Set in the authentic surroundings of My Little Farm, the Festival will bring together producers, local organizations and other actors whose work contributes to the development of the Kolubara Biodistrict. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover local products and initiatives, exchange experiences, and spend time together in nature while enjoying the variety of activities offered at this year’s Festival.

We will be delighted to welcome you and have you join us for this event dedicated to the local community, nature and initiatives contributing to the sustainable development of the Kolubara Biodistrict.

The Festival is organized by the Kolubara Biodistrict and Serbia Organica with the support of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and other partners.

Here you can find all the details, including the programme and map Invitation and Festival Programme

**The Festival is open to all, but registration is required by 8 September at the latest by email: office@serbiaorganica.org.

The Guide to Biodistricts in Serbia seeks to answer these and other questions and will soon be published in both Serbian and English. The Guide draws on the experience of introducing the biodistrict concept in Serbia and the process of establishing the Kolubara Biodistrict, the first biodistrict in Serbia and in the Western Balkans. The preparation of the Guide was supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), through the Green Economy in Serbia project.

The Guide is structured into two interconnected parts.

The first part focuses on the concept and model of biodistricts. It explains what a biodistrict is, how the concept emerged and developed in the European context, its main characteristics and principles, who the key actors are, and how they can be connected at the territorial level. Particular attention is given to different aspects of biodistrict functioning, from linking agriculture and nature conservation to developing the local economy, short value chains, social cooperation and community engagement.

The second part focuses on the potential for developing biodistricts in Serbia. Drawing on international experience and the experience of developing the Kolubara Biodistrict, this part explores how the concept can be adapted to Serbia’s institutional, economic, agricultural and social context. It presents possible organizational models, the roles of different local and national actors, as well as methodological approaches and practical steps relevant to initiating and developing biodistricts in other parts of Serbia.

A dedicated chapter focuses on the Kolubara Biodistrict as the first example of this model in Serbia. It presents the process of its establishment and development, experiences in connecting local producers, organizations, institutions and other actors, the activities and initiatives developed, as well as the challenges encountered and the ways in which they were addressed. This experience provides an important basis for understanding how the biodistrict concept can be translated from a theoretical and European framework into a concrete territorial context in Serbia.

The value of the Guide lies in the fact that it does not view a biodistrict merely as an organizational model, but as a process that is gradually built through connecting people, knowledge, natural resources and the local economy around a shared territorial vision. Organic farming is one of the important foundations of this approach, but the potential of biodistricts extends beyond organic production. The focus also includes agroecological approaches, biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, development of local value chains, culture and social development.

The Guide was developed with the aim of making the experience gained through the development of the Kolubara Biodistrict available to other territories in Serbia that recognize the potential of using a similar approach to connect agriculture, nature conservation, the local economy and the development of rural communities.

The Guide is not intended as a definitive blueprint, but rather as a basis for understanding, initiating, adapting and further developing the biodistrict model in Serbia – through experience, cooperation and the specific needs of each individual territory.

The Guide will be published soon on the website, where it will be available to read and download.

This represents an important first step towards the institutional recognition of biodistricts as a model that brings together sustainable agriculture, nature and biodiversity conservation, local economic development, and the strengthening of rural communities.

The recognition of the biodistrict concept within Serbia’s strategic framework creates opportunities for its further development, its integration into support measures and mechanisms, and the expansion of this model to other areas across Serbia.

For Biodistrict Kolubara, as the first biodistrict in Serbia and the wider region, this represents significant recognition of the work carried out to date and an important foundation for the further development of the biodistrict model in Serbia.

The webinar is designed to help organic actors who want to emulate bio-districts and provide inspirations that can be implemented in their localities. Some of the topics that will be discussed are:

1. How are territorial food systems such as bio-districts initiated and how are they sustained?

2. How has the establishment of the bio-district changed the local economy and the social and political environment of the area?

3. What are the challenges in sustaining a bio-district or similar local initiatives?

4. In some areas in Spain, community building and education, especially of children, play a big part in the creation of bio-district. Why did INNER implement this approach and what are the impacts of this approach?

5. How can organic actors from non-EU countries initiate an organic district?

REGISTER HERE 

A total of 3 volumes have been released, covering 33 European countries, including Serbia (Volume 3, 2026). In Serbia, 15 initiatives, examples, and programs have been identified that contribute to the development of agroecology across different activities: practice, science, social movements, living labs, and education and training.

The report was published by AE4EU (Agroecology for Europe) and Agroecology Europe.

 Why is this important?
To scale up agroecology, it is essential to understand its current state and development. This report provides exactly that insight and serves as a basis for better policymaking and further support to its growth.

At a time when European agriculture is facing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, farmers’ income insecurity, and food security, agroecology is emerging as part of the solution.

🌿 Agroecology contributes to:

✔ Climate change mitigation
✔ Biodiversity restoration
✔ Strengthening farmers’ economic resilience
✔ Revitalization of rural areas
✔ Promotion of local supply chains

However, for its wider uptake, agroecology needs to become an integral part of policies, not just individual initiatives.

A collection of country reports

You can find here Volume 3, which includes the report on Serbia (pages 277 – 320)

The lecturers generously shared their extensive knowledge and experience in implementing sustainable tourism practices, opening entirely new perspectives for the members of the Bio-District and inspiring them with ideas and actions they can implement both within their own initiatives and in their wider communities. They were also encouraged to share this knowledge with others who did not have the opportunity to attend this unique educational program. All the topics were extremely significant and demonstrated the important role of sustainable tourism in connecting local sustainable production, gastronomy, nature, and cultural heritage—elements for which the Kolubara District stands out as the place where the first bio-district in this part of Europe was established.

For the Kolubara Bio-District, sustainable tourism has a special value because it enables the connection of organic and sustainable agriculture, local products, and natural resources into a unified story that attracts visitors and contributes to the development of this region.

Through motivating discussions with the lecturers and the exchange of practical examples, participants had the opportunity to reflect on the many potentials of their district, as well as the challenges that accompany the development of tourism initiatives.

It was particularly emphasized that such models of tourism make it possible to preserve natural resources and tradition while simultaneously creating new opportunities for the development of the local economy.

These gatherings also serve as a reminder of how important cooperation is between agricultural households and food producers, tourism hosts, and small local entrepreneurs. They also highlight that the foundation on which the Kolubara Bio-District was created is organic agriculture, and that organic producers and organic products are precisely what should make this region unique and recognizable. Without this, the area could become just another attractive tourist destination.

The training demonstrated how important knowledge, cooperation, and a shared vision are for the future of the Kolubara Bio-District. Through the exchange of experiences and the generous support of the lecturers, as well as among the participants themselves, the connections between them were further strengthened, showing that tourism can be a powerful driver of development—but only if it is sustainable, because only sustainable tourism brings benefits to local communities, nature, and future generations.

The Law shall enter into force on the eighth day after its publication in the “Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, and shall apply from June 1, 2026.

Branislav Anđelić presented the overall structure and capacities of organic production and the agricultural sector in Serbia, as well as the potential product offer, while Petar Simić spoke about the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China, as well as the Kolubara Biodistrict.

The goal of the conference was to encourage sustainable development of the organic sector through integrating international perspectives, exchanging best practices, and strengthening the global organic products market, with a particular focus on enhancing partnerships with countries that have strategic ties with China, such as Germany, Serbia, New Zealand, and numerous Asian states, especially the countries of Central Asia.

These partnerships aim to enable easier trade in organically certified products, greater cooperation within the industry, and the fostering of innovation in sustainable agriculture.

During the conference, a Memorandum of Cooperation was also signed with the Hebei Province Organic Industry Promotion Association, designated by the central government of the PRC as the institution responsible for cooperation with Serbia in the field of organic production. This memorandum is expected to contribute to easier placement of Serbian organic products on the Chinese market.

The Chinese hosts emphasized that there is considerable interest in the Chinese market for Serbian organic wines, honey, chocolates, as well as other products, including wheat and various grains.

The placement of Serbian products on the Chinese market is further facilitated by the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement, which has reduced or completely eliminated tariffs on numerous Serbian agricultural and food products.

]]> https://serbiaorganica.org/en/nastup-serbia-organike-na-drugoj-konferenciji-o-plasmanu-organskih-proizvoda-na-trziste-kine/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:18:10 +0000 https://serbiaorganica.info/?p=16826 На Другој конференцији о пласману органских производа на тржиште Кине, одржаној у граду Хандану, провинција Хебеа, коју су заједнички организовали Асоцијација за промоцију органске индустрије Провинције Хебеи и ИФОАМ Азија, Сербиа Органика је имала је запажено излагање о могућностима српских органских произвођача за снабдевање кинеског тржишта органским производима.

Бранислав Анђелић представио је општу структуру и капацитете органске производње и пољопривредног сектора у Србији и потенцијалну понуду, док је Петар Симић говорио о Споразуму о слободној трговини између Републике Србије и НР Кине, као и о Биодистрикту Колубара.

Циљ конференције био је подстицање одрживог развоја органског сектора кроз интегрисање међународних перспектива, размену најбољих пракси и јачање глобалног тржишта органских производа, са посебним фокусом на јачање партнерстава са земљама које имају стратешке везе са Кином, као што су Немачка, Србија, Нови Зеланд и бројне азијске државе, нарочито земље Централне Азије.

Ова партнерства имају за циљ да омогуће лакшу трговину органски сертификованим производима, већу сарадњу у индустрији, као и подстицање иновација у одрживој пољопривреди.

Током конференције потписан је и Меморандум о сарадњи са Асоцијацијoм за промоцију органске индустрије Провинције Хебеја , које је од стране централне владе НР Кине одређено као институција надлежна за сарадњу са Србијом у области органске производње. Овај меморандум треба да допринесе лакшем пласману српских органских производа на кинеско тржиште.

Кинески домаћини истакли су да постоји значајно интересовање на кинеском тржишту за српска органска вина, мед, чоколаде, као и за друге производе, укључујући пшеницу и остале житарице.

Пласман српских производа на кинеско тржиште додатно је олакшан ступањем на снагу Споразума о слободној трговини, којим су царине на бројне српске пољопривредно-прехрамбене производе смањене или у потпуности укинуте.