HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and modern quality management systems have a significant impact on public health in the food industry. These systems ensure that food products are safe for consumption by identifying and managing potential hazards at every stage of the production process. To stimulate ongoing studies in both developing and underexplored areas of inquiry, this research synthesizes and organizes the contributions made in this field. It examines more than 40 years of studies from Scopus data base on HACCP and modern quality management systems in the food industry using the VOSviewer software version 1.6.18 (Leiden University, The Netherlands) and bibliometrix R-package. This represents, to the authors’ knowledge, the first bibliometric analysis undergone in this direction. The graphical framework demonstrates the highest developments in research and the literature review investigates barriers and opportunities of implementing HACCP in food industry organizations. Findings indicate that until the beginning of the 1990s, there was not a large number of scientific production in the field of HACCP and modern quality management systems in the food industry. The USA were the most prolific affiliation terms of scientific production until 2012, when studies from Italy, the United Kingdom, China and Greece intensified. Currently, the most prolific country in terms of publications is Italy. In terms of global cooperation, the United Kingdom, The United States and The Netherlands represent most active nations on this topic Motor themes that reflect the main interest of the researchers include food diseases, quality control, hazards or food supply. The study also provides future research directions regarding food quality and safety management. These should be focused on improving the safety, quality, and sustainability of food products, while also adapting to changing consumer demands, emerging risks, and regulatory requirements.

Plant-based diets are increasingly attracting attention as they play a significant role in human health and environmental sustainability and are believed to be key components of sustainable food systems. In the present study, both pros and cons of the adoption of plant-based diets are analyzed using a bibliometric method integrated with a qualitative examination of the scientific literature. For the bibliometric study, Bibliometrix software was utilized, examining 3245 scientific articles, downloaded from the Scopus database, and printed between the years 1957 and 2025. The analyses were conducted using R software, version 4.4.1, with access to the Bibliometrix package, version 4.1. The results indicate a remarkable rise, in the last two decades, in the scholarly focus on the influence of plant-based diets on the individual’s health condition as well as the environment. Keyword co-occurrence studies and international collaborations demonstrate a dominance of research focus in both the United States and Europe, with significant contributions from the Asia–Pacific region. Furthermore, the current work offers qualitative identification of the benefits of plant diets from various perspectives like nutritional, economic, ecological, and cultural. It also explores the main dissuaders from adhering to these diets, including perceived nutritional hazards, cost perceptions, low availability, and social prohibitions. Findings emphasize that, in spite of all the barriers, plant food-based diets have a wide-ranging ability to provide tangible benefits at both the individual and population levels, and documented in the scientific literature are recommendations of expert-led education programs, economic incentives, and judiciously framed public policies to overcome these barriers and to make this transition possible towards sustainable food choices. Findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the current lines of inquiry and stage the subsequent work on how to motivate sustainability among the general population.

With the digitalization era, artificial intelligence (AI) is the primary catalyst of agri-food marketing strategies with a significant impact on consumers’ buying behavior and business plans of retailers. This article discusses the role of smart technologies towards optimizing the shopping experience, personalizing offers, and reducing the supply chain. One, collaborative filtering- and content-analysis-based recommendation schemes allow personalized marketing campaigns, demand forecasting, and customer satisfaction improvements. Two, machine learning-augmented dynamic price models provide real-time adaptive pricing for the retailer to achieve maximum profitability along with product offer availability. Three, applications of neural networks and deep learning by recommendation engines improve providing more accurate suggestions to optimize customer experience. AI also enables agri-food product traceability by utilizing blockchain, providing consumers with information and increasing product trust when they buy. Problems concerning ethics, privacy, and potential algorithmic price collusion are also identified by the study. By means of critical literature review, the article puts forward benefits of AI deployment in agri-food retailing and suggests directions for development. The findings emphasize the need for clear rules of the right application of AI, and continued potential for innovation in the domain.

The International Conferences on Economics and Social Sciences (ICESS) organized by Bucharest University of Economic Studies provide an opportunity for all those interested in Economics and Social Sciences to discuss and exchange research ideas. The papers presented at the Conference are available online in the Conference Proceedings series (ISSN 2704-6524): Volume 2019 Collaborative Research for Excellence in Economics and Social Sciences, ISBN 9788366675322 Volume 2020 Innovative Models to Revive the Global Economy, ISBN 9788395815072 Volume 2021 Resilience and Economic Intelligence Through Digitalization and Big Data Analytics, ISBN 9788366675704 Volume 2022 Fostering recovery through metaverse business modelling, ISBN 978-83-67405-07-2 The world today is vastly different than what it was even a few decades ago, as a result of advances in technology, globalization, and societal changes. Recently, particular attention has been given to sustainable development raising the question of how to drive economic growth in a responsible manner by harnessing technology’s potential while accounting for diverse national perspectives. In 2015, the United Nations agreed upon 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed to transform our world by 2030. However, without the support of stakeholders from government, business and civil societies, the SDGs are

COVID-19 is an extremely infectious disease and a danger to human health, causing deaths worldwide. The aim of the paper was to identify how the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic negatively influenced the entrepreneurial intentions of young people. The study starts from the hypotheses that entrepreneurial intentions among young people have decreased due to the pandemic and that the existence of entrepreneurs in the family or circle of friends can positively influence young people. A review of the literature has created an overview of the importance of entrepreneurship in a country's economy and how the pandemic affected the entrepreneurs. To collect data, a questionnaire was distributed among young people between 16 and 35 years old. Following the evaluation of the respondents' answers, the two hypotheses were validated. It was found that young people who already have their own business also have relatives or friends who are entrepreneurs, who influenced them to follow the path of entrepreneurship. The pandemic has negatively affected young people, as before March 2020, 35.6% of young people wanted to start their own business, now 24.4% are undecided due to restrictions and uncertainty, and 1.6% gave up the idea setting up a business. Thus, we can conclude that the pandemic has caused disruptions to the economy and entrepreneurship, raising many challenges for current and future businesses.

This study delves into how consumers view and choose between conventional agri food items focusing on the factors that influence their purchasing decisions amidst growing concerns about climate change and sustainability. By gathering insights from a focus group of 21 individuals, the research uncovers a clear preference for products due to perceived health and environmental advantages. Consumers recognize the quality, taste and nutritional value of items, which justifies their higher price points. Nonetheless challenges like affordability, limited availability and lack of information pose obstacles to adoption. The paper underscores the importance of an approach to promote product consumption through government initiatives awareness efforts, education programs and cost saving production methods.