Romania Tops EU in Farm Workforce

Romania plays a crucial role in European agriculture, accounting for 23% of the EU's total agricultural workforce—1.77 million jobs, the highest share in the bloc—according to the Romanian AgriFood Startups Overview Report 2024. Despite owning a third of all EU farms, most Romanian farms (90%) are under five hectares, operating at subsistence level, CE Report quotes Agerpres

The report, launched by Impact Hub Bucharest and Startarium, also highlights an aging farming population—44.3% over the age of 65—and a notable female participation rate in agriculture at 19%, the highest in the EU.

While 73 FoodTech and AgriTech startups were active in 2023, attracting €15.6 million in funding since 2018, Romania’s agricultural sector remains under-digitized. The use of modern technologies like AI, drones, and sensors is still limited, hindering potential profitability.

The findings were released as part of the EIT Food-backed Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) accelerator, which supports female-led agrifood ventures in Romania.