Cooperative principles in practice: Experiences of Serbia

Cooperative principles represent one of the three elements of cooperative identity. In their current form, they have existed since 1995, when they were adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance, and they represent a recommendation to cooperatives around the world on how to organize their business. Adherence to these recommendations in everyday business practice of cooperatives is extremely challenging. In fact, there is a consensus in the literature that deviation from cooperative principles is inevitable. The paper analyzes the experiences of the Republic of Serbia in the implementation of cooperative principles from time of the first cooperatives until today, with special emphasis on agricultural cooperatives. The aim of this paper is to examine the extent to which cooperative principles are respected in the business of cooperatives in Serbia, what factors led to deviations from these recommendations and what consequences this had on the success of these organizations. The paper presents a synergy of theoretical consideration of the problem and examination of experiences of agricultural cooperatives in Serbia in the implementation of cooperative principles. Conducted research indicate that during the development of cooperatives, different levels of deviations from cooperative principles in the practice of agricultural cooperatives were recorded, from very mild to extremely significant deviations that led to the suppression of true cooperative nature. Modern cooperative practice in Serbia is marked by a low level of knowledge of the elements of cooperative identity by the members and management of cooperatives, which further stipulates the posibility of their implementation in practice.

Farm size and digitalization: Quantitative approach

This paper takes into consideration the physical dimension impact of the quantitative description at the farm level over its economic performance. It is obvious that the dimension, if centred on different statistical intervals, generates different results, initiating the different types of potentiality that characterize the certain economic entity. The impact's capture was made through the registered data analysis, relevant for the enhancement of their quantitative characteristics. Dimensional phenomenon was studied considering the data from the National Institute of Statistics (INSSE) of Romania, as well as statistical and economic analysis methods, proving that the dimension, in its actual structure, on different types of farms, can influence in a positive way the production and financial results. It is a generally accepted fact that, the physical dimension could be seen as the production capacity of the farm. Economic dimension or farm size is also an expression of farms' profit or turnover. In this condition the size is linked to economic performance. Economic dimension is usually characterized by inverse relation. Factors that determine a peculiar level of performance are usually specific in line to internal farm environment, respecting the used crops intensity or management under the factors of production. Besides, level of digitalization represents another factor that have an important contribution to increase of farms' economic performances. Its influence represents the value generator at the farm level. So certain results derived from previously conducted survey related to farmers' awareness towards the digitalization or, its presence at farm level was also done.

Step by step conversion to organic agriculture

The controversial issue of genetically modified organisms and environmental pollution, which often leads to global warming, brings us face to face with the need to change the way agriculture leaves its mark on the ecological balance. If common efforts were focused on designing a multidisciplinary agricultural system that produces quantitatively and nutritionally sufficient food while protecting biodiversity and non-renewable resources, the problems that the agricultural sector generates would be greatly reduced. Paper provides introductory information linked to conversion from conventional to organic system of agriculture from the aspect of sustainable development. Familiarity with new eco-friendly practices is essential for exploiting the opportunities for the agricultural sector. In this context, the paper analyses the general consequences observed by some of globally recognized institutions involved in agriculture.

Renewable energy and adaptation to climate change

Climate change is an unprecedented challenge in human history. It requires further immediate and concerted action. Understanding the stage of development of each energy resource, as the impact on the energy system to make informed decisions and prescribe a healthy energy future has thus become a priority. Decisions such as the phasing out of fossil fuels and the transition to an efficient and 100% renewable energy system, as well as increasing the storage capacity of greenhouse gases using environmentally sustainable approaches, maintaining natural ecosystems that generate environmental services, and restoring the degraded ones are now a top issue. Therefore, the relationship between energy and environmental policy is becoming essential. Accordingly, this paper will focus on the transition to renewable energy, the adaptation to climate change and the energy transition at EU level being strenuously debated, in order to build a holistic context of the actual situation. Adaptation to climate change requests a complex scientific study, given the diversity of uncertainties involved, and the interconnections between different areas, such as agriculture, sustainable development or energy industry. Therefore, the aim of research is to provide holistic understanding of the current climate issues, according to the mentioned fields. In this context, it is emphasized the benefits of clean energy by investigating the methods for achieving a prolific energy transition, from a conventional to a sustainable one. Carefully analysing the commitments and the transition to a low-carbon electricity system looking behind the causes and studying closely the underlying elements of all these topics, using the qualitative research method as a basis to indulge in further analysis and research, it was outlined a detailed analysis of the current climate context. In conclusion, the effect of the pressure brought into play by human exploitation of goods and services on the ecosystems was associated with the ongoing concerns of environmental degradation, climatic variations, natural and ecological distortions, and financial setbacks. Taking into account the drive toward accomplishing sustainable development and environmental quality, powerful policies are being implemented, but given the variety of investment conditions in each country and including the different characteristics of the financial markets, there is no unique solution that works for everybody. Therefore, the transition to a more sustainable energy system has a verity of implications but it is an essential condition for sustainable development.

Revitalisation of agriculture of the Republic of Serbia as a factor of economic development

Today, in the era of industrial expansion of developing countries, the Republic of Serbia strives to maintain the required level of progress and join the European Union. On this path of transition, it is necessary to use the comparative advantages in relation to the countries of the region, but also the EU member states. Analysing the available data, it can be established that an important comparative advantage of Serbia lies in the agricultural sector. The aim of this paper is to point out the mentioned comparative advantages, primarily by using the historical-comparative method, and to provide a basis for further decision-making to economic policy makers at the regional and national level. The concept of agricultural and economic policy should be based on the complete revival of agriculture, its revitalization, financial consolidation, innovation and affirmation of the intensification of the production framework.

Effect of access to innovations on assets acquisition and development capacity of women in rural Nigeria

This study investigates the attribution effect of access to innovation on assets acquisition and development among rural women. The study analyzed gender differences in access to innovations and its consequence on assets ownership among rural males and females. Primary data for the study were sourced through a structured questionnaire. The data was fitted to a propensity score matching model in order to isolate the effect of access to innovation on gender differences in an asset acquisition. The findings showed that rural development drive requires innovative intervention in the rural areas and its effect could be more favorable to males than females in terms of productive asset acquisition and development. But, no significant difference (5% level) was established for non-productive asset acquisition across gender. There is a need for gender-inclusive strategies for rural development.

Analysis of current state and limiting factors for the development of organic sector in Serbia

The aim of this paper is to analyse the current situation and potential for the development of organic agriculture in Serbia. Despite the favourable agri-ecological conditions for the development of organic agriculture, this branch of agriculture in Serbia significantly lags behind the world and European average in terms of the percentage of agricultural land under organic production. The motive for the conducted analysis within this paper stems from the fact that the demand for organic products in the EU has been increasing at a rate of about 10% annually in recent years, which represents a chance for Serbian agriculture. Data sources used are from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia (MAFWM), Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS) and Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FIBL) while the basic research method is interview with experts and participants in organic agriculture. The results of the analysis show that the main limiting factors for the development of Serbian organic agriculture are dominance of small and economically weak producers and insufficient consumer confidence in organic products. The path to the development of organic agriculture is in the increased cooperatives activity and the improvement of consumer confidence in organic products.

Exploring sustainable netchains of smallholder cocoa farmers in Indonesia

This study aims to investigate the interplay between regional netchain and value chain performance of Indonesia's smallholder cocoa farmers. The investigation was based on in-depth interviews with 45 key informants from two major regional cocoa netchains in the economy. During the interviews, participatory rural assessment technique was employed in order to find out how regional netchain dimensions are interacted with value chain performance. The findings proved the roles of governance mechanism and social embedding into the value chain performance. Governance mechanism was regarded as the most important variable to secure price stability, hence leads to a viable and sustainable regional netchain of cocoa production. Furthermore, social embedding also played an important role through the influence of patron-client systems.

Environmental residues and contaminants

With the globalisation and diversification of supply on agri-food market, recent decades have been brought issues and risks to human health due to increasing content of chemical residues from agriculture. Identifying of contamination risks at each agri-food chain stage or high level of traceability is extremely important, having in mind that is not only the production stage determining the occurrence of chemical residues within the food. Initial step in eliminating risks related to the contamination of agri-food products with harmful substances is awareness towards their limitation and tolerated daily doses in human consumption. The paper aims to analyse the main groups of contaminating compounds, thus creating a classification according to their level of toxicity and effects on humans.

Consumption of organic products in Romania in 2020

As a production system, organic agriculture is linked to less intensive practices. Therefore, its main mission is to produce much more ecological products and services than conventional agriculture. It does not use potentially harmful technologies technological approaches and inputs of intensive agriculture, as are pesticides, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, GMO crops or veterinary and anthelmintic antibiotics, thus reducing environmental and health risks. Consumption of organic products has been increased in last couple decades in Romania. The main paper goal is to analyse the consumers' attitudes toward the organic products, primarily agri-food products, as well as their buying motives and satisfaction with the existing offer in the national market. Used methodological framework contains an online survey conducted in the first half of 2020. Among achieved results next has been underlined that majority of respondents consume organic products so often. Their first choice is organic vegetable products, followed by organic animal products and in some cases organic cosmetics.