The Norwegian Programme in Higher Education, Research and Development in the Western Balkans 2010-2014.

The Agriculture Sector (HERD/Agriculture)

“Research, education and knowledge transfer promoting entrepreneurship in sustainable use of pastureland/grazing”

HERD Project (Project no.: 09/1548; 332 160UÅ)

Sarajevo, Oct 1 2013

Slaven Prodanovic, Savo Vuckovic & Mensur Vegara

Introduction (1 minute)

The Millennium Development Goals

Eight Goals for 2015

HERD – Programme for Higher Education, Research and Development 2010-2014

Serbia, Near Belgrade, 2013

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prozor/Rama, 2013

Project goals and objectives (2 minutes)

The project represents joint efforts of leading WB Universities / Faculties of agriculture/veterinary medicine and the NORAGRIC Department at Norwegian UMB to contribute in education, research and knowledge transfer promoting entrepreneurship in sustainable use of grasslands / pasturelands. The overall goal of the project is to teach students how to sustainable manage with grasslands and livestock production in environmental conditions of Western Balkans.

Our aim is to improve life of population in rural areas of WB, especially those working with grasslands / pasturelands, natural / genetic resources, and domestic animals, as well as people living in mountains, and trying to produce some products. With respect of local specifics, we planned the following project activities: -In EDUCATION: Establishment / improvement of course curricula related to grasslands, livestock production, plant and animal breeding, genetic resources, and interdisciplinary

-In RESEARCH: Perform researches related to improving of sustainable management of grasslands and livestock production, evaluation of biodiversity of autochthonous populations, and protection of natural resources

-TRANSFER of KNOWLEDGE about grasslands and animal husbandry towards extension services and farmers.

We plan to support young people, MSc/PhD students to finish their theses and dissertations. We expect these new masters / doctors of agricultural sciences will in future take a leader's role in WB rural communities. We give additional efforts to popularization and promotion of local heritage, protection of autochthonous plants and animal landraces, technologies, cultures, and products

Project organization (2 minutes)

Project partners

Norway Department of International Environment and Development Studies,

NORAGRIC, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Ås Western Balkans Faculty of Agric. & Food Technology, University of Mostar, B&H (from

2013) Faculty of Agric., University of Prishtina, Kosovska Mitrovica-Lesak

Kosovo Faculty of Agric., University of Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Agric., University of Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Project leader Mensur Vegara, Noragric, UMB, Ås, Norway

WB Coordinators Slaven Prodanovic & Savo Vuckovic,

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Planning the Project Activities:

First, every year, we make an “Annual Work Plan” of project activities. Plan is always in line with the “Project application".

Examples:

Annual Work Plan 2012

Annual Work Plan 2013

Project application

Work plan 2013

1. Preparation and organization of the Third workshop

1.1. Pre-meeting technical and professional organization of the Third workshop

1.2. Preparation of PP presentations and institutional reports in aim to analyze the progress on the project during the Third workshop

1.3. Travel to the Third workshop, accommodation and participation on the workshop

1.4. Writing of Minutes, Conclusions, distribution of the workshop material

2. Discussion about results obtained in the first project year and detailed working plan for the second year

2.1. Discussion about results, institutional capacities, cooperation and distribution of activities in aim to develop the Plan of work 2013, via electronic communication

2.2. Development of the Plan of work 2013 2.3. Development of new project application

proposal showing capacity of WBI to cooperate broadly in education and research

2.4. Writing of the institutional and joint scientific and review papers from results obtained in the first project year

“Work Plans” in details elaborates major activities from the “Project application”

1. Major and detailed project activities 2. Parameters for assessing the success of implementation of activities 3. Leading institution and partners responsible for realization of each activity 4. Time schedule for the project activities 5. Distribution of Total project budget 2013 according to the project activities

Chapters in every “Annual Work Plan”:

Agreement about the activities

In the development and harmonization of "Annual Work Plan" participate all partner institutions in the project.

By e-mails & via Skype

On workshops

1st workshop, via Skype

2nd workshop, Belgrade 2012

3rd workshop, Belgrade 2013

Project results (5 minutes)

- Results in Higher Education

- Results in Research

- Results in Development and cooperation with entrepreneurships

- Results in promotion of the project

Results in Higher Education (2012/13)

All the partners have determined teaching courses that promote the objectives of the project.

All partners develop new lessons for these courses.

We have formed a completely new project curriculum.

A significant number of students showed interest in the teaching courses whose improvement is the object of the project.

Several MSc and PhD students write their theses in the fields of the project.

The project support selected MSC and PhD theses, particularly from grassland / pastureland, genetic resources and entrepreneurship.

6 new courses and chapters focused on project objectives

University Educational course Chapter / Lesson Belgrade Agriculture

“Grasslands and pasturelands”, “Plant genetic resources”

“Knowledge transfer in sustainable management of grasslands”, “Promotion of sustainable use of plant genetic resources”

Banja Luka “Forage production” “Sustainable management of forage genetic resources“, „Production of seeds for local agro-ecological conditions“, „Implementation of legumes in forage production at hilly-mountain regions“

Belgrade Veterinary

“Selection and breeding in organic livestock production”

“Knowledge transfer in use of autochthonous animal genetic resources”

Kosovska Mitrovica

“Plant Breeding” „Research of wild relatives and their use as a source of new genes“

Mostar „Agricultural botany“ „Phyto-cenology of grasslands“

1 new education programme developed within the project

„Organic livestock production”

at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade

12 MSc students work on theses within the project

1. Ivanis Petra, 2. Djurovic Biljana, 3. Biljana Lazarevic, 4. Danka Filipovic, 5. Snezana Ackovic, 6. Marija Acimovic, 7. Grujic Goran, 8. Nevena Sopalovic, 9. Jankovic Dejan, 10. Cvetanovic Nikola, 11. Djukic Jovan, 12. Drobnjakovic Jelena,

3 MSc theses already defended within the project

1. Boris Vasiljev – “Uticaj djubrenja na prinos livade Agrostidetum vulgaris u Zapadnoj Srbiji” (Effect of fertilization on yield of grassland type Agrostidetum vulgaris in Western Serbia)

2. Petra Ivanis – “Nacini zasnivanja specijalnih travnjaka” (“Development

technologies of special grasslands”) 3. Vladislava Colic – “Uticaj djubrenja i podsejavanja na pokrovnost

parkovskog travnjaka” (Effect of fertilization and undersowing on cover rate of park grassland”)

3 PhD theses supported by the project

1. University of Mostar Ph.D. thesis of Leona Puljic under the tittle “Traditional food products from Herzegovina”

Leona Puljic

2. University of Belgrade – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine PhD thesis of Zolt Beckei under the tittle „Detection and tissue distribution of the nucleic acid and Cap antigen of porcine circovirus type 2 in domestic swine and wild boars“

3. New student, Vojo Radic, project partner from the University of Banja Luka - Bosnia and Herzegovina, on studies at the University of Belgrade – Serbia Studies begin on October 2013

Exchange / mobility of students

Vojo Radic

Exchange / mobility of professors and technicians

Belgrade

Banja Luka

Mostar

All partners visited Belgrade University (September 2012, July 2013)

Pristina / K. Mitrovica

Exchange / mobility of professors and technicians

Belgrade

Banja Luka

Mostar

Participants from Belgrade visited WB partners

Pristina / K. Mitrovica

May, 2013

Sept, 2013

Oct, 2013

During the visits professors gave the lectures as invited gests

Professor Savo Vuckovic from the Belgrade University talk about grasslands / pasturelands at the University of Mostar

Technicians also take part in visits, exchange of experiences, symposiums, and other types of personal improvement

Professor Savo Vuckovic and technician / technical assistant Milanka Slavkovic during visit of the goat farm

Technician Milanka Slavkovic on experimental fields of pomegranate, in Mostar

Studies / Research (3 minutes)

Results in Research (2012/13)

-We formed research groups

-Field experiments were conducted

-Introduction of new technologies

-First papers published from the project research

(Titles about: Analysis of floristic composition of grasslands/pasturelands, characteristics of local and traditional natural resources, knowledge and technologies)

- Survey and identification of new genetic resources

4 research groups formed and operative

1) Grassland production (head: Dr Djordje Gataric);

2) Plant/Animal genetic resources (head: Dr Slaven Prodanovic);

3) Animal production (head: Dr Mila Savic);

4) Extension, Entrepreneurship and Market (head: Dr Milanka Drinic)

Over 50 students on experimental fields

Introduction of the new technology

Roll Balers (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

8 Scientific papers resulted from the project

3 Papers in domestic scientific journals 2 Presentations given on international conferences 2 Papers of MSc and PhD students 1 Paper in synergy with an other HERD project

Examples: Ivanis P., S. Vuckovic, A. Simic, S. Prodanovic, B. Vasiljev, V. Colic: “Effects of application of fertilizers on the productivity of meadow type Arrhenatheretum elatioris in the hilly region of Serbia” (Original title: “Uticaj primene mineralnih djubriva na produktivnost livade tipa Arrhenatheretum elatioris u brdskom podrucju Srbije”). Published in: Review of research work at the Agricultural Institute Belgrade (Zbornik radova Instituta PKB Agroekonomik), Vol. 19/1-2, 191-195.

Savić M, Dimitrijević B, Borozan S, Katić-Radivojević S and Jovanović S.: “The determination of the preferable sheep breed for organic production in the hilly mountainous region of Sjenica”. Presented at: 27 World Buaitrics Congress, Lisbon, 3 - 8 June 2012. Porceedings pp 252-53.

We also written one international – inter-institutional book in Grasslands this year. It will be published in 2014.

We expect first papers with international – inter-institutional coauthors will be published on the end of 2013

18 Survey performed

SERBIA: Deliblatska pescara Sjenica Stara planina Rtanj Valjevo Nis Ivanjica/Golija Sumadija–Topola Smederevo Kragujevac Zagubica/Petrovac Pozarevac

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Han Pijesak/Romanija Manjaca Neum Kupres

KOSOVO: Kosovska Mitrovica Kopaonik

3 animal genetic resources identified and characterized

“Lipe” sheep

“Sjenica” sheep

Vlashko-Vitoroga Zackel

6 plant genetic resources collected and stored, including 2 wild crop relatives (of wheat and oat)

Nardus sticta L.

Examples of survey / collecting plant genetic resources

Survey at pastureland in “Duvanjsko polje”, Sepember 2013

Collecting plant genetic resource

2 1

Spikes of collected plants in Petri dishes

Harvest of seeds from spikes

Seeds transfer to safe bags

3 4

5 6

Photos about genetic resources will be shown to students during classes in genetic resources

Seeds will be investigated / tested for germination and DNA characterization

7

Seeds resources are stored at 4oC in the laboratory 29/p

Cooperation with industry and other partners

(2 minutes)

Results in Development and Entrepreneurship (2012/13)

Conducted a number of consultations with agricultural advisors, in order to give lectures to farmers.

Talk / exchange of knowledge with farmers and entrepreneurs (as producers of cheese, honey).

Conducted a tour of different fairs and trade expositions of domestic products.

Entrepreneurs were visited in situ (at the field ).

Identified and recorded numerous traditional products and technologies.

4 courses / lectures given to farmers

Consultation with agricultural advisor Dr Radosav Dubljevic at the field, Valjevo, June 2013

During “Pastirski dani” (Shepard`s Days) was given the lecture to farmers within the frame of HERD Project, Lipa, May 2013

>20 Talks/exchange of knowledge with farmers & entrepreneurs

Exchange of experiences during a grass cutting in Valjevo, July 2013

Talk with farmer and cheese producer Stana Kacar visited in situ at Rtanj mountain, August 2013

Visit of farmers when sowing grasslands, on Romanija, April 2013

Visit in situ of farmers who keep traditional knowledge (lime harvest), at Rudnik, June 2013

Large scale of different farmers & entrepreneurs we met

From very poor (as nomad with 20 goats)...

... to very rich (Farm “Musha”, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, 800 goats)

Even child working in agriculture (Andjela Milosevic, village Vinca)

7 different fairs and trade expositions of domestic products visited

Palic, May 2013

Soko Banja, August 2013

Lipe, May 2013

Results in promotion of the project

(1 minute)

We made the project website: http://reakt-agriculture.net/

Project banner is set on the websites of the Faculties.

Groups REAKT! was established on social networks:

Facebook – lead by the University of Belgrade

Tweeter – lead by the University of Mostar

On the bulletin board of the Faculty are set information & leaflets about the project.

Project’s WEB LOGO

Project’s website http://reakt-agriculture.net/

Interviews about the project given to media Dr Savo Vuckovic to “BH” television

Dr Slaven Prodanovic to “BH” television, in Mostar, Sep 2013

Dr Mila Savic to Serbian television, in Lipe, May 2013

Group on Facebook - “REAKT! Entrepreneurship in agriculture”

Established 11 December 2012 Group administrator - dr Slaven Prodanovic 190 members (27 per month) 106 posts (4 per week) 40-80 members read posted news

Conclusions (2 minutes)

Reporting about the implementation of activities

We reported about implementation of planned activities in "Annual status and progress report“ Example: Report 2012

In the "Annual status and progress report “, we also presented the financial report.

•Co-operation between WB countries in education •Improved curricula: at least one MSc or PhD course per WB institution for the classes concerning pastureland/grazing, animal production, and genetic resources and biodiversity •Feedback about courses from students •10 MSc and 5 PhD thesis •Developed student mobility and/or participation of students on workshops/trainings in other countries •Several field experiments with plant and animals set up for purpose of joint research •New research results and transferred / implemented new knowledge •10 joint original research papers in national and international journals or meetings •New paragraphs / chapters/ books about sustainable use of pastureland/grazing •Established international research groups within project •Jointly organized local study visits •Joint web site concerning project •2 new groups on social networks concerning natural/human resources at Western Balkan

Planed outputs in the Project Application:

•Review of traditional products/knowledge and local handworks •Action plan for rural development for one local community •Pamphlets about the project results •New contacts with NGO and extension services leading to development at the local level •Joint workshops, with participation of different stakeholders and technicians •Organized social events (demonstration of local resources, technologies, and handworks) •Raised public awareness •Application of non-formal education (trainings, courses, seminars) for farmers and technicians or administrative staff •Exchange visits between professors/scientists from WB and Norway •Understanding between WB institutions and Norwegian partner •Trained teaching staff and local experts for sustainable management of natural/human resources in WBC via external study visits and participation on international conferences •Investments in new equipment, tools and software •Library and laboratory capacity developed •e-learning capacity developed at least for some courses •Future work plan

THANK YOU!