Towards Healthier Life: Changes in growing of health-friendly food crops and products in Lithuania before accession to EU and after

2018-09-05
Towards Healthier Life: Changes in growing of health-friendly food crops and products in Lithuania before accession to EU and after
Autoriai:Mangirdas Morkūnas Agota Giedrė Raišienė

Abstract

 

Introduction. The purpose of the article - based on analysis of statistical data to evaluate how the ratio of health friendly food crop changed before Lithuania entered EU in 2004 and after accession to the EU (2005-2017).

Materials and methods. The statistical data from Lithuanian National Statistical Office and Lithuanian Customs Office has been used. Data lines vary from 1995-2017, to 2004-2017. The content, comparative, statistical analysis, systematization, and scientific interpretation scientific methods have been employed.

Results and discussion. The analysis of statistical data shows the clear drift from traditional and healthier crops and products to ones that are easier to grow and are in demand in the World market. It was caused by the implementation of EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) financial mechanisms into Lithuanian agrarian policy. The direct payments for owning land, but not for growing particular crops, create a deficit in various types of food products, considered health inducing. Such a form of financial support of farmers made new EU Member States even more dependable on food import, than before accession into EU. Because of the current form of agricultural support mechanism, it becomes a hard task to preserve traditional crop varieties in smaller new EU Member States, as it do not have a demand on a World market, so the growing of it seems unprofitable for the farmers at present moment. Unfortunately, if it will change in the future, the farmers will not have the capacity to renew the cultivation of these crops and it will be lost. The EU CAP also serves as a mechanism for tackling unemployment in rural areas of EU Member States, promoting the agricultural business. Although, the current form of support mechanism, there a financial support is directly linked with the land farmer/ agricultural entity owns, creates a situation, there bigger and stronger farmers get more money, than the ones, that are weaker and own smaller land area. It increases the disparity between rich and poor and can lead to disappearance of smaller farmers.

Conclusions. EU CAP fully achieves it’ primary goal - to provide EU Member States citizens with safe and affordable food, but it does not fully fulfill (at least in new Member States) the secondary task - to stimulate the consumption of health inducing diet in EU.

 

Towards Healthier Life: Changes in growing of health-friendly food crops and products in Lithuania before accession to EU and after

 

Raišienė, A., G.; Morkūnas, M. 2018. Towards Healthier Life: Changes in growing of health-friendly food crops and products in Lithuania before accession to EU and after. Ukrainian Food Journal, Vol. 7, Issue 2, p. 337–351, onlineISSN 2313-5891, printISSN 2304-974X; DOI:10.24263/2304-974X-2018-7-2-16 [Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List Emerging Sources Citation Index].

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