Economic Efficiency of Family Farms via Cooperative Integration in Someș-Tibleș-Meleș

This document presents a cost-benefit analysis of an agroecological dairy system in Romania, focusing on investment costs, economic returns, and environmental and social impacts. It details high initial fees for sanitary and veterinary authorization, mid-level advisory and infrastructure costs, and low ongoing expenses for maintenance and working capital. Benefits include a mid-range payback period, moderate value addition, and potential income from EU agri-environmental schemes. Environmental gains include high biodiversity enhancement, while social outcomes involve reduced workload and increased youth participation. Uncertainties remain in energy savings, input reduction, and animal welfare improvements. The analysis draws on EU-funded research and comparative studies from Thailand, the Netherlands, and the EU, citing academic sources from ScienceDirect, MDPI, and Elgar Online. The views expressed are those of the authors, not the European Union.