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

Nicolae Istudor, Marius Constantin (), Donatella Privitera, Raluca Ignat, Irina-Elena Petrescu and Cristian Teodor
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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

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-31

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.

Keywords: network analysis; interdependencies; sustainability; value chain governance; trade strategy; structural alignment; sparse Gaussian graphical model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:731-:d:1623121

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