The study examines the dichotomy between individual dietary autonomy and the broader implications of food overconsumption and waste, particularly focusing on meat consumption’s environmental, health, and social equity aspects. In the context of increasing awareness about the negative impacts of excessive meat consumption, this research explores the potential benefits of modest dietary shifts, specifically a reduction in animal product intake, on natural resources and the environment. Utilizing data from international and Romanian sources, including data about meat environmental impacts, in original research, the article analyzes the water, carbon, and land use footprints associated with different types of meat, emphasizing the significant differences between beef, pork, chicken, and sheep meat. The findings highlight that even a small reduction in meat consumption, such as 100 g per week per capita, can lead to substantial decreases in water use, carbon emissions, and land use, underscoring the importance of sustainable eating habits. Moreover, the study explores the potential of plant-based proteins as viable nutritional alternatives that can mitigate environmental footprints and foster global food security. Conclusively, this work advocates for a balanced approach that respects individual choices while promoting collective responsibility towards sustainable consumption patterns, emphasizing the role of scientific research and public awareness in driving positive change in dietary habits for environmental conservation and health benefits.

The slowdown in global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlights the need to develop systems thinking, sustainability literacy, and ethical responsibility among higher-education students. The article presents an innovative educational approach, applicable in various university contexts, which involves the analysis of interdependencies between SDG 2: Zero Hunger and the other SDGs. The methodology included teamwork, brainstorming, a bidirectional analysis of the links between SDG 2 and the other SDGs, and the production of visual materials, and public presentations were followed by interactive debates and collective feedback. The case study presents an innovative educational approach and includes a component for assessing student perceptions through the application of an anonymous questionnaire. The results showed that this method significantly contributed to the development of critical thinking, the capacity for systemic analysis, and a deep awareness of global issues related to food security. The students’ perception was predominantly positive; they appreciated the practical usefulness and personal impact of the educational activity. The conclusions support the transferability of this educational method in various academic contexts, demonstrating that the analysis of interdependencies between SDGs represents a valuable tool for developing transversal skills and a sustainable ethic necessary for future professionals involved in addressing the complexity of global challenges.

The slowdown in global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlights the need to develop systems thinking, sustainability literacy, and ethical responsibility among higher education students. The article presents an innovative educational approach, applicable in any university context, which involves the analysis of interdependencies between SDG 2: Zero Hunger and the other SDGs. The methodology included teamwork, brainstorming, bidirectional analysis of the links between SDG 2: Zero Hunger and the other SDGs, the production of visual materials and public presentations, followed by interactive debates and collective feedback. The results showed that this method significantly contributed to the development of critical thinking, the capacity for systemic analysis, and a deep awareness of global issues related to food security. The perception of the students was predominantly positive, they appreciated the practical usefulness and personal impact of the educational activity. The conclusions support the transferability of this educational method in various academic contexts, demonstrating that the analysis of interdependencies between SDGs represents a valuable tool for developing transversal skills and forming a sustainable ethic necessary for future professionals involved in addressing the complexity of global challenges.

Globally, aquaculture has become the main source of aquatic products, taking over the growth of global demand and reducing the pressure on capture fisheries, which have been stagnating globally for over three decades. The rapid growth of aquaculture is essential for achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 14: Life Below Water, in the context of overexploitation of wild stocks. Analysis of data for Serbia, Romania, EU, and the global level shows the same direction: increasing dependence on aquaculture and decreasing wild catches. Serbia shows variations in production and a continuous decline in capture fisheries, while Romania maintains stable aquaculture, while fishing has decreased sharply in the last decade. In the EU, the decline in catches is constant. These trends highlight the need for public policies that support sustainable aquaculture as a key element of food resilience and the protection of aquatic resources.

Romania's forest sector has undergone significant transformation over the past two decades, with certification emerging as a key instrument for improving transparency, ecological safeguards and market access. This study examines the current state of forest certification in Romania within broader European trends toward sustainable forest management. Using national statistics, policy documents and comparative European data, the analysis evaluates the ecological, economic and social benefits of certification and the structural barriers limiting its adoption, especially among private and communal owners. Results show that certification has improved biodiversity protection, monitoring and institutional accountability, while facilitating access to international markets. A comparative analysis of 18 European countries, controlling for national income and EU accession timing, shows that Romania's certification coverage lags roughly 16 percentage points behind the level predicted by its income and accession cohort, comparable to gaps in wealthier Western European economies, indicating structural rather than economic barriers. Persistent challenges, including fragmented ownership, uneven administrative capacity and infrastructure gaps, continue to restrict implementation. The study concludes that Romania is progressing toward European models of sustainable forest management, but further convergence requires coherent policies, stronger institutional capacity and targeted support for small forest owners, in line with the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Public policies such as the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support organic conversion to advance agri-food security, market-price competitiveness and trade positioning, yet cultivar-matched fruit-quality evidence for high-value niche crops remains scarce. This pilot case study compared biometric, physicochemical, biochemical, and mineral fruit traits of three organically grown sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) cultivars ('Mara', 'Dora', 'Clara') and 'Clara' under conventional management from a Romanian orchard, linked to CAP support payments (€620/€442/ha/year) and a farm-gate revenue scenario using export price benchmarks (€4.0/kg). Conventionally grown 'Clara' produced larger, heavier fruit (549.3 ± 26.5 mg vs. 218.7–282.0 mg; p < 0.001) and higher polyphenol content (1446.0 mg GAE/kg) than organic cultivars, but lower DPPH antioxidant activity (57.6%) and lower soluble solids/sugar content (p < 0.01). Organic price premiums (15–40%) plus the CAP maintenance payment closed 18–45% of the estimated revenue shortfall relative to conventional cultivation. This trade-off between fruit size/polyphenol content and sugar/antioxidant quality only partly aligns with CAP payments, indicating that market-price premiums and trade positioning, not subsidies alone, are needed to make organic conversion of niche high-value crops viable and support agri-food diversification and rural resilience.