11-13 August 2011 saw the third annual Romanian Rural Development Seminar by Rural’Est[1], entitled ‘How to assess transformations in rural areas?’. The 2011 meeting was organised in partnership with the Pogány-havas Microregion Association[2], and welcomed 30 rural policy makers, academics, NGOs, representatives from the European Commission and other rural development actors and stakeholders to the Boros Guesthous,  Boros Valley, in Hargita County, Romania.

The purpose of the meeting was to bring together French and Romanian researchers to allow academic exchange and sharing of experiences between east and west Europe, on the themes of agriculture and rural development, specifically the social, economic, agricultural, political and environmental transitions which continue apace in Eastern Europe since European Accession. A secondary theme concerned transformations in non-agricultural enterprise in the locality of the meeting- are smallholders transferring their efforts away from agriculture?

Attendees listened to presentations from participants including from Pierre Schwartz, (the Agricultural Counsellor at the French Embassy in Bucharest), a number of representatives from the Institute for Agricultural Economics in Bucharest, and academics from a number of French universities, László Demeter of Sapienta University and the EFNCP[3] plus an introduction to the meeting from Frederique Lorenzi of the European Commission. A field trip organised by Pogany Havas Microregion Association showed the group  two Milk Collection Points in Borzsova and Delne, with an opportunity to speak with the small producers who deliver their milk. Other activities including producing and carrying out a survey in Boros Village about non agricultural income streams in the region, and group discussion on policy recommendations and the future of the CAP.

After the end of the conference, participants were also invited to a screening of the film Mountain Hay Meadows: Hotspots of Biodiversity and Traditional Culture, a film by Ágota Juhász explores the ‘mountain gardens’ of Transylvania and the incredible Biodiversity therein. The film was made with the kind support of UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, the European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism, and the Barbara Knowles Fund, as part of a project managed by the Pogány-havas Microregion Association.

The policy recommendations and contents of discussion groups in ‘How to assess transformations in rural areas?’ will be presented in a synthesis document at Rural’Est’s forthcoming academic conference ’20 years of farming and rural transition in Eastern Europe, what have we learned?’ to be held at Agrosup, Dijon, France, the 20-21st October 2011, in conjunction with SFER[4].

For more information about the workshop and any of the organisations mentioned, please contact:

Krystyna Larkham, Rural’Est, krystynalarkham@googlemail.com

Marie-Luce Ghib, Rural’Est, ml.ghib@gmail.com