THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF SERBIA

3rd International Symposium On Biotechnology (2025),  [pp. 17-30]

AUTHOR(S) / АУТОР(И): Nataša Tolimir, Marijana Maslovarić, Slavica Čolić, Divna Simić, Vedran Tomić, Slađan Stanković

Download Full Pdf   

DOI: 10.46793/SBT30.03NT

ABSTRACT / САЖЕТАК:

The paper focuses on the role and significance of knowledge transfer in the field of agriculture, with a particular emphasis on rural development in Serbia. It indicates that over the past two decades, agriculture has been facing numerous rapid and substantial changes, including digitalization and technological advancements, sustainability as a priority, increased use of biotechnology, climate change, and increasingly demanding consumers, resulting in the need for new approaches and knowledge bases. The paper analyzes specific forms of knowledge and the role of formal and informal education in addressing challenges in agriculture. Special attention is given to the role of advisory services in knowledge transfer, focusing on the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). The aim of the paper is to emphasize the need to create a new knowledge base in response to current challenges in the agricultural sector, provide an overview of knowledge transfer in Serbia through the advisory system, and explore opportunities for improvement.

KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ:

agriculture, knowledge transfer, advisory services, rural development

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / ПРОЈЕКАТ:

The paper was created as a result of the research within the agreement for the implementation and financing of scientific research work in 2025 between the Institute for the Application of Science in Agriculture, Belgrade, and the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, contract number: 451-03-136/2025-03/200045.

REFERENCES / ЛИТЕРАТУРА:

  • Bogdanov N., Vasiljevic Z. (2011). Role of agriculture and multifunctional rural development in Serbia. Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, 5(1-2), 47-55.
  • Bawden R. J., Packham R. G. (1993). Systemic praxis in the education of the agricultural systems practitioner. Systems practice, (6), 7-19.
  • CAP 2023-27 (https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/cap- overview/cap-2023-27_en)
  • Dooley E. (2022). Reorientating social learning: an ethnographic exploration of metacognition and critical discourse in farmer discussion groups. University of Exeter (United Kingdom). 1-304.
  • Đurić K. (2020). Stanje i perspektive poljoprivrednog savetodavstva u Republici Srbiji. Poljoprivredni fakultet, Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Novi Sad. 1-160.
  • EU br. 1305/2013, – https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/hr/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32013R1305
  • EU SCAR AKIS (2019), Preparing for Future AKIS in Europe. Brussels, European Commission.
  • EU 2021/2115 – https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/HR/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R2115
  • EIP-AGRI (2018), Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems – Stimulating creativity and learning https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/sites/default/files/eipagri_brochure_kno wledge_systems_2018_en_web.pdf
  • Francis C., Moncure S., Jordan N., Breland T. A., Lieblein G., Salomonsson L., Moulton M. (2012). Future visions for experiential education in the agroecology learning landscape. Integrating agriculture, conservation and ecotourism: Societal influences, 1-105.
  • Faure G., Desjeux Y., Gasselin P. (2012). New challenges in agricultural advisory services from a research perspective: A literature review, synthesis and research agenda. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 18(5), 461-492.
  • Girard N. (2015). Knowledge at the boundary between science and society: a review of the use of farmers’ knowledge in agricultural development. Journal of Knowledge Management. 19(5), 949-967.
  • https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/content/EIPAGRIabout.html)
  • Harris D. (2019). Intensification benefit index: how much can rural households benefit from agricultural intensification? Experimental Agriculture, 55(2), 273-287.
  • Knierim A., Labarthe P., Laurent C., Prager K., Kania J., Madureira L., Ndah T. (2017). Pluralism of agricultural advisory service providers–Facts and insights from Europe. Journal of rural studies. (55), 45-58
  • Koutsouris A. (2012). Facilitating Agricultural Innovation Systems: a critical realist approach. Studies in Agricultural Economics, 114(2), 64-70.
  • Klerkx L., Petter Stræte E., Kvam G. T., Ystad E., Butli Harstad R. M. (2017). Achieving best-fit configurations through advisory subsystems in AKIS: case studies of advisory service provisioning for diverse types of farmers in Norway. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 23(3), 213- 229.
  • Law on Higher Education („Official Gazette of RS,“ 88/2017, 27/2018 – other law, 73/2018, 67/2019, 6/2020 – other laws, 11/21 – authentic interpretation, 67/2021 – other laws, 67/2021, 76/2023 ). Zakon o visokom obrazovanju, „Sl.gl. RS“, 88/2017, 27 / 2018 – dr. zakon, 73 / 2018, 67 / 2019, 6 / 2020 – dr. zakoni, 11 /2021 – Autentično tumačenje, 67 / 2021 – dr. zakon, 67 / 2021, 76 / 2023.
  • Law on Performing Advisory and Professional Activities in Agriculture („Official Gazette of RS,“ No. 30/2010) Zakon o obavlјanju savetodavnih i stručnih poslova u oblasti polјoprivrede („Sl. gl. RS“, 30/2010).
  • Lowder S. K., Skoet J., Raney, T. (2016). The number, size, and distribution of farms, smallholder farms, and family farms worldwide. World development, (87), 16-29.
  • Lybaert C., Debruyne L., Kyndt E., Marchand F. (2022). Competencies for agricultural advisors in innovation support. Sustainability, 14(1), 182.
  • Masi M., De Rosa M., Vecchio Y., Bartoli L., Adinolfi F. (2022). The long way to innovation adoption: insights from precision agriculture. Agricultural and Food Economics, 10(1), 27.
  • Nikšić M., Pavić L., Rozman Č. (2023). Transformation of the Education System in Agricultural Advisory towards Sustainability—A Case Study in Slovenia. Sustainability, 15(10), 8242.
  • Nikolić M., Paunović T., Stevović M. B. (2020). Agricultural extension service in serbia–attitudes of farmers. LIMEN, 389-397, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/LIMEN.2020.389
  • Oliveira M. D. F., Gomes da Silva F., Ferreira S., Teixeira M., Damásio H., Dinis Ferreira A., Gonçalves, J. M. (2019). Innovations in sustainable agriculture: Case study of Lis Valley irrigation district, Portugal. Sustainability, 11(2), 331.
  • Ordinance on Determining the Annual Development programme of Agricultural Advisory in 2024. Godišnja  uredba – https://uap.gov.rs/uredbe/uredba-o-utvrdjivanju-godisnjeg-programa- razvoja-savetodavnih-poslova-u-poljoprivredi-za-2024-godinu/
  • Ordinance on the Medium-Term Development Program of Advisory Activities in Agriculture for the period 2021-2025. Srednjoročna Uredba     – https://uap.gov.rs/uredbe/uredba-o-utvrdjivanju-srednjorocnog-programa- razvoja-savetodavnih-poslova-u-poljoprivredi-za-period-od-2021-do-2025- godine/
  • Portal PSSS (https://www.psss.rs/)
  • Petrović Ž., Janković D. (2010). Poljoprivredno savetodavstvo Srbije–Stanje, problemi i mogućnosti reforme. Poljoprivredni fakultet, Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Novi Sad. 1-212.
  • Regulation on Performing Advisory Work in Agriculture (“Official Gazette of RS” No.65/14). Pravilnik o načinu obavlјanja savetodavnih poslova u polјoprivredi („Sl.gl. RS“ 65/14) https://www.psss.rs/download/pravilnik-o-nacinu- obavljanja-savetodavnih-poslova-u-poljoprivredi/
  • Regulation on Requirements for Issuing Advisor License (“Official Gazette of RS“ No. 80/14). Pravilnik o bližim uslovima za izdavanje licence za obјanvlje savetodavnih poslova  u  polјoprivredi („Sl. gl. RS“ 80/14) https://www.psss.rs/download/pravilnik-o-blizim-uslovima-za-izdavanje- licence-za-obavljanje-savetodavnih-poslova-u-poljoprivredi/
  • Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, 2020; 2023. Republički zavod za statistiku Srbije, 2020; 2023.
  • Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Serbia for the period 2014-2024. Strategija razvoja poljoprivrede i sela Republike Srbije za period 2014-2024.
  • Strategy for the Development of Education and Upbringing in the Republic of Serbia until 2030 (2021). Official Gazette of RS, No. 63/2021. Strategija razvoja obrazovanja i vaspitanja u Republici Srbiji do 2030. godine (2021), “Sl. gl. Republike   Srbije”, 63/2021.  https://prosveta.gov.rs/wp- content/uploads/2021/11/1-SROVRS-2030_MASTER_0402_V1.pdflaw
  • Stanković S., Janković S., Berjan S., Tomić V., Tolimir, N. (2015). Agricultural advisory and training in Serbia: the case study of the Institute for Science Application in Agriculture. Sixth International Scientific Agricultural Symposium „Agrosym 2015“. 1966-1972.
  • Stankovic S. (2024). AKIS and advisory services in Serbia. Updated report for the AKIS inventory (Task 1.2) of the i2connect project. https://i2connect- h2020.eu/resources/akis-country-reports/
  • Stringer L. C., Fraser E. D., Harris D., Lyon C., Pereira L., Ward C. F., Simelton (2020). Adaptation and development pathways for different types of farmers. Environmental Science & Policy, (104), 174-189.
  • Sutherland L. A., Adamsone-Fiskovica A., Elzen B., Koutsouris A., Laurent C., Stræte E. P., Labarthe P. (2023). Advancing AKIS with assemblage thinking. Journal of Rural Studies, 97, 57-69.
  • Sutherland L. A., Labarthe P. (2022). Introducing ‘microAKIS’: a farmer-centric approach to understanding the contribution of advice to agricultural innovation. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 28(5), 525- 547.
  • Sutherland L. A., Madureira L., Dirimanova V., Bogusz M., Kania J., Vinohradnik K., … & Knierim A. (2017). New knowledge networks of small- scale farmers in Europe’s periphery. Land Use Policy, (63), 428-439.
  • Taylor M., Bhasme S. (2018). Model farmers, extension networks and the politics of agricultural knowledge transfer. Journal of Rural Studies. 64, 1- 10.
  • Tolimir N., Čolić S., Tadić D. (2017). Strategije interpersonalne komunikacije savetodavaca sa poljoprivrednim proizvođačima. Godišnjak Fakulteta za kulturu i medije. (9), 135-154.
  • Tanasković S., Topisirović G., Kozarski D., Poleksić V., Petrić D., Salasan C., Sćepanović D. (2016). NaRA-nacionalni repozitorijum za obrazovanje u oblasti poljoprivrede–rezultat CaSA projekta/NaRA-national repository for agricultural education as a result of the CaSA tempus project. Zbornik radova 2/XXI savetovanje o biotehnologiji sa međunarodnim učešćem. 21(24), 821-825.
  • Von Munchhausen S., Haring A. M. (2012). Lifelong learning for farmers: enhancing competitiveness, knowledge transfer and innovation in the eastern German state of Brandenburg. Studies in Agricultural Economics. 114(2), 86-92.