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The Subsistence Majority: Understanding Rural Development and GMOs in a Transitioning Romania

Jardieanu, Laura LU (2012) HEKM10 20121
Human Ecology
Abstract
The production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been steadily increasing around the world, and remains an especially controversial subject within the European Union. Romania is one of the few E.U. countries that grows such crops, while also having the largest rural population, proportion of agricultural laborers, and reliance on subsistence agriculture of all member states.
By using a qualitative methodology, this thesis examines official documents, scholarly literature, and expert interviews to better understand the complex relationship between GMOs and the subsistence population. More specifically, the study examines the indirect effects of industrial GMO production on Romania’s “subsistence majority”, which is defined as... (More)
The production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been steadily increasing around the world, and remains an especially controversial subject within the European Union. Romania is one of the few E.U. countries that grows such crops, while also having the largest rural population, proportion of agricultural laborers, and reliance on subsistence agriculture of all member states.
By using a qualitative methodology, this thesis examines official documents, scholarly literature, and expert interviews to better understand the complex relationship between GMOs and the subsistence population. More specifically, the study examines the indirect effects of industrial GMO production on Romania’s “subsistence majority”, which is defined as the abundance of rural small-holdings which are characterized by their substantive agricultural livelihoods and mainly grow food for their own consumption.
Furthermore, it examines the barriers to producing high quality, non-GMO products for the market and how can these barriers be overcome. It argues that GMOs act as a barrier to sustainable rural development and that restorative agricultural policies should be created to encourage economic and social equality amongst Romania’s small-scale food producers. (Less)
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author
Jardieanu, Laura LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM10 20121
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
rural development, Monsanto, GMOs, industrial agriculture, European Union, post-socialist societies, subsistence agriculture, Romania, Human Ecology, Eastern Europe, sustainability, agricultural policy, organic agriculture, small farms, semi-periphery.
language
English
id
2540491
date added to LUP
2012-06-11 10:21:30
date last changed
2012-06-11 10:21:30
@misc{2540491,
  abstract     = {{The production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been steadily increasing around the world, and remains an especially controversial subject within the European Union. Romania is one of the few E.U. countries that grows such crops, while also having the largest rural population, proportion of agricultural laborers, and reliance on subsistence agriculture of all member states. 
By using a qualitative methodology, this thesis examines official documents, scholarly literature, and expert interviews to better understand the complex relationship between GMOs and the subsistence population. More specifically, the study examines the indirect effects of industrial GMO production on Romania’s “subsistence majority”, which is defined as the abundance of rural small-holdings which are characterized by their substantive agricultural livelihoods and mainly grow food for their own consumption. 
Furthermore, it examines the barriers to producing high quality, non-GMO products for the market and how can these barriers be overcome. It argues that GMOs act as a barrier to sustainable rural development and that restorative agricultural policies should be created to encourage economic and social equality amongst Romania’s small-scale food producers.}},
  author       = {{Jardieanu, Laura}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Subsistence Majority: Understanding Rural Development and GMOs in a Transitioning Romania}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}