Jose M. Gaspar (p), Kiyohiro Ikeda

Monica Mihaela Tudor

This paper studies agglomeration within an urban corridor characterized by a continuous path connecting a finite number of places where cities may locate. To this aim, we explore the bifurcation mechanism from the state of full agglomeration at the central place of the corridor as economic integration changes from a high level. This allows us to explain how and where cities grow or wither around a central city once integration reaches a critical level, called the sustain point. Above (below) the sustain point, agglomeration in the center is stable (unstable). We prove analytically the existence and uniqueness of both the sustain point and the optimal location of cities around the central core, which depend on the number of places and on the strength of agglomeration forces. However, cities cannot locate neither too far nor too close to the central core. We demonstrate that spatial patterns of twin cities fade into a central core as economic integration reaches the sustain point. The discrete–space version of the bifurcation mechanism at a sustain point is shown to be a good approximation to the continuous–space version, provided that the number of places is large enough. If congestion forces are high in the vicinity of the central core city, agglomeration is followed by a re-dispersion phase.

Anna Wojewnik-Filipkowska (p), Aleksandra Koszarek-Cyra (p)

Jose M. Gaspar

The airport may be an opportunity for the development of airport-proximate areas, as well as a source of conflicts and nuisances for property owners. This article aims to analyze spatial management in areas proximate to Gdansk and Katowice Airport. It aims to answer the question of whether the municipality imposes additional restrictions by local law, apart from the applicable nationwide regulations resulting from, among others, environmental protection regulations.
The research is based on the analysis of literature, documents, and reports, as well as other information and data obtained directly in the course of the research. In particular, the research is based on the analysis of the local development plans and related documents in the areas covered by the restricted use areas (RUAs) due to the operation of airports, especially in the context of the expected functions for these areas.

Monica Mihaela Tudor (p), Codrin Dinu-Vasiliu, Elisabeta Stefania Rosu, Lucian Tanasa, Cristian Gheorghe Popescu, Catalin Munteanu

Anna Wojewnik-Filipkowska

Compared to urban areas, the primary sector, specifically agriculture and the agri-food system, remains vital to rural economies in the EU and Romania, in particular. Therefore, policies aimed at facilitating transitions towards sustainable value chains within these sectors will disproportionately affect rural areas.
Many businesses in rural areas, particularly farms, are small businesses embedded in agri-food supply chains that are often large multinational companies up and downstream of primary production. Therefore, rural areas are disproportionately affected by the changing power dynamics in agri-food supply chains. The growth of global agri-food value chains has coincided with the process of merger and acquisitions in the European retail sector. This process has shaped perceptions that the structure of agri-food supply chains has become oligopolistic, with the retail sector increasing its influence over producers, whose bargaining power in supply chains has weakened in comparison. With a weakened bargaining position, it is assumed that redistribution of added value will negatively impact producers in rural areas who will receive a smaller proportion.
The current paper presents the contribution of the Romanian think tanks set up within the Horizon 2020 SHERPA project (https://rural-interfaces.eu/) to shape the vision of rural stakeholders regarding sustainability of agri-food chains in Romania and deepen the possible approaches for supporting value chains integration of local farmers, in territorial profile. The multi-actor discussion platforms were set up in 2020 in Transylvania (west of the country) and expanded in 2022 in two other regions in Romania (south and east of the country) for the best possible territorial coverage.
The interactions within the multi-actor platforms (representatives of business, academia, policy, civil society) were conducted using the Delphi method and was supported by external experts with the role of facilitating / mediating and monitoring the activity of the platforms.
Following the Delphi exercises within the Romanian platforms, we found out that Romanian stakeholders focus more on the economic aspects (sharing of value among actors along the food chain) than on social or ecological component of sustainability. Furthermore, there are important territorial disparities regarding the needs and solutions for improving sustainability of agri-food chains. So, more flexible, territorial specific and place-based policy and programs, could smooth the way towards the sustainable integration of local agri-food actors in value chains.
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the European Commission, through Horizon 2020 projects: PERCEIVE - GA: 693529/2016 & SHERPA - GA: 862448/2019