Quality management systems as a tool for sustainable development in Moldovan fruit growing

Abstract

With the expansion of international trade, the competitive advantage of agri-food products is determined by quality, consumer safety, traceability and compliance with international standards. Fruit sector in the Republic of Moldova has been distinguished by an increased development potential, increasingly oriented towards foreign markets. At the same time, consumers in developed markets are becoming increasingly demanding in terms of the origin, sustainability and traceability of food products. Increased expectations regarding food safety and social responsibility are causing retail chains to impose strict standards on suppliers, and compliance with these standards is becoming an essential condition for access to the shelves of large international retail chains. In the absence of alignment with international standards, Moldovan producers’ risk being excluded from high-value-added markets, being forced to remain dependent on traditional channels or unfavorable intermediaries, which limit profit margins and the prospect of sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of implementing quality standards in the fruit sector of the Republic of Moldova by analyzing their influence on export competitiveness.