In the Romanian economy, before the change of political and economic system for the valorization of agri-food production, there were value chains organized and managed centrally with the operation based on order 1) of agricultural production (in large state farms), 2) agri-food processing in processing factories (state) and 3) distribution and consumption of agri-food products through state commercial networks. Currently (2022) in the decentralized, market economy, approximately 45.7% of Romania's population lives in rural areas, compared to 23.6% in the EU member states. Approximately 30% of the population is employed in agriculture, compared to 2% in the EU member states. There are significant differences between rural and urban areas (a higher level of poverty and a lower standard of living). In Romania, the existence of long distribution chains places farmers in captivity between their suppliers and customers, which influences their prosperity. The current practice of interposing at least two intermediaries (wholesaler + retailer) between the producer and the consumer means that the benefits reach a small proportion to the farmers. This inefficiency directly affects the productivity and investment motivation of farmers, especially those with semi-subsistence farms. The development of a category of medium-sized agricultural holdings must be complemented by actions that stimulate the formation of working capital through increased access to financing, but also to the market. This is a major obstacle that small farmers face today. The creation of short agri-food chains, such as the creation and development of groups of producers, in a clustered, networked and proximity regime, will help farms to integrate better on the national and European markets.