Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the main challenges for the European food industry, including the meat and dairy sector. The European Green Deal and Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 set the objective of climate neutrality by 2050, which means stricter standards for processors.

Eurostat shows that the livestock sector contributes approximately 14% to total agricultural emissions, and Romania must reduce this share in order to meet European targets. FAO notes that farms which have implemented green technologies have reduced emissions by 20% and energy costs by 15% over five years.

For Romanian processors, the challenges involve investments in energy efficiency, water recycling systems, and emission capture technologies. “Compliance with European legislation on emissions will be a condition for access to international markets,” warns an EFSA expert.

INS shows that only 18% of Romanian factories have implemented energy efficiency measures at European standards. European funds available through the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 can support the transition, but absorption remains an issue.

In the long term, processors that quickly adopt green measures will benefit not only from legal compliance but also from a competitive advantage in premium markets, where sustainability is an essential criterion.

(Photo: Freepik)