Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Romania and Ukraine. Once part of the Soviet Union, Moldova was among the richest countries in Europe. Today, despite recent progress, it remains the poorest country on the continent.

Moldova is predominantly an agricultural nation, with approximately 75 percent of its land used for farming. However, the country still faces challenges such as food insecurity and an unstable economy. The Moldovan economy is hindered by high government spending and low government integrity, and it relies heavily on agricultural exports.

Recently, initiatives have been introduced to create sustainable agriculture in Moldova and to enhance the competitiveness of the agro-food sector.

The World Bank funded the Moldova Agriculture Competitiveness Project, aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the agro-food sector by modernizing food safety management, increasing market access for farmers, and promoting sustainable land management. This project, which received over $20 million in funding from the World Bank, including additional funds, is expected to increase Moldovan agricultural exports, leading to future economic growth.

EcoVisio, a Moldovan non-governmental organization, was created to raise awareness and educate the public on sustainable development, particularly in establishing sustainable agriculture. The organization focuses on education in organic agriculture and eco-construction, which will contribute to food security in Moldova.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has also implemented initiatives in Moldova. Since 2015, the United Nations has spent more than $1 million to create and strengthen sustainable agriculture in the country. Under the Technical Cooperation Program, the FAO has been working to improve the food safety system in Moldova, aiming to grow safer and healthier food and thereby enhance food security.

The FAO is also promoting sustainable agriculture in Moldova through pest control. Specifically, the United Nations initiative focuses on integrated pest management, the disposal of obsolete and harmful pesticides, and creating conditions conducive to food safety.

These initiatives have already begun to stabilize the economy. Moldova’s GDP exceeded $6 million, which, though still low, is gradually increasing. Unemployment has also dropped to just over 4 percent.

While Moldova still has a long way to go before achieving a fully sustainable agriculture system, these programs and projects have laid a strong foundation. By continuing to build on this groundwork, Moldova’s economy will have a better opportunity to stabilize and prosper further.