IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i4p731-d1623121.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Systemic Competitiveness in the EU Cereal Value Chain: A Network Perspective for Policy Alignment

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolae Istudor

    (Agri-Food and Environmental Economics Department, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Marius Constantin

    (Agri-Food and Environmental Economics Department, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Donatella Privitera

    (Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Via Teatro Greco 84, 95124 Catania, Italy)

  • Raluca Ignat

    (Agri-Food and Environmental Economics Department, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Irina-Elena Petrescu

    (Agri-Food and Environmental Economics Department, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Cristian Teodor

    (Agri-Food and Environmental Economics Department, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

This research explores the systemic nature of competitiveness within the cereal sector of the European Union (EU) and addresses the structural interdependencies among key competitiveness drivers through a network-based model. The goal of this research is to offer policy alignment solutions based on the empirical findings derived from a sparse Gaussian graphical model that was operationalized to identify conditional dependencies, synergies, and decouplings across five dimensions: factor endowments, self-sufficiency, trade strategy, resource productivity, and environmental impact. The results showed systemic vulnerabilities, including the decoupling of factor endowments from strategic trade specialization, a pronounced East–West productivity divide, and the asymmetry between the economic valorization of harvested land and its environmental impact, reflected in land management practices. Research findings underscore the need for synergy-driven strategies to coherently align agricultural competitiveness outcomes with the economic and structural potential of each EU country. A critical policy incongruency has been identified: the current prioritization of ecological performance under the Common Agricultural Policy overlooks essential agricultural infrastructural disparities, thereby perpetuating competitiveness asymmetries across the Union. In response, this study introduces a systemic amelioration framework designed to reconcile environmental priorities with agricultural infrastructure development, fostering cohesive and resilient competitiveness throughout the EU cereal sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolae Istudor & Marius Constantin & Donatella Privitera & Raluca Ignat & Irina-Elena Petrescu & Cristian Teodor, 2025. "Systemic Competitiveness in the EU Cereal Value Chain: A Network Perspective for Policy Alignment," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-31, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:731-:d:1623121
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/731/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/731/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Feng Zhou & Chunhui Wen, 2024. "Research on the Evolution of the Spatial Association Network Structure and Driving Factors of China’s Agricultural Green Development," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-27, April.
    2. Buttinelli, Rebecca & Cortignani, Raffaele & Caracciolo, Francesco, 2024. "Irrigation water economic value and productivity: An econometric estimation for maize grain production in Italy," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    3. Puiu-Lucian Georgescu & Nicoleta Barbuta-Misu & Monica Laura Zlati & Costinela Fortea & Valentin Marian Antohi, 2025. "Quantifying the Performance of European Agriculture Through the New European Sustainability Model," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-29, January.
    4. Florin Aliu & Jiří Kučera & Simona Hašková, 2023. "Agricultural Commodities in the Context of the Russia-Ukraine War: Evidence from Corn, Wheat, Barley, and Sunflower Oil," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-23, March.
    5. Elżbieta M. Kacperska & Katarzyna Łukasiewicz & Marta Skrzypczyk & Joanna Stefańczyk, 2025. "Price Volatility in the European Wheat and Corn Market in the Black Sea Agreement Context," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Narayan, Seema & Bhattacharya, Poulomi, 2019. "Relative export competitiveness of agricultural commodities and its determinants: Some evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 29-47.
    7. Harvey, Mark & Pilgrim, Sarah, 2011. "The new competition for land: Food, energy, and climate change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(S1), pages 40-51.
    8. Agnieszka Bezat-Jarzębowska & Włodzimierz Rembisz & Sebastian Jarzębowski, 2024. "Maintaining Agricultural Production Profitability—A Simulation Approach to Wheat Market Dynamics," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, October.
    9. Piotr Szajner & Iwona Szczepaniak & Wiesław Łopaciuk, 2024. "An Assessment of the Production Potential and Food Self-Sufficiency of Ukraine against the Background of the European Union and Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, September.
    10. Jan Schiefer & Monika Hartmann, 2008. "Determinants of competitive advantage for German food processors," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(3), pages 306-319.
    11. Xinghao Qiao & Shaojun Guo & Gareth M. James, 2019. "Functional Graphical Models," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 114(525), pages 211-222, January.
    12. Lenka Rumankova & Elena Kuzmenko & Irena Benesova & Lubos Smutka, 2022. "Selected EU Countries Crop Trade Competitiveness from the Perspective of the Czech Republic," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-31, January.
    13. Rosalinda Nicastro & Mattia Papale & Giovanna Marta Fusco & Annalinda Capone & Biagio Morrone & Petronia Carillo, 2024. "Legal Barriers in Sustainable Agriculture: Valorization of Agri-Food Waste and Pesticide Use Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-23, October.
    14. Maria Claudia Diaconeasa & Alina Zaharia & Georgiana Raluca Ladaru & Steliana Mocanu, 2024. "Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 26(Special 1), pages 1224-1224, November.
    15. Ronald Rousseau, 2019. "Balassa = revealed competitive advantage = activity," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(3), pages 1835-1836, December.
    16. Kathy Baylis & Thomas Heckelei & Thomas W. Hertel, 2021. "Agricultural Trade and Environmental Sustainability," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 13(1), pages 379-401, October.
    17. Campbell, Robert M. & Anderson, Nathaniel M. & Daugaard, Daren E. & Naughton, Helen T., 2018. "Financial viability of biofuel and biochar production from forest biomass in the face of market price volatility and uncertainty," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 330-343.
    18. Lin, Faqin & Li, Xuecao & Jia, Ningyuan & Feng, Fan & Huang, Hai & Huang, Jianxi & Fan, Shenggen & Ciais, Philippe & Song, Xiao Peng, 2023. "The impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict on global food security," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 117700, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    19. Jo H.M. Wijnands & Harry J. Bremmers & Bernd M.J. van der Meulen & Krijn J. Poppe, 2008. "An economic and legal assessment of the EU food industry's competitiveness," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(4), pages 417-439.
    20. Iulia Lupu & Gheorghe Hurduzeu & Radu Lupu & Maria-Floriana Popescu & Camelia Gavrilescu, 2023. "Drivers for Renewable Energy Consumption in European Union Countries. A Panel Data Insight," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 25(63), pages 380-380, April.
    21. Mariusz Hamulczuk & Karolina Pawlak & Joanna Stefańczyk & Jarosław Gołębiewski, 2023. "Agri-Food Supply and Retail Food Prices during the Russia–Ukraine Conflict’s Early Stage: Implications for Food Security," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, November.
    22. Jin Ren & Xinrui Chen & Zimeng Miao & Tingting Gao, 2024. "How Does High-Standard Farmland Construction Affect Agroecological Efficiency—From the Perspective of Factor Endowment," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-26, October.
    23. Josef ABRHÁM & Wadim STRIELKOWSKI & Milan VOŠTA & Jan ŠLAJS, 2015. "Factors that influence the competitiveness of Czech rural SMEs," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 61(10), pages 450-460.
    24. Mirela Diaconescu & Laura Elena Marinas & Ana Maria Marinoiu & Maria-Floriana Popescu & Mihai Diaconescu, 2024. "Towards Renewable Energy Transition: Insights from Bibliometric Analysis on Scholar Discourse to Policy Actions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-40, September.
    25. Nelson B Villoria, 2019. "Technology Spillovers and Land Use Change: Empirical Evidence from Global Agriculture," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 101(3), pages 870-893.
    26. Harvey, Mark & Pilgrim, Sarah, 2011. "The new competition for land: Food, energy, and climate change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 40-51, January.
    27. Anna Nowak & Armand Kasztelan, 2022. "Economic competitiveness vs. green competitiveness of agriculture in the European Union countries," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(2), pages 379-405, June.
    28. Edoardo Baldoni & Roberto Esposti, 2021. "Agricultural Productivity in Space: an Econometric Assessment Based on Farm‐Level Data," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(4), pages 1525-1544, August.
    29. Łukasz Ambroziak & Iwona Szczepaniak & Małgorzata Bułkowska, 2024. "Competitive Position of Polish and Ukrainian Food Producers in the EU Market," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, November.
    30. Patient Rambe & Peter Khaola, 2021. "The impact of innovation on agribusiness competitiveness: the mediating role of technology transfer and productivity," European Journal of Innovation Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(3), pages 741-773, February.
    31. Stéphanie Barral & Cecile Detang-Dessendre, 2023. "Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (2023–2027): multidisciplinary views," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 104(1), pages 47-50, March.
    32. Matkovski, Bojan & Zekić, Stanislav & Đokić, Danilo & Jurjević, Žana & Đurić, Ivan, 2022. "Export competitiveness of agri-food sector during the EU integration process: Evidence from the Western Balkans," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 11(1).
    33. Pierre Dupraz & Hervé Guyomard, 2019. "Environment and Climate in the Common Agricultural Policy," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 18(1), pages 18-25, April.
    34. Fahy, John, 2002. "A resource-based analysis of sustainable competitive advantage in a global environment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 57-77, February.
    35. E. Gutiérrez-Moya & B. Adenso-Díaz & S. Lozano, 2021. "Analysis and vulnerability of the international wheat trade network," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(1), pages 113-128, February.
    36. Yannis E. Doukas & Luca Salvati & Ioannis Vardopoulos, 2023. "Unraveling the European Agricultural Policy Sustainable Development Trajectory," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-24, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Iriarte, Alfredo & Rieradevall, Joan & Gabarrell, Xavier, 2012. "Transition towards a more environmentally sustainable biodiesel in South America: The case of Chile," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(1), pages 263-273.
    2. Hao Xu & Niu Niu & Dongmei Li & Chengjie Wang, 2024. "A Dynamic Evolutionary Analysis of the Vulnerability of Global Food Trade Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Vik, Jostein, 2020. "The agricultural policy trilemma: On the wicked nature of agricultural policy making," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    4. Mercure, J.-F. & Paim, M.A. & Bocquillon, P. & Lindner, S. & Salas, P. & Martinelli, P. & Berchin, I.I. & de Andrade Guerra, J.B.S.O & Derani, C. & de Albuquerque Junior, C.L. & Ribeiro, J.M.P. & Knob, 2019. "System complexity and policy integration challenges: The Brazilian Energy- Water-Food Nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 230-243.
    5. Ozgul Calicioglu & Alessandro Flammini & Stefania Bracco & Lorenzo Bellù & Ralph Sims, 2019. "The Future Challenges of Food and Agriculture: An Integrated Analysis of Trends and Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Ciliberti, Carlo & Jordaan, Sarah M. & Smith, Stephen V. & Spatari, Sabrina, 2016. "A life cycle perspective on land use and project economics of electricity from wind and anaerobic digestion," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 52-63.
    7. Cao, Yan & Doustgani, Amir & Salehi, Abozar & Nemati, Mohammad & Ghasemi, Amir & Koohshekan, Omid, 2020. "The economic evaluation of establishing a plant for producing biodiesel from edible oil wastes in oil-rich countries: Case study Iran," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    8. Emmann, Carsten H. & Schaper, Christian & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2012. "Der Markt für Bioenergie 2012," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 61(Supplemen), pages 1-20, February.
    9. Emmann, Carsten H. & Schaper, Christian & Theuvsen, Ludwig, 2011. "Der Markt für Bioenergie 2012," Journal of International Agricultural Trade and Development, Journal of International Agricultural Trade and Development, vol. 61.
    10. Thaler, S. & Zessner, M. & Weigl, M. & Rechberger, H. & Schilling, K. & Kroiss, H., 2015. "Possible implications of dietary changes on nutrient fluxes, environment and land use in Austria," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 14-29.
    11. Zdeňka Náglová & Marie Šimpachová Pechrová, 2019. "Are Wine Producers With Subsidies More Technically Efficient?," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2019(1), pages 1-14.
    12. Tiffany L. Fess & James B. Kotcon & Vagner A. Benedito, 2011. "Crop Breeding for Low Input Agriculture: A Sustainable Response to Feed a Growing World Population," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(10), pages 1-31, October.
    13. de Jong, Sierk & Hoefnagels, Ric & Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Pettersson, Karin & Faaij, André & Junginger, Martin, 2017. "Cost optimization of biofuel production – The impact of scale, integration, transport and supply chain configurations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 1055-1070.
    14. Bose, Arnab & Ramji, Aditya & Singh, Jarnail & Dholakia, Dhairya, 2012. "A case study for sustainable development action using financial gradients," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(S1), pages 79-86.
    15. Xiao Lyu & Yanan Wang & Yuntai Zhao & Shandong Niu, 2022. "Spatio‐temporal pattern and mechanism of coordinated development of “population–land–industry–money” in rural areas of three provinces in Northeast China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 1333-1361, September.
    16. Till Hermanns & Katharina Helming & Katharina Schmidt & Hannes Jochen König & Heiko Faust, 2015. "Stakeholder Strategies for Sustainability Impact Assessment of Land Use Scenarios: Analytical Framework and Identifying Land Use Claims," Land, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-29, September.
    17. Lisa Biber-Freudenberger & Amit Kumar Basukala & Martin Bruckner & Jan Börner, 2018. "Sustainability Performance of National Bio-Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    18. Luís Carmo-Calado & Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez & Roberta Mota-Panizio & Bruno Guilherme-Garcia & Paulo Brito, 2020. "Co-Combustion of Waste Tires and Plastic-Rubber Wastes with Biomass Technical and Environmental Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, February.
    19. Ruci Wang & Ahmed Derdouri & Yuji Murayama, 2018. "Spatiotemporal Simulation of Future Land Use/Cover Change Scenarios in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, June.
    20. Carlo Carraro & Marinella Davide & Valeria Barbi & Giacomo Marangoni, 2013. "Science adva ncements, policy immobility: the two fac es of climate (in)action," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2013(3), pages 5-29.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:731-:d:1623121. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.