Sustainable agricultural development in Bulgaria and the European Union
Anton Mitov
Abstract: During the fight against the COVID–19 pandemic, the European Commission has focused on concrete actions to achieve tangible progress in the areas of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG`s). Sustainable Development Goal № 2 – „End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, promote sustainable agriculture“.
Specifically, this one of the Sustainable Development Goals seeks to end hunger and malnutrition, as well as ensure access to safe food in sufficient quantities. Achieving this goal largely depends on promoting sustainable production systems and increasing investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural research and development.
As specified in the development, since there are no major hunger-related problems in the EU, SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” in the EU context focuses mainly on the sustainability of agricultural production and its impact on the environment. The trends of the last five years regarding the viability and sustainability of agricultural production are favorable in some respects, in others they need regulation.
The indicators used in the methodological aspect are divided into three main groups:
1. Malnutrition – Indicator: Obesity rate.
2. Sustainable agricultural production – Indicators: Factorial agricultural income per annual labor unit; Government support for agricultural research and development (innovation); Area with organic farming; Harmonized
Risk Indicator for Pesticides (HRI1).
3. Impact of agricultural production on the environment. Ammonia emissions from agriculture; Nitrates in groundwater; Serious water erosion of the soil has been established; General Index for Farm Poultry’.
Specifically, this one of the Sustainable Development Goals seeks to end hunger and malnutrition, as well as ensure access to safe food in sufficient quantities. Achieving this goal largely depends on promoting sustainable production systems and increasing investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural research and development.
As specified in the development, since there are no major hunger-related problems in the EU, SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” in the EU context focuses mainly on the sustainability of agricultural production and its impact on the environment. The trends of the last five years regarding the viability and sustainability of agricultural production are favorable in some respects, in others they need regulation.
The indicators used in the methodological aspect are divided into three main groups:
1. Malnutrition – Indicator: Obesity rate.
2. Sustainable agricultural production – Indicators: Factorial agricultural income per annual labor unit; Government support for agricultural research and development (innovation); Area with organic farming; Harmonized
Risk Indicator for Pesticides (HRI1).
3. Impact of agricultural production on the environment. Ammonia emissions from agriculture; Nitrates in groundwater; Serious water erosion of the soil has been established; General Index for Farm Poultry’.
Keywords: Sustainable Development; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); The European Green Deal
Date published: 2023-06-30
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