Agricultural Sustainability in the European Union: A Review of Concepts, Policies and Economic Perspectives

Ioan PrigoreanuGabriela Ignat^*Andreea Grigore-Sava^*Simona Catrinel Avarvarei^*Ștefana Beatrice PădurariuRoxana Elena GherasimGabriela RaduMonica Chihulcă

• Universitatea de Stiintele Vietii Ion Ionescu de la Brad din Iasi, Iași, Romania

Sustainability of agriculture in the European Union is a priority issue in both academia and public policy, playing a key role in shaping a balanced and resilient development model. Thus, the European agricultural landscape is characterized by a complex agronomic diversity, including cereals, oilseeds, protein crops, industrial crops, as well as vegetables and fruits, complemented by fodder crops that support livestock production. These crops are integrated into the main production systems: conservation agriculture, organic farming, integrated crop management, natural grasslands and pastures, and agroforestry systems, each contributing distinctly to the objectives of environmental protection, economic efficiency, and social equity. From a land use perspective, a distinction is made between arable land, permanent grassland, permanent crops, and mixed farming systems, reflecting the regional diversity and adaptability of European agriculture to specific climatic and economic conditions. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the concepts, policy instruments, and economic perspectives that influence the direction of European agriculture, based on the relevant literature and EU documents. The analysis focuses on how economic, social, and environmental dimensions are integrated into agricultural strategies and how well they are adapted to the challenges posed by climate change, digitalization, and structural change. The methodology used combined conceptual and legislative analysis with empirical studies on the economic and financial sustainability of farms, complemented by extensive bibliographic and bibliometric research. The results highlight an intensification of interest in sustainability after 2016, with a strong focus on eco-efficiency, digitalization, and economic performance. The common agricultural policy stands out as a key instrument, but with mixed effects, supporting farmers' incomes and the implementation of environmental measures, while accentuating inequalities between countries. The literature reveals that economic viability depends on financial management, innovation, and the adaptation of policies to national specificities. Thus, agricultural sustainability in the EU cannot be standardized, but requires flexible, integrated, and differentiated solutions, in which the social dimension and the involvement of farmers, alongside digitization and innovation, become determining factors in the green transition.