Kaufland – which although may, at a first glance, seem as timid initiatives, nevertheless constitute a first step towards the revival of domestic food products.

Keywords

• Food industry
• Agricultural area
• Hybrid seeds
• Organic food