Congress entitled " Agrifood and rural innovations for healthier societies", took place from 26 to 29 August 2014 in Ljubljana. It is the central scientific event in Europe in the field of agricultural economics, economics of food science and economics of natural resources. Triennial Congress of the European Association, represents a cross section of the research work of this period and sets guidelines for the future research work in this domain. The congress, which was attended by 688 participants from 53 countries, presented 225 contributed papers, 159 posters, organized sections 26 and four pre-conference workshops. The contributions presented at the congress discuss a wide range of issues and research approaches, such as: (i) the competitiveness of agribusiness, (Ii) natural resources, environment and agriculture, (iii) climate change and agriculture, (iv) risk management, (v) the effects of agricultural policy, (vi) the sustainable management of rural resources, (vii) the development of bio-methodological tools ( vii) management of value chains in agriculture, (ix) food consumer behaviour. The honorary patron of the Congress was the President of the Republic of Slovenia g. Borut Pahor. Plenary speaker at the Congress was the European Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Janez Potočnik. Members of the program group contributed decisively to the success of the Congress. In this respect, we highlight Ales Kuhar as the President of the organizing committee, Emil Erjavec as a Member of the Board of EAAE and Luka Juvančič as a member of the Program Committee.
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 274780928The study provides an analysis of the the situation and trends in agriculture and agricultural policy in Southeastern European (SEE) countries. It attempts to describe the gaps that define the development and European integration process of agriculture in the SEE countries. Natural production potential for agriculture is relatively poorly used in the SEE countries. The available data reveals a persistently large proportion of uncultivated arable land as well as unused or poorly used permanent grassland. Compared to the EU, the crop output prices are somewhat more competitive, while the prices of livestock products are typically higher than in most EU Member States. With the exception of Serbia, all SEEs are net importers of agro-food products. Agricultural policy implemented in SEEs is not aligned with the actual policy in the EU in any aspect. On the other hand, the relative level of budgetary support as well as its composition is quite comparable to that recorded in some new Member States in the period before accession to the EU (1999). In the composition of total budgetary funds for agriculture in most SEEs direct producer support has the highest share (40-90 percent). The dominant form of direct support in most SEEs are commodity-linked payments per area or per animal, price aids and input subsidies. In SEEs, the level of budgetary funds for rural development support is generally low. A clear road map for the implementation of agricultural policy reforms, incorporating the expected EU integration process, identifying the steps for a systematic implementation of strategies is a precondition for the efficient adjustment of agriculture.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 3499656The report gives a comprehensive analytical overview of the situation and trends in agriculture and related sectors. Despite constant structural changes small farms still dominate agricultural production with the average size of holdings being 6.6 ha (6.4 ha in 2010). In 2012 and again in 2013, agricultural production decreased (by 11% and 3%, respectively) mostly due to unfavourable weather conditions. Self-sufficiency in crop products remained rather low (between 35% and 60%) while in livestock products this rate is higher (between 90% and 120%) and more stable with the exception of pigmeat (down to 40% from 70% in 2007). Agricultural output prices show an increasing trend since 2010, mostly accompanied by an increase in input prices. In 2013, the terms of trade improved slightly. In recent years (since 2008), the level and composition of the budgetary support to agriculture is not changing considerably. Subsidies on production accounted for about 65% of agricultural factor income in 2013. After the sharp decrease in 2012, the agricultural incomes remained low, mostly due to fall in production. Exports and imports of agri-food products are increasing. The export-to-import cover ration as well as trade deficit remained unchanged (around 45% and over EUR 1 billion, respectively). In 2013, the food industry production volume fell the second consecutive year mainly as a consequence of economic crises affecting demand. Due to increase in producer prices the food industry economic results improved slightly, but at the aggregate level remained negative.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 4528488Despite numerous development policies, the differences in development within Slovenia are still evident between municipalities and statistical regions, between urban and rural areas and between eastern and western parts of the country. In order to minimize these differences and to ensure sustainable development it is important to know and understand the key factors that cause these differences when preparing effective programmes and development policies. We began by extracting key factors on the basis of 40 selected indicators. The situations in the municipalities were first analysed by each individual indicator and the situation was presented on the maps. Based on different typologies of Slovenian municipalities, we showed the differences between the defined areas' types. Using principal components analysis we reduced the number of indicators to 11 new, mutually independent variables, accounting for 76.5 percent of total variability. Each principal component includes a group of interrelated indicators that explain certain factors. On the basis of principal components, municipalities were further classified into four groups by Ward's method of classification on Euclidean distance. These groups of municipalities reflect different economic and development performance. Results of the analyses confirm our research hypothesis: Development situation and economic performance differ between the municipalities, regions and different types of areas by selected typologies (e.g. urban and rural) as a result of different areas' characteristics, defined by structural elements of economic, human, social and environmental capital. The greatest part of the variability can be explained by economic factors through productivity, investment dynamics, entrepreneurship initiatives, innovation and the structure of economic activities. Demographic characteristics are significant as well, like education, total population growth, age structure and population density. Other important factors of economic and development performance include level of infrastructure and the distance from Ljubljana and important regional centres. Thus we have concluded that there is a complex web of interactions between different factors.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 813175The sugar beet is the main field crop used for sugar production in the temperate climatic zone. The abolishment of the quota system will open new investment opportunities in countries that were forced to abandon sugar industry as the result of the reform in 2006. Present paper describes the modeling of sugar beet production and its processing into sugar for purpose of decision support.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 3800364