| Sažetak (engleski) | Today’s agriculture is facing a number of challenges that will have a major impact on its future. Therefore, even though most of these issues are universal and apply to the agricultural sector across Europe and the world, this book is dedicated to analyzing the specific problems and opportunities in Croatian agriculture. Understanding these challenges is crucial for developing sustainable strategies that will enable farmers to successfully adapt their operations to global trends and changes.
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One of the biggest challenges for Croatian agriculture is its size, which is small, and fragmentation, both of which pose an obstacle in its competitiveness in comparison to large global producers. While the sector is experiencing rapid progress worldwide, the state of Croatian agriculture is aggravated even more by technological backwardness as many farmers still rely on outdated methods and equipment. Rural communities, already burdened by economic challenges, are facing depopulation and out-migration of young people, resulting in the reduction of the agricultural labour force and threatening the survival of rural areas. This is a problem not only in Croatia, but also in other European countries, which increasingly emphasizes the need for sustainable solutions. Moreover, climate change makes the already difficult conditions in agriculture even more complex as it significantly affects crop yields and quality. The preservation of agricultural varieties is not only a question of agricultural survival, but also of preserving cultural heritage and food diversity. Adapting to the new conditions requires innovative approaches, investment in more resilient varieties and equipping farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to manage change effectively.
Despite these difficulties, Croatian agriculture has considerable potential for development. The synergy with tourism offers opportunities to combine local products with the growing agritourism sector, opportunities to promote local products, support rural development and preserve traditions. With the help of government incentives and European funding, Croatian farmers can modernize their farms, invest in innovation and improve product quality. Particular opportunities lie in the development of organic farming, the circular economy and the shortening of supply chains, which enable greater added value for both producers and consumers.
In this book, particular attention is given to products that combine market potential and cultural identity, such as wine, prosciutto and honey. These products not only have high added value, but are also a symbol of Croatian tradition and excellence on the international stage. Their development can open up and create new business opportunities and, at the same time, strengthen the identity of rural communities.
By comprehensively analyzing the challenges and opportunities, this book aims to give the reader a deeper insight into the complexity of the Croatian agricultural sector. We hope that it will help to understand the problems faced, but also to find solutions for sustainable development. With the right use of resources, innovative strategies and the combination of science and practice, Croatian agriculture has the potential to become more competitive, to preserve rural areas and to contribute to the overall economic development of the country.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the authors who had recognized the need to participate in writing this book and have contributed to it with their work. We would also like to thank four distinguished university professors who have reviewed the book and have recognized the value of this academic work. In addition, we would like to thank all thirty-four reviewers of the individual chapters, as each chapter underwent a double-blind anonymous review process before the entire book was reviewed. Finally, we would like to thank the management of the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Rijeka for their full support in preparing this book. And to conclude, the book in front of you entitled Agriculture Through Sustainability Perspectives is published as a scientific monograph of the University of Rijeka in accordance with the decision of the Senate (Class 007-01/25-03/02, Registration number: 2170-137-01-25-38, on 18th February 2025).
The book is financed by three scientific projects, two funded by the University of Rijeka (The institutional framework of the wine sector in the Republic of Croatia (ZIP-UNIRI-2023-4) and Economic perspectives and sustainability of the agricultural sector (uniri-iskusni-drustv-23-295)) and one funded by the Jean Monnet Chair (EU Business Policies and Contemporary Challenges of European Integration). Sakrij dio sažetka |
