Agricultural Productivity and Sustainable Development: An Econometric Analysis of Wheat and Sunflower Production in Romania

Sustainable economic development and food security are the result of supporting agricultural productivity; thus, the latter has a beneficial impact on both areas. This study has illustrated the relationship between cultivated area and agricultural production for two of Romania’s most important crops: wheat and sunflowers. Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) for the period 2004–2024 were used for this analysis. An econometric approach based on the ordinary least squares (OLS) method was employed to estimate the influence of cultivated area on production levels. In both cases, the results indicate a positive relationship between cultivated area and agricultural production. Even so, the model used showed greater explanatory power for sunflower production compared to that of wheat. From the results obtained, we can see that agricultural productivity can be influenced by a number of factors: technological development, digital agricultural practices and agricultural management. My aim in this study was to contribute to a better understanding of agricultural performance in Romania from the perspective of sustainable development.