Mitrofan LUPȘAN, President of FMR Bistrița-Năsăud, at FERM 2025: “There can be no wealthy village without wealthy households”

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Thematic Panel:

Mountain Economy – Sustainable Development and Valorization of Local Resources

Speaker:

Mitrofan Lupșan – President of the Bistrița-Năsăud Mountain Forum (FMR)

Intervention Topic:
“Community Models of Agriculture and Cooperation between Mountain Counties”

At this year’s edition of the Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM), Mitrofan Lupșan – President of the Bistrița-Năsăud Mountain Forum and founding member of an agricultural cooperative in Sângeorz-Băi – brought to participants’ attention both the major problems faced by Romania’s mountain area and a concrete model of community development based on circular bio-economy and association.

Mountain Area Development Strategy – Blocked at the Ministry

At the start of his speech, Lupșan recalled his participation in drafting the Mountain Area Development Strategy, a document finalized and presented in Bistrița a year and a half ago. However, the strategy has not been adopted, jeopardizing the access to European funds in the coming period.

“I believe that, through the Mountain Forum, we should go to the Ministry of Environment and find out why it got stuck. There are only a few days left before the negotiations start, and at this moment, we do not have the strategy to authorize European funds.”

Ongoing Degradation of the Mountain Area

The leader of the Bistrița-Năsăud Mountain Forum painted a worrying picture of the socio-economic and environmental situation of Romania’s mountain area, which has been in decline since the 1970s, a process accelerated by the migration of the population to cities or abroad.

Migration, whether temporary or permanent, is deeply rooted in the history of mountain shepherd communities and sets them apart from the agricultural population in lowland areas. High production costs and the lack of competitiveness in the conventional market make it necessary to find solutions adapted to the local specificity.

Mountain Agri-Food Products – A Strategic Resource

In Lupșan’s vision, the revival of mountain development must rely on the valorization of natural resources and cultural heritage associated with traditional activities.

“Mountain agri-food products have enormous potential and can be one of the real chances for development. The prosperity of the peasant household determines the prosperity of the village. There can be no rich village without wealthy households.”

The Sângeorz-Băi Agricultural Cooperative Model

The President of the Bistrița-Năsăud Mountain Forum presented the example of the Sângeorz-Băi Agricultural Cooperative, which brings together over 400 members. It processes milk collected from mountain households, ensuring a fair price – between 2.50 and 2.75 lei per liter, depending on quality – thus stimulating producers.

The cooperative produces and markets a diverse range of certified mountain and traditional products: Sângeorz-Băi telemea cheese, “grăniceresc” matured cheese, mountain cheese, kneaded cheese, sour cream, butter, and cottage cheese. Distribution is carried out through contracts with local stores and retail chains, as well as online sales to major cities.

Challenges and the Need for Government Support

Lupșan stressed the need to increase the storage and processing capacity of mountain agri-food products and proposed concrete support measures:

• exemption from profit tax for employers and employees in this sector;

• full funding for investments in storage and processing units;

• subsidizing or eliminating the high costs of analyses required by ANSVSA for mountain and traditional products.

He also emphasized the importance of short supply chains, which bring multiple benefits: increased consumer trust, price control, reduced distribution costs, and guaranteed product quality.

From Monofunctional to Multifunctional Agriculture

A central point of the presentation was the call to transform mountain farms and households from structures focused exclusively on raw material production into multifunctional structures that integrate agricultural and non-agricultural activities: cultivation of berry bushes and medicinal plants, crafts, agrotourism, and educational programs.

“Multifunctional agriculture is the key to a successful strategy for mountain farmers. In the European Union, 30–40% of agricultural households have multiple income sources. This is the foundation of a sustainable rural community.”

Conclusion

Mitrofan Lupșan concluded his intervention at FERM 2025 with a strong call for unity, cooperation, and long-term vision for Romania’s mountain areas. In his view, their future can only be built through strong households, associated in efficient cooperatives, capable of turning local resources into value-added products competitive on domestic and foreign markets.

He stressed that achieving this goal requires a combination of local initiative and firm support from the authorities, from favorable fiscal policies and full funding for investments to simplifying and subsidizing laboratory analyses for mountain products.

Lupșan reminded that mountain areas possess an outstanding natural, gastronomic, and cultural heritage, but it must be intelligently valorized through multifunctional agriculture that combines production with crafts, agrotourism, and educational activities.