Soil degradation, climate change and unstable markets are increasingly threatening Moldovan agriculture and the livelihoods of rural communities. A new Team Europe initiative entitled ‘Sustainable Food Systems’, launched in 2025 with the support of the European Union and the Czech Republic, brings innovative solutions to Moldova aimed at helping farmers cope with challenging conditions and ensuring the country’s long-term food security.
The Team Europe ‘Sustainable Food Systems’ initiative was launched in June 2025 with the objective of strengthening the resilience of Moldovan agriculture to a wide range of external pressures. The project is financed by the European Union and the Czech Republic and implemented by the Czech Development Agency in cooperation with Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova and the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre. The shared goal of these partners is to support the sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector and contribute to improved living conditions in rural areas.
Agriculture plays a key role in Moldova, yet it is also one of the country’s most vulnerable sectors. Recurrent droughts, sudden floods and other extreme weather events are increasingly leading to crop failures and economic losses. These challenges are compounded by market price volatility and long-term soil degradation, further undermining the stability of agricultural production. The impacts are felt not only by farmers themselves, but also by the country’s food security and overall economic stability.
The EU4Moldova – ‘Sustainable Food Systems’ initiative responds to these challenges through a comprehensive approach that combines modern agricultural technologies, business development and the strengthening of institutional capacities. The project focuses on introducing climate-smart and sustainable practices that enable farmers to better adapt to changing conditions and reduce risks associated with adverse weather. An important component is the promotion of more resilient crop varieties suited to Moldova’s diverse eco-climatic conditions, alongside the introduction of laboratory soil testing to support better crop selection and help prevent losses, particularly in dry years.
At the same time, the project supports the development of precision agriculture and environmentally friendly solutions that allow productivity to increase without placing excessive pressure on the environment. This sustainable approach is complemented by a strong focus on the business dimension of agriculture. The initiative seeks to foster innovative agricultural enterprises and improve access to finance for farmers and agri-food small and medium-sized enterprises. Particular attention is also given to strengthening value chains that connect producers, processors and markets, thereby increasing the added value of agricultural production.
Another important pillar of the project is the strengthening of the institutional and regulatory framework. Building on the Czech Development Agency’s previous support to the organic farming sector, which helped establish a national system for the management and control of organic production in Moldova, the initiative now focuses on developing digital tools, risk management systems and modern advisory services for farmers. It also supports agricultural market monitoring and forecasting systems, enabling better responses to price developments and aligning Moldovan agriculture with European Union standards.
International cooperation and the sharing of know-how represent a significant added value of the project. The Team Europe initiative creates opportunities for the exchange of experience between experts from Moldova and EU countries, in particular the Czech Republic, Poland and Latvia. Through training activities, expert studies, technical analyses and practical demonstrations, local knowledge is combined with European innovations. This approach ensures that the development of Moldovan agriculture is firmly rooted in local needs while moving towards long-term sustainability and greater competitiveness.
The Team Europe initiative ‘Sustainable Food Systems’ thus represents an important step in enabling Moldovan agriculture to address both current and future challenges. By combining innovation, business support and international cooperation, it helps ensure that rural areas in Moldova remain places where people can live, work and farm with dignity, even in today’s demanding conditions.
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The Team Europe initiative ‘Sustainable Food Systems’ is financed by the European Union and Czech Republic, and implemented by the Czech Development Agency, Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova, and the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Center.
This material was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the project Team Europe initiative ‘Sustainable Food Systems’, financed by the European Union. The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
