Agribusiness Serbia - The Land Is Everything 2020

The Land Is Everything 2020

Branislav Nedimović, Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management ● Vuk Radojević, Provincial Secretary for Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management ● Srbislav Vidojević, Director, Timomed ● Željko Mardešić (CEO) and Dragan Radovanović (Technical Manager), AQUADUCT ● Ilan Levanon, CEO, Adama Serbia ● Vladimir Vasojević, Country Sales and Marketing Manager for Balkan Countries, Belchim Crop Protection ● Jovana Đorđić, Marketing Manager, Fresh Agriculture Technologies

Soil Of ABUNDANCE

INTERVIEW

BRANISLAV NEDIMOVIĆ, SERBIAN MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND WATER MANAGEMENT

Agriculture Has Strategic Importance

Extraordinary circumstances showed the necessity of independent food production

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erbia succeeded, in just 24 hours, to ensure the full production of products that were lacking during the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as quickly developing an electronic platform for the sale of agricultural products. In this interview for CorD Magazine, Minister Nedimović notes that strong financial support has been secured for producers and processors and that new markets have been opened for the placement of Serbian food despite the state of emergency.

• In crisis situations like the one caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, previously untapped potentials are activated, such as the action

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taken for Serbia to become a producer of yeast.

Can you tell us more about this and plans for the future?

- More than ever before, it has become clear to everyone how much agriculture and food security are of national or strategic importance to every country, including ours. Neither millions of barrels of oil nor tonnes of gold can help in such situations, because they simply cease to be important. That’s why it’s important for a serious country to have its own food production that’s independent of anyone else. This was brought into question by a series of historically bad privatisations and factory closures. However, we managed, in 24 hours, to ensure the full production of all lacking products, such as yeast, and then secured supply across the entire territory of the country. Furthermore, this is not just about yeast, but also alcohol and other similar products. That’s why we will undertake special measures in the coming period that will ensure continuous production in sectors that are of the utmost importance in extraordinary circumstances.

• The previous period also gave rise to another project that will continue to be realised in the future – the electronic market. How does it function and what kinds of opportunities does it provide to producers and customers?

- The electronic market is a platform that we’ve also developed in a very short period, in order to additionally ease the operations of small farmers. I must say that I’m very satisfied with how it turned out, because more than 100 tonnes

of vegetables and fruits were sold in just the first seven days of operations, while more than 2,000 producers are registered at present. Of course, the ePijaca cannot completely replace classic trade outlets, but it is certainly a new step and an indicator of the direction in which we should develop sales. Every small and medium-sized food producer can recognise their interest in it, because it ensures that their goods are available throughout the country, not only in their own region. On the other hand, every citizen can choose what type of food they want to buy and from which part of Serbia, and then receive it at their home address. The process itself is very simple for both those who want to sell their goods and those who buy them.

• Alongside assistance in marketing their products, farmers also received one-off financial assistance. Could you remind us which sectors and categories of producers received assistance, and the total amount that has been allocated for these purposes?

- We secured numerous lines of financial assistance for agricultural producers and processors.

This relates to direct financial and credit support.

The one-off financial assistance encompasses the three most endangered sectors – vegetable growers in protected areas, bee-keepers aged over 70 and dairy farmers. These groups were selected after comprehensive analysis of newly emerged conditions on the market showing that vegetable producers were unable to place their products on markets, which impacted on their revenue significantly; bee-keepers could not visit

their hives due to the limits of old age, and small dairy producers were unable to deliver milk to customers. This support has to date been paid into the accounts of about 10,000 producers who have registered greenhouse vegetable production and about 7,000 bee-keepers, while payments to milk producers are underway. The amount of this one-off assistance is determined according to units of registered surface area, or per head of livestock or numbers of hives. When it comes to owners of greenhouses, up to 90,000 dinars was paid, dairy farmers each receive up to 30,000 dinars, while bee-keepers aged over 70 received up to 20,000 dinars per farm.

It is planned for this type of assistance, or the use of funds, to last until 1st November, and enough funding is available for everyone interested. Interest is high, as much as three times higher compared to the same period last year, and amounts of 80 to 100 million dinars are approved on a daily basis.

• During the state of emergency, the EU abolished controls on raspberries from Serbia for norovirus, while Serbia became a full member

speaks volumes about how great a chance this is for Serbian agriculture. Arabic countries are also increasingly importing our products, so in the previous period we saw the start of exports of lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates, which is a high paying market and therefore a good opportunity for all producers. We last year also opened the market of Egypt, which is the world’s largest buyer of wheat. I will repeat once again, for the umpteenth time, that without a buyer it is not worth having the highest yields

• Another set of measures included credit support. What is the repayment period and grace period, and how high is the interest rate? What can farmers use these loans for and in what amounts?

- These are extremely favourable loans with a subsidised loan rate, and additional breaks are envisaged for loans intended for purchasing raw materials, working capital and liquidity, with an interest rate of one per cent, a repayment period of up to 36 months and a grace period of 12 months. A farmer can take out a loan for almost everything he needs at this moment. About 11

Alongside the existing markets of the European Union or the Russian Federation, where we specifically export the most fruit, then the People's Republic of China, where beef exports are becoming increasingly intensive, we have opened new markets despite the state of emergency billion dinars of credit has been provided through incentivised interest subsidies alone. Farmers can submit a loan request at their selected bank, without additional conditions or evidence, for a loan of up to three million dinars for liquidity, while the bank controls how the funds are invested and whether the investment is justified.

Moreover, farmers can receive loan funds up to six million dinars for the procurement of raw materials and other working capital, and they are then obliged to submit a proforma invoice to the bank, or a sale and purchase contract if they are buying animals.

of the International Grains Council. What’s new when it comes to the opening of new markets for Serbian food and which types of products does this relate to?

- Alongside the existing markets of the European Union or the Russian Federation, where we specifically export the most fruit, then the People’s Republic of China, where beef exports are becoming increasingly intensive, we have opened new markets despite the state of emergency. Apple producers will now be able to export their produce to the Indian market, with a population of 1.3 billion, which in itself

in the world, which is why opening markets that want to buy our products will also continue to be an absolute priority for us in the future.

• A development strategy has also been adopted for winemaking, which also has significant export potential. What is envisaged by that document? In which way is the state already supporting the winemaking and viticulture sector?

- Winemaking is a particularly important sector in our economy. That’s why we’ve multiplied our budgets for support, both through annual subsidies and other sources of funding. A total of 300 million euros will be allocated for the 2020-2030 period, and one of the goals is to establish up to 1,000 hectares of new plantations annually. Together with the aforementioned measures, we have thus secured complete financial support for viticulture and winemaking, from equipment and seedlings to mechanisation and laboratory analyses.

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INTERVIEW VUK RADOJEVIĆ, PROVINCIAL SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE,

FORESTRY AND WATER MANAGEMENT

Continuing The Implementation Of Significant Projects More than 18.4 billion dinars has been invested in the development of Vojvodina's agriculture

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ntensive branches of agricultural production, small and medium-sized farmsteads and young farmers are in the focus of the agrarian policy of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, and at the Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture they note that funds have also been retained for the construction of an automatic hail protection system and activities on IPA projects. The digitalisation of agriculture and the construction of irrigation systems are also continuing • What measures can farmers from the territory of Vojvodina rely on? Which areas of agricultural production are in focus this year?

- The focus of the agrarian policy of the Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture is on intensive branches of agricultural production, with an emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized

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farmsteads and young farmers. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, a rebalance of the provincial budget was conducted, with which the funds of the relevant Secretariat were reduced by about 10 per cent. This did not impact significantly on investments in Vojvodina’s agriculture, because we announced our competition lines at the beginning of the year, which provided space for us to process applications and approve funds to applicants even under the conditions of the state of emergency. We have concluded 1,145 contracts with registered farmsteads, with a total value of investments exceeding 1.57 billion

the procurement of equipment and elements for protection against natural disasters and raising fruit orchards, grape vines and hops, over 21 million for the construction of new fishponds and the reconstruction of existing ones, 211 million for improving the physical property of farmsteads, about 50 million for bee-keeping, in excess of 14 million for organic production, and about 93 million for equipping wineries and distilleries. The total value of investments in the registered farmsteads and local self-government units in Vojvodina with which we implement project activities

Summarising the results of what was done in the previous period, the Provincial Government – via the relevant Secretariat – invested funds amounting to more than 18.4 billion dinars in the development of agriculture in AP Vojvodina, while we also signed 9,887 contracts dinars, which is more funds than the previous Provincial Government had foreseen in 2016.

Viewed according to measures, the total value of investments in the procurement of equipment and irrigation systems is over 743 million dinars, with over 126 million dinars, for polytunnels/greenhouses, 162 million dinars for equipping livestock farms, 121 million for

total around 3.2 billion dinars. I would like to stress that we’re also retained funds for the implementation of important projects, such as the construction of an automatic anti-hail system, the Fruška Gora radar centre worth 600 million dinars and activities on IPA projects.

Summarising the results of what was done in the previous period, the Provincial Government

– via the relevant Secretariat – invested funds amounting to more than 18.4 billion dinars in the development of agriculture in AP Vojvodina, while we also signed 9,887 contracts.

led by young farmers aged from 18 to 40. The generational renewal of farms and encouraging of agribusiness among young farmers will continue to be among our priorities.

subsystems, financed through the Abu Dhabi Fund, began three years ago. This relates to 30 projects which, when implemented, will enable irrigation on an area of over 105,000 hectares.

• The previous two months, which have been marked by the struggle against the Coronavirus and limited movements due to the state of emergency, showed some weaknesses, but also some potential, such as in online trade and product placements via social networks.

Is this the future of our agriculture?

- Digitalisation is the future of agriculture.

The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture has recognised the importance of digitalisation in agriculture and cooperates with the Biosens Institute on the project “Monitoring the use of remote detection in agriculture, water management and forestry”. The result of this cooperation is the development of the Agrosens digital platform, which enables the monitoring and verification of competition lines, the condition of soil, analysis of sowing structures, planning of land sampling and the development of a system for reporting on soil fertility. Contracts with the Biosens Institute have been concluded at an annual level in the amount of up to 10 million dinars. The Agrosens Platform of the Biosens Institute is today used by over 13,000 farmers.

• Climate change and periods of drought are again being discussed this year, which raise the question of irrigation. How much money has been invested to this end and which areas are in question?

- The entire society must been engaged in easing the impact of climate change. We see how the EU approaches solving this problem, with the Proposal of the first Law on Climate adopted this year. The goal is for the EU to be a

• There has been a lot of talk about investing in the plan to develop organic agriculture in Vojvodina for the period from 2020 to 2025.

What kind of investments does this relate to?

- The Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture uses an incentive policy to support organic producers in the area of the certification of production and the procurement of specialised mechanisation.

The value of investments in the development of organic production in Vojvodina during the term of the current Provincial Government totals approximately 40 million dinars. In addition to this, we supported the drafting of the Action Plan for the Development of Organic Agriculture in Vojvodina for the period until 2025, with which the further development directions of this branch of agriculture are defined, and relevant institutions are working on that, including the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad, the ‘Teras’ Association in Subotica, the Open University and NALED.

• How can young people be encouraged to stay in rural areas or, better yet, return to them?

Do you have special programmes for those

Young farmers have been supported by the Start-up programme since 2017. Thanks to this agrarian measure, over 675 million dinars has been used to support the opening of 455 new farmsteads led by young farmers aged from 18 to 40 wanting to start working in farming?

- Just 3.1% of farmsteads in Serbia are led by young people aged under 35. We are convinced that young farmers should be leaders in the development of domestic agriculture. Young farmers have been supported by the Start-up programme since 2017. Thanks to this agrarian measure, over 675 million dinars has been used to support the opening of 455 new farmsteads

climate neutral region by 2050. A proposed Law on Climate Change has been drafted in Serbia and a strategic approach is being taken in the fight against extremes. In this mandate, with the help of subsidies, over 3.6 billion dinars has been invested in irrigation systems in Vojvodina and new areas of approximately 21,000 hectares have been covered by irrigation systems. The construction of regional irrigation systems and

• Work is underway on the development of strategy for winemaking in Serbia. How much potential does viticulture have in Vojvodina and are possible investments in wine tourism being considered, given the large number of wineries on this territory?

- Vojvodina has over 5,000 hectares of vineyards, with 158 wine producers registered and 190 wines protected with indicators of geographical origin. The agrarian policy first recognised the wine sector and the importance of winemaking in 2017. Over 300 million dinars has been invested in wineries.The provincial government donated a wine analyser worth 17 million dinars to the Novi Sad Faculty of Agriculture’s Department of Fruit Growing and Viticulture in Sremski Karlovci, in order for domestic winemakers to be able to quickly and efficiently obtain results of wine production analysis, with the aim of improving quality. The development strategy of the wine sector also include plans for the development of wine tourism and investments in the field of tourism, while winemakers can utilise National Support Measures, as well as funds available to them from the IPARD programme MERA-7.

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BUSINESS

SRBISLAV VIDOJEVIĆ, DIRECTOR, TIMOMED

Timomed Planning Exports Of Organic Honey Higher bulk buy prices and state subsidies for organic honey

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imomedhasbeenoperatingsuccessfully already for 31 years, thanks amongst other things to good cooperation with collaborating bee-keepers, and is currently working on marketing its products abroad after offering organic acacia, linden and meadow honey on the domestic market.

• It was a few years ago that Timomed took the bold move of advancing its production and enriching its already wide and recognisable range with the addition of organic honey. What types of organic honey are in your offer and where do you sell them?

- Our offer for the domestic market includes organic acacia, linden and meadow honey. Our organic honey is sold at DM retail outlets and some health food shops. We are planning to sell organic honey abroad and are working on that, but we still don’t have sufficient quantities of honey for export, while the beehives of our collaborators are undergoing conversion for the production of organic honey for export.

• How are your experiences in the process of transiting to organic production, when it comes to regulations, rules and costs? What are the specificities of organic honey and how are its export prospects, given the growing demand for organic products around the world?

- Organic production is strictly controlled production. We have collaborators who work in organic production, but all the quantities of

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honey they have produced are not classified as organic if the bee-keeper has violated any of the postulates of organic production. Apart from the fact that organic production demands the respecting of certain rules and principles, organic production is also expensive. A bee-keeper operating in organic production may place hive colonies in areas without pollutants, so during the honey harvest period bee colonies are only allowed to collect pollen in places where no modern agricultural production is present. Such places are difficult to find to-

organic production they are not permitted to treat bee colonies with conventional remedies.

No residues of medicines can be contained in organic honey. Organic production can be carried out by bee-keepers who love people, bees and nature generally, who know the importance of sustainable development and who consider the benefits of their product to human health.

In recent times, due to the global economic crisis, buyers from abroad have been seeking cheap honey, and not organic honey. At present, alongside the higher purchase price of organic

Organic production can be carried out by bee-keepers who love people, bees and nature generally, who know the importance of sustainable development and who consider the benefits of their product to human health day, even in legally protected places (such as nature parks), because unscrupulous owners of agricultural land also apply pesticides in such places. Another major problem is that municipal leaders across the entire territory Serbia, despite having a specific protected territory, indiscriminately give citizens fruit seedlings that they plant in the aforementioned places and thus endanger organic production. Organic production is expensive, because bee-keepers mostly locate hives at higher altitudes, where there are smaller amounts of pollen that are also collected during a short period of time.

Organic production is also uncertain, because bee-keepers operating in organic production can see their bee colonies die due to the appearance of some disease or parasite, and in

honey, producers of organic bee products in Serbia receive a higher subsidy for their bee colonies compared to conventional production.

• In parallel with the development of your company, you also work constantly on improving bee-keeping in Serbia generally, educating producers and developing cooperative relations with them. What’s new in that segment - when it comes to the number of bee-keepers you work with and bulk purchases?

- Timomed has existed for 31 years already, thanks also to good cooperation with collaborating bee-keepers. Timomed secures raw materials and a market for the placement of bee products, while collaborators provide the product.

ŽELJKO MARDEŠIĆ, (CEO) AND DRAGAN RADOVANOVIĆ (TECHNICAL MANAGER), AQUADUCT BUSINESS

Global Innovations In Serbian Fields State-of-the-art irrigation systems on an area of 18,000 hectares

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hanks to company AQUADUCT, owners of private agricultural estates in Serbia have the opportunity to install irrigation systems that satisfy global standards, while – as company representatives note for CorD Magazine – AQUADUCT devotes the same high level of attention to each client and establishes long-term cooperation with them • Your company provides investors with many years of experience, innovative technologies and extensive knowhow when it comes to irrigation and agricultural production. What types of solutions do you develop and what kind of support do you offer clients?

- Our solutions for irrigation are based on world innovations and achievements that have been tried & tested, and adapted to project conditions. Our clients have at their disposal all the experience and knowhow of the AQUADUCT team from the very outset – from the idea of establishing production, via the development of solutions, financial and economic analysis and risk assessment, the defining of all project details, managing and coordinating construction, to monitoring and consulting on the usage and maintenance of our irrigation system.

Our clients receive solutions from AQUADUCT for water supply, water accumulation, analysis of soil and climatic conditions, production, solutions for drainage, irrigation, protection against late spring frosts, summer

cooling of plants, the application of fertilisers via the irrigation system, automatic system management and user education.

• Could you explain to us how you approach the implementation of individual projects and the type of cooperation that you establish with users? What distinguishes you from the competition and why should potential investors opt specifically for AQUADUCT? - AQUADUCT uses its customer relations policy to establish long-term partnership cooperation. Experience on the ground has shown us that a winning combination is establishing a relationship in which the participants feel like a unified team, who achieve synergy by working together and results that then exceed expectations.

AQUADUCT's approach is exactly the same for both "small" or "large" systems. Every user has available all the information they require. Ensuring the AQUADUCT team is a desirable partner is our flexibility and speed of responding to client requests, as well as great experience and continuous education. We are recognised by the market as a professional and responsible team that is able to successfully address challenges that arise when investing.

• How many hectares of irrigation systems have you designed and implemented to date?

What are all the conditions that need to be met in order for us to be able to assess an

irrigation system as being good? What is the situation on the ground – what needs to be improved and do users possess sufficient knowhow to manage systems?

- Since its establishment, AQUADUCT has participated in the design and construction of irrigation systems on an area exceeding 18,000 hectares, with the irrigation of private estates dominating.

An irrigation system can be assessed as being good if it is energy efficient, supports the growing technological requirements of plant production, works precisely, reliably and simply, without standstills. This requires that AQUADUCT create a system that will satisfy the requirements of development for the next 20 years, which is envisaged to handle upgrades and the influence of modern communications and other technologies.

The use and maintenance of an irrigation system is the weakest link in the entire process. The transfer of knowledge progresses slowly, while exploitation is limited by the problem of frequent changes in the personnel who manage equipment.

With the aim of ensuring good exploitation, AQAUDUCT launched a programme of long-term cooperation with users that includes the conducting of education, control and consultation in the management and maintenance of systems. The application of fertigation – the injecting of fertilisers through irrigation - is an obligatory part of the programme.

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BUSINESS

ILAN LEVANON, CEO, ADAMA SERBIA

Global Standards Of Crop Protection Unveiling ADAMA's major development plan for farmers in Serbia and the region

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or 30 years, global company ADAMA has been a faithful partner to Serbian farmers, offering them the highest quality crop protection products, whilst also transferring high-tech knowledge. At ADAMA they believe that Serbia can become a regional hub that will contribute significantly to the growth of the company's business.

• Your company operates in a large number of countries around the world, while you've been doing business for over 70 years.

You've grown from a private business into a corporation. Why did you decide to invest in Serbia specifically?

- ADAMA has grown continuously in its 70 years of existence, though its major leap forward started two decades ago and is still ongoing. The company has rapidly developed a global presence in all key markets around the globe, mainly in Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. ADAMA's interest in Serbia started back in the '90s, during the times of Yugoslavia, through a local agency in Subotica. Business at that time mostly related to industrial sales of active ingredients or bulk chemicals. Later on, in the early 2000s, the company started selling its own branded finished products on the Serbian market

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and has since grown substantially. During all those years of cooperation, ADAMA's Serbian customers and partners were perceived exceptionally well in Israel. I believe this is due to the warm, personal and unique culture of the company, which is at the heart of the Israeli mentality. This special Israeli-Serbian connection was created by businesspeople with big hearts and far-reaching visions. I may also add, on a humble personal note from an Israeli who has been living here in Belgrade for the past four years, that there are many

very different from what it was just couple of years ago, and even more so two to three decades ago. By now, the industry has managed to provide a solution to almost every crop protection problem that exists, so the market is populated with similar solutions and is growingly generic in nature.

Authorities increase their pressure on the industry to reduce the use of Agro Chemicals and are enforcing restrictions where needed. Finally come the farmers, who continuously demand the highest quality

Insects, weeds and diseases can damage crop yields by 50%, 70% and even cause the complete destruction of a crop cultural and behavioural similarities between us as peoples. I have no doubt today that this fact has contributed much to the strong foundations of this cooperation through the years . Serbia is today perceived as an important market for the company's business. • You deal with investments in plant protection and new technologies in agriculture.

What new and innovative solutions are you developing?

- The AgroChemical industry of 2020 is

and cheapest solutions. This environment dictates a different competitive approach moving forward. Innovation today is about more sophisticated delivery systems, for example, such that a fraction of the active ingredient will provide the same or even better results. Formulation and packaging ideas from other industries, aimed at solving the same or similar challenges, are examined thoroughly. This includes the use of advanced digital technologies, which can individualise every single plant rather than optimising

the whole field, or the use of sophisticated drones and other digital vehicles to optimise the use of traditional field operations, such as herbicide spraying. All these innovative directions aim to further maximise yields and allow the farmer to have maximal efficiency of his resources, including crop protection, savings on operational costs and reducing negative environmental impacts.

• Why do you consider it important to invest in plant protection? Does awareness exist in Serbia regarding the importance of investing in prevention?

- Crop protection is a key component in stable and secure food production. Insects, weeds and diseases can damage crop yields by 50%, 70% and even cause the complete destruction of a crop. There is no question about the critical role of crop protection in food production. In Serbia, the awareness of crop protection is relatively high and is in line with any European or global standard.

The advanced and large farming systems in Vojvodina, for example, view crop protection as a critical factor of their success.

• You deal with advisory work in the field.

How do farmers accept your advice? How are such services and work organised?

- ADAMA Serbia focuses its field activity at the farmer level, in line with our strategic pillar of “farmer proximity”. Our field team covers all parts of Serbia and is known for its high technical knowledge and is very well perceived by all stakeholders. We encourage a “listen, learn, deliver” approach, by which we want to identify farmers' pain points and address them directly. The contact is made through farm visits, face-to-face meetings, farmers' gatherings and digital communication.

• How do you view the legislative framework in Serbia? Are any changes required?

- Legislation in Serbia has changed quite a lot recently and is now getting closer to following the EU's products registration, though not in full. It is in the public interest that registration be a growing higher entry barrier for the market, especially in a market like ours that is

The total Serbian agriculture area is about five times bigger than in Israel. However, from a crop protection point of view, the two markets are of a similar size pretty much saturated with generic versions of almost every off-patent pesticide.

• Your company originates from Israel. Are there any similarities in the way operations unfold in Israel and Serbia?

- The total Serbian agriculture area is about five times bigger than in Israel. However, from a crop protection point of view, the two markets are of a similar size. Agriculture is a far higher part of GDP in Serbia than in Israel. The small-scale Israeli village family farm has disappeared and made way for large consolidated units that are of higher competitive power and economy of scale.

Many top-quality speciality crops are grown in the desert with top-technology irrigation and controlled conditions systems. Both Serbian and Israeli farmers are in need of greater governmental support, to help them overcome fluctuating market conditions and ensure sustainability. In Israel, cultivating is more than just farming. It has wide national and cultural aspects that are at the heart of

the national identity and history. I believe that the local agriculture segment is also perceived as being of special importance in Serbia.

• What next steps will you take? Are you planning expansions and additional investments and, if so, in which segments?

- We have recently expanded our territory from Serbia (and Bosnia) to all ex-Yugoslav countries, as well as Albania. ADAMA's operations in Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia and even Albania are not new, but are also not developed fully. We believe that, with the proximity of our Serbian expertise, knowledge, similar agriculture and business practises, the same language (in most cases), through the sharing of best practices and making Serbia a regional hub for the region, we will grow our business significantly.

We have a large development plan for the next five years that includes new solutions for farmers in Serbia and the region. We hope to launch some of those products very soon.

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NEWS

COTECNA ACQUIRES KAIXIN CERTIFICATION

KEZZLER DELIVERS FARM-TO-FORK TO CHINESE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PARK

Cotecna announced acquisition of a 51% equity stake in Kaixin Certification (Beijing) Co., Ltd. in Beijing, China. Cotecna is a global provider of inspection and testing services and supply chain solutions, providing conformity assessment across a number of industry sectors, including Food, Agriculture, Government & Trade, and Metals & Minerals.

Kaixin Certification is a leading certification body in China approved by CNCA with accreditations from CNAS and ANAB. Founded in 1998 and privately owned, Kaixin Certification has been a preferred service partner by over 10,000 customers in multi-industry sectors. The company has issued over 16,000 certificates until 2019, covering a comprehensive range of system certification and product certification services.

N o r we g i a n c o m p a n y Kezzler enables RunHui Agriculture to secure its supply chain and protect well-known Chinese food products from counterfeits Kezzler was selected by RunHui Agricultural Comprehensive Development Co. Ltd (referred to as CHRISTINE C. AKSELSEN, CEO OF KEZZLER RunHui) to provide a traceability and authentication solution to The National Modern Agricultural Industrial Park in Hanting District, Weifang, Shandon Provence China. Kezzler’s serialization technology is initially being utilized for the production of the renowned Weixian radish, which is specific to the region. With full traceability across the entire supply chain, RunHui is able to ensure food safety and quality for their consumers.

The project involves the application of unique, secure, and traceable QR codes to every pack of radishes. In addition, there is a four-digit hidden pin code for authentication.

The solution is integrated with China’s popular WeChat platform allowing consumers to scan the product directly from within the app on their phone.

RETHINKING MENUS TO HELP RESTAURANTS ENHANCE SAFETY The COVID-19 pandemic has all but eliminated the role of communal menus in restaurants. Menus are often the most germ-riddled part of an entire restaurant, according to WebMD. Customers come in, pick them up, handle them, pass them around, and leave them for the next patron. For restaurants looking to reopen, menu safety will be a top priority, and many state governments have zeroed in on it as a necessity.

Here are some best practices for cleaning laminated menus: Thoroughly clean and disinfect after each use.

Use a soft cloth without abrasions Allow the menu to fully dry Keep menus organized into “used” and “clean” stacks Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals like bleach Don’t fully submerge the menu underwater Avoid putting menus through the dishwasher Chalkboard, large signage or A-frame menus

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UK STUDY REVEALS 74% OF DAIRY FARMERS STORE EXPIRED MEDICINES ON-FARM

Research in the UK has revealed 74% of dairy farmers have expired medicines on-farm, in one instance being as much as 16 years out of date. In addition, only 63 percent of the study farms were storing medicines correctly which could also impact treatment effectiveness.

The study also found on-farm medicine records varied wildly, from very accurate to non-existent. Recording and managing medicine use and stock is particularly important when meeting assurance scheme requirements and creating health plans.

“Using a simple medicine book to record when medicine is used, why it was given, and how much was administered, will help farmers to keep track of herd health. It is also valuable to include withdrawal periods and any subsequent doses needed to fulfil treatment,” said Dr Rees from University of Bristol.

NEWS

COULD ALPACA FARMING BE A WORTHWHILE VENTURE? Alpaca farms are becoming more common throughout. But would it be a worthwhile venture?

Believe it or not, there are many benefits to farming Alpacas over other alternatives. The first is the fact that they are much easier on ground than sheep or cattle. They have soft pads on their hooves instead of cloven hoofs, meaning they do not leave as much tracks, a handy feature for those of farmers with wetter, marginal and peaty lands. A flock of sheep would cause up to three times more damage to land than a herd of Alpacas of the same size.

They are very docile in nature and make great pets as well. They are very approachable, even mature males are gentle in nature.

Although originating from the regions of South America, they

SWISS CATTLE BREED EXCITES DAIRY BREEDERS At this year’s Eldoret Agricultural Society of Kenya International Trade Fair the gorgeous 1,300 kg Simmental cattle was the star. The beast is well toned skin is wine red, it is neatly horned and with good muscling, large frame and heavy dewlap. As curious eyes gazed at him, he just looked back with stern sharp eyes oblivious of how attractive he was.

By the way, most of the Simmental cattle have pigmentation around the eyes, which help reduce eye problems.

Simmental breed, also known as Swiss Fleckvieh is a Swiss breed of dual-purpose cattle. It is reddish with white markings. Kimutai explains that vets in the farm breed the Simmental-Borana crossbreeds with Friesian cows to produce high yielding breeds.

are more than capable of adapting to our climate. In fact, where they come from in the Peruvian Andes is subjected to far more extreme weather at times.

Females produce an average of one cria each year, with birthing usually trouble-free. In the current market, one could buy a young male for as little as €350 online. Registered breeding females with a cria at foot and pregnant, can make even up to and over €3,500.

Therefore breeding could be a very profitable option. Registered pregnant females average at €3,000, while stud males can again be worth up to €3,500 in the current markets.

ZOETIS INVESTS IN ANGUS GENOMIC REFERENCE POPULATIONS Zoetis Animal Genetics and Angus Australia have entered into a partnership that will assist Australian Angus seedstock and commercial breeders extract additional benefit from genomic, or DNA-based technology.

Through the partnership, Zoetis has made a considerable investment in the expansion of the Angus genomic reference population through the provision of genotyping services and sponsorship.

The genomic reference population refers to a reference population of animals that have both DNA profiles and performance information, with the value obtained from genomic technologies influenced by factors such as: While efforts to-date have focussed on the development of the Australian Angus genomic reference population via the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program, a priority of the new partnership with Zoetis will be to explore how performance information collected on non-seedstock animals can be harnessed within the genomic reference population.

ZOETIS’ STANDARDS ALLOWING MORE ACCURATELY AND EFFICIENTLY MANAGE FLOCK

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BUSINESS

VLADIMIR VASOJEVIĆ, COUNTRY SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER FOR BALKAN COUNTRIES, BELCHIM CROP PROTECTION

Smart Plant Protection In The Age Of Pandemics Innovative solutions have reached every farmer

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elchim Crop Protection has succeeded in overcoming all the challenges of the previous period and ensuring the unhindered delivery of its products and the monitoring of the condition of crops in the field. Company representatives announce the continuation of investments in the development of precise plant protection, both in Serbia and worldwide.

• The Coronavirus pandemic didn't prevent Belchim Crop Protection from continuing its committed work on plant protection solutions that guarantee certain yields... What kind of results have you managed to achieve?

- The unexpected global crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic surprised everyone in the world. Nobody expected such a scenario.

Our company, Belchim Crop Protection, is a global company with its headquarters in Brussels. We have for years promoted our company as being flexible and adaptable to all the challenges brought by agricultural production. This was the right moment to once again prove our key advantage and strength.

We have consolidated our operations, adapted ourselves and, in accordance with the measures of our state and international changes, proactively approached the performance of all necessary works, in order to ensure that our proven, innovative solutions are available

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to all of our agricultural producers. Due to the closing of borders, production becoming more difficult and quarantine measures, the most important area was the actual delivery of our products, while we simultaneously had to strike a balance with the expert part of our work as agronomists on the ground, where we conducted monitoring of the condition of crops in the field. Our team responded to this challenge in the right way.

• What can we expect from the production year ahead of us; can we hope for good yields?

- It's too early to provide any kinds of forecasts, although it now seems that things are quite complicated and difficult, I think we can be realistically optimistic that this will be an average agricultural year. Climatic conditions did not serve the needs of agricultural producers and will certainly impact on yields and the quality of

ture, but also solutions adapted to existing conditions in our country. What is specific about Serbia in the field of agriculture, as well as for Belchim's operations in Serbia and you personally as a manager?

- With our Japanese and European partners, we this year again introduced several new products to our market that will soon represent the standard in plant protection.

We have harmonised our business, both locally and globally, with all increasingly rigorous environmental and safety standards through our SMART Crop Protection™ programme, or smart – i.e. precise - plant protection. We are investing in the development of new products, through experiments that we conduct everywhere, both in Serbia and around the world. In Serbia we are working to ensure all innovative solutions are available to every hard-working agricultural producer.

With our Japanese and European partners, this year we again introduced several new products to our market that will soon represent the standard in plant protection production. We are all part of this chain, from the field to the table, and we have to think that the result will ultimately be positive. Our mission and goal is to offer high-quality, safe solutions that can maximise all production parameters in the right way, as well as to help our loyal partners get through this period, with a more flexible commercial policy.

• You strive to offer the Serbian market the most advanced global technologies in agricul-

We believe in that, which is why we are recognised for constantly providing something new and high quality. The smart plant protection promoted by Belchim Crop Protection actually represents a desire to optimise all processes that lead to top yields and production quality.

We want science to be in the function of production. Being part of that is a great honour and privilege for me personally, not only as a manager, but also as an agricultural engineer in the field of plant protection.

BLISS HONEY BUSINESS

Original And Elegant Honey Products

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liss Honey is a family company based in the city of Novi Sad that deals in the production of creamed honey with addition of nuts, freeze-dried fruits, aromatic plants and herbs, presented in elegant and innovative packaging that's created

creamed honey, which is the process of honey crystallization in a controlled environment.

Founded in April 2019, the initial idea of the company was to develop premium honey-based products and create a brand with its own striking visual identity.

The branding of corporate gifts occupies an important place in the company’s portfolio. Bliss Honey will help you design the ideal gift displaying your company logo and delight your business partners with sweet bites specifically for the world market.

Bliss Honey's production is based on the use of honey from its own apiary, while it also purchases honey from other local bee-keepers. Having its own beehives and knowledge of the honey production process helped the company to develop

Bliss Honey today boasts a production facility that adheres to the highest standards in the food industry, harmonised with standards required for export to even the most demanding markets.

It has established cooperation with retail chains in Serbia, as well as smaller

stores specialising in delicatessen products. Moreover, cooperation has also been established with numerous companies that carry out the branding of their corporate gifts, which occupy an important place in business culture and represent a good introduction to the establishing of business relations. The aim of the company is to expand its sales network on the domestic market, as well as its exports to foreign markets. At the heart of the story is hedonism and the products are primarily intended for those desiring the enjoyment of high-quality sweet snacks.

The Bliss Honey offer includes pure creamed honey, as well as creamed honey enriched with hazelnuts, pistachios and sea salt, coffee, freeze-dried raspberries, apples, lemongrass and ginger.

www.blisshoney.rs Tel: +381 64 54 39 278

June

15

BUSINESS

LA LINEA VERDE DOBRINCI: THE SERBIAN HUB OF LA LINEA VERDE GROUP

European Producer Of Fresh-Cut Salads And Fresh Ready Soups La Linea Verde Group, which is headquartered in the Italian town of Manerbio ( near Milan) is an agro-food company specialising in the production of fresh-cut salads and chilled fresh ready soups

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ounded in 1991 by two Italian brothers, Giuseppe and Domenico Battagliola, the group is the evolution of a family agricultural business that relies on solid family values. Standing at the top of the Italian market of bagged salads and chilled fresh soups, the company boasts 40 years of experience in agriculture and almost 30 years in the fresh-cut sector. The group manufactures under its own umbrella-brand DimmidiSì (Italian translation of “tell me yes”) and is a co-packer for European large-scale retailers. Over the years, thanks to continuous growth and investments in agriculture, production, innovation and communication, the group has increased its presence on foreign markets through both export activities from Italy and the opening of affiliated companies beyond Italy’s borders. With six production sites (situated in Italy, Spain and Serbia), five commercial offices (Italy, Spain, Serbia, Russia and France) and a turnover of 330 million euros in 2019, La Linea Verde is the right partner for large scale retailers in Europe.

The production units of the group are situated in different European locations, all with specific features to farm salads for fresh-cut and provide the availability of raw materials year-round. This allows the La Linea Verde Group to supply almost all European countries.

The key to the company’s success lies in its innovative, high quality and convenient

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products of exceptional added value. Reliability and flexibility are characteristics that have always allowed the group to meet consumers’ demands. In fact, La Linea Verde, as a reliable co-packer of fresh-cut products in Italy and the rest of Europe, works for as many as 60 European retail brands. The group opened a production plant in 2018 for fresh cut salads in Serbia’s Ruma region, “La Linea Verde Dobrinci”, acquiring fields and greenhouses for the farming of several varieties of salads. The core business of the Serbian hub is to offer ready-to-eat salads in bags and unwashed salads in trays. The factory now supplies the entire Serbian Retail market.

A total of 10 million euros was invested in the “La Linea Verde Dobrinci” hub, which covers

a surface area of 5,900 square metres and has a staff of 120 people. The latest modern technologies were introduced in the production plan, which can produce up to 65,000 units of washed bagged salads and up to 55,000 units of unwashed salads in trays per day.

The surface area dedicated to agricultural production has reached more than 140 hectares. Baby leaf salads are grown in greenhouses, while crunchy lettuces are farmed in open fields located in Debrc, in the county of Šabac and in Kraljevci, both near the production plant.

“La Linea Verde Dobrinci” represents the heart of the group’s Eastern Europe project.

The goal of the Serbian company is to supply the local Serbian market, all the Balkan countries and Russia. This project is the result of the 30-year activity of the group. An integrated supply chain allows the tracking of the entire product pathway, from the field to final delivery, with high quality standards, state-of-theart agricultural and production technologies and a focus on marketing and logistics. These features form the basis of the Italian model of “La Linea Verde” and were introduced at “La Linea Verde Dobrinci”, together with values of reliability and love for the earth.

Visit the group’s website: www.lalineaverde.it

La Linea Verde d.o.o.

Rumska 73, 22412 Dobrinci, Ruma, Serbia, email: office@lalineaverde.rs

JOVANA ĐORĐIĆ, MARKETING MANAGER, FRESH AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES BUSINESS

MapMyApple, Support For Your Apple Production

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resh Agriculture Technologies is a startup that develops advanced software solutions for fruit growing industry. For around two years now, they’ve been working on their first solution, MapMyApple, a mobile app specifically built for apple growers. The incentive to build such solution lies in the realization that expert’s help, i.e. agronomist’s or fruit specialist’s knowledge, is essential for most apple growers to succeed, yet often too expensive for them to afford it. Therefore, the application acts as a digital agronomist, offering growers all the expert’s knowledge they need and it is happily affordable for both, medium and small size apple growers.

Unlike other applications, MapMyApple

provides customers with daily recommendations for spraying, irrigation and fertilization, specifically tailored to their orchard needs. It collects and processes a large amount of orchard data, from basic plantation information (variety, year of planting, tree thickness ...) to chemical and mechanical soil properties and combines them with weather conditions to create timely and precise growing plans. To ensure the use of the most accurate weather data, the software is easily integrated with the grower’s personal weather station, if there is one, or with the reliable virtual weather station otherwise. Ultimately, the goal is to give grower’s plantation the optimal treatment it requires while reducing the overall negative environmental impact.

Using the app is simple and intuitive, and if you have a smartphone, you are ready to go. The app is available for both Android and iPhone users and can be downloaded via Google Play or App Store. To this date, over 2,000 users have downloaded the application, most of them coming from Serbia and Macedonia. Last season, Delta Agrar, one of the largest apple orchards in Serbia, has started actively using MapMyApple app for their orchard management, and since then, they have reported an increase in their productivity by more than 20%, and they continue to use the app today. This season, MapMyApple team has partnered with Cornell University from New York that will test and prepare the algorithm for the USA market needs.

Skerlićeva 24, 11000 Belgrade, Tel: +381 11 3821 002 www.zssrbije.org

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NEWS BELCHIM CROP PROTECTION SERBIA

REAL SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE CROP MANAGEMENT With a crop-oriented approach, BELCHIM is very close to the growers and develops SOLUTIONS responding to the needs of the market. BELCHIM knows how to respond rapidly and initiates registration procedures in order to have new technical solutions ready, prepared to encounter the problems of the market.

In particular, BELCHIM invests in minor crops and label extensions.

Alongside the efficacy of a product, the tox and ecotox profile of a compound is extremely important. With the right choice of products, meaning, safe products with a profile that will survive not only the present, but also future regulatory requirements, Belchim Crop Protection is offering real solutions for sustainable crop management. Belchim has shown, throughout its history, to be a reliable and competent partner, always with a high sense of reality.

TIMOMED KNJAŽEVAC

MEDICINAL BEE STING Bee venom is believed to have therapeutic value in the treatment of severe diseases. Apitherapy, as a traditional folk remedy, helps alleviate serious problems such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis and lupus.

Many beekeepers and people who trust them deliberately expose themselves to bee stings in order to cure various diseases. Bee venom contains about 40 different medicinal components, one of which is melittin, an ingredient that has anti-inflammatory properties. People who have been convinced of the power of bee products believe that apitherapy is an alternative to dangerous drugs that can have harmful side effects. Apitherapy, as a traditional folk remedy, helps alleviate serious problems such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis and lupus. Certain individuals confirmed that bee venom helped them treat Lyme disease.

AQUADUCT D.O.O

WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO LONGEVITY OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS? The life of every irrigation system that should function the next 15-20 years starts on the basis of a GOOD PROJECT. In order for the system to function well, all local factors should be considered: weather, soil, the plants need for water, the terrains topography, the need for drainage‌ There are no two identical irrigation systems. Each system is unique and each lot is approached with a complete understanding of the situation and surrounding.

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NEWS NETHERLAND

HUGE HIT FOR THE DUTCH FLOWER INDUSTRY The pots of chrysanthemums stacked in Henk van der Slot’s barn in the Netherlands bulb fields were supposed to decorate St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican over Easter.

But with border restrictions and lockdowns spreading around the globe as governments fight the coronavirus pandemic, the pope had to go without his usual donation of Dutch flowers this year.

That’s a huge hit for the Dutch flower industry, whose exports last year were worth more than €6 billion. According to government figures, the Netherlands has a 44% share of the world trade in floriculture products and accounts for 77% of flower bulbs sold worldwide.

ADAMA SERBIA

SIMPLY GROW TOGETHER

BRAZIL

BRAZIL GREENLIGHTS BEEF EXPORTS TO THAILAND Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry reports that Thailand has agreed to accept Brazilian beef imports. The agreement, announced on 25 May, is the second agricultural trade deal the countries have reached in the last two weeks.

The companies who own the plants have not been identified. Nor has the ministry specified when exports will start.

Brazilian agricultural exports reached a record $10.2 billion in April, it added, 25 percent above the same month last year.

ADAMA is one of the world’s leading crop protection companies.

They strive to Create Simplicity in Agriculture, offering farmers effective products and services that simplify their lives and help them grow.

At ADAMA, they strive for a world where everybody has food security by using motto, “Simply.Grow. Together.” Is three short words with the power to make a lasting difference to farming everywhere?

Yes, simply - Create simplicity in agriculture.

Developing and delivering simplicity – with employees, partners, farmers, and our peers in the wider farming world. The ADAMA’s aim is to build close relationships with farmers by being honest, open and agile.

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June