Identification of Comparative Advantages of Agricultural Products and Products of Processed Food Sector of Serbia

In the third chapter, the authors were studying the competitiveness and comparative advantage of agricultural products and products of processed food sector of Serbia on international market. Readers will be familiar with the foreign trade exchange of agricultural products and products of processed food sector in the period 2005-2015. They will find out for which products the indices of comparative advantage of export have a positive value and will understand the connection with a surplus in foreign trade exchange of agricultural products and products of processed food sector. Readers will be informed on products that prevail in export, i.e. will perceive the export potential of Serbian food industry. They will see which sectors aren't sufficiently propulsive and need to provide an adequate support in the future. Readers will be familiar with developmental problems of agri-food sector of other countries and will understand the significance of transfer of knowledge and experience in the development of processed food sector of Serbia.

The Global Competitiveness and Comparative Advantages of Agri-Food Sectors

In this chapter the emphasis was put on the analysis of indicators of Agri-food sector at the global level, aimed to point out readers to the level of global competitiveness and comparative advantage of Agri-food sector. After reading this chapter readers will be informed on the current structure of agricultural production. They will be able to understand the connection between changes in arable land in the world with the current trend in agricultural production. Readers will be able to understand the role and significance of agricultural and food products production, as the potential for the performance on international market. Indicators of trade of agri-food products, volume of export/import, balance and the coverage of import by export will be analysed. Readers will be able to evaluate the role of some products in turnover globally. They will understand which products are the carriers of export/import in the world and whether such position is in correlation with the existence of a positive comparative advantage of export and intra-industrial exchange. Readers will find out that the foreign exchange of food has a negative balance, which affects the existence of a negative comparative advantage of agri-food products export. They will be introduced also to other authors' attitudes. Special contribution of this chapter is in defining the directives for future research.

Indicators of Agri-Food Sectors of Serbia

The second chapter represents an analysis of agri-food sector indicator of Serbia. The authors were aiming to show how the analysed indicators have an effect on the export of agri-food products. After reading this chapter, readers will be familiar with the structure of agricultural production and the status of natural resources in Serbia. They will understand that the results of overall analysis have a practical significance, as well as that by the rational use of comparative and competitive advantage dynamizes the export of agriculture and food industry of Serbia on foreign market. They will be able to notice the connection between the unfavourable structure of agricultural production and the structure of agricultural areas. Readers will comprehend the impact of number and size of agricultural holdings on the productivity level and the price competitiveness of products. They will perceive types of land in Serbia according to land capability classification and will know about the quality of soil, water, air and forest potential. They will be able to understand a limiting role of age and educational level of human resources in agriculture. Readers will be familiar with the degree of utilization of production capacity in food industry. They will be familiar with suggestions for the improvement of agri-food sector from different points of view, and also will perceive room for deepening research as scientists, as well as educators, creators, politicians and strategists.

Analysis of Serbian Honey Production and Exports

In this chapter, the emphasis of research was put on an analysis of production and turnover of honey on the global market. After reading this chapter, readers will be familiar with volume of the world and European production of honey. They will find out the geographic structure of honey production in Serbia, i.e., will understand how the increase in number of hives and the volume of honey production affect the export potential. Readers will find out which factors operate restrictively on the development of honey sector in Serbia. They will understand the role of increasing amounts and values of honey export and will notice the correlation with the positive index values of comparative advantage of honey export from Serbia to the international market. The conclusions of numerous authors, who were engaged in honey sector in their countries and especially the issues and problems of the Serbian honey sector, will be presented to them. These issues and problems haven't been comprehensively researched until now.

The Comparative Advantages of Manufacturing Industry of Serbia

In this chapter, the authors have also pointed out to a fact that the Serbian processing industry has been encumbered by problems from the past, lack of investments, innovation and research, which has a restrictive effect on the competitiveness, inclusion on international market and adjustment to market regularities. After reading this chapter, it will be clear which sectors in Manufacturing Industry of Serbia, more precisely Manufacture of Food Products and Beverages industry have a positive comparative advantage in long-term interval, i.e. which ones are competitive on international market. Readers will find out that the Serbian Manufacture of Food Products and Beverages industry has a surplus in international trade. They will understand how could be kept track of the changes in export value of Manufacture of Food Products and Beverages industry through the Balassa index (RCA), Lafay (LFI) and the modified index of comparative advantage (Sm) and specialization in international trade, by using the Grubel Lloyd's index (GL) on international market. They will be introduced to the examples of food industry in Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey, China and Croatia, and will understand specificities and the effects of implemented transformations in these countries.

Analysis of Serbian Production and Export of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

The emphasis of the research in this chapter was put on the analysis of production and export/import of MAP (Medical and aromatic plants) from Serbia. After reading this chapter, readers will find out that the production of MAP in a long time period has been steady, although has been present fluctuations per years. They will know that indigenous and cultivated MAPs are equally present on the market, and will notice that they are equally present in export as well, i.e. that there is no such register. They will be familiar with the positive effects of planned production and the significance of scientific and technological achievements implementation. Readers will be able to recognize the dynamics of changes in export and import of MAP. They will find out which products are the most significant in export and import and will notice the connection between the export structure of MAP sector and earned value - foreign exchange inflow. They will be able to understand the character of exchange, value of export/import and the comparative advantage of export. Readers will be especially familiar with experiences and recommendations of other authors on the development of MAP sector and directives of authors for deepening the research within this chapter. They will know the connection between a low foreign exchange inflow and types of products in export and will understand the need for new organization models and education of manufacturers.