This paper presents a comparative analysis of the production and economic results of Holstein-Friesian and Simmental cows on a modern dairy farm in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research was conducted on a sample of 30 pregnant heifers of each breed, imported from Denmark and Austria, and kept under identical farm conditions. The analysis included age at first calving, milk production in the first lactation, revenue structure, variable costs, and gross margin. Data were obtained from the farm’s electronic production database, while descriptive statistics, a two-sample t-test, and gross margin analysis were used. The results showed that Holstein-Friesian cows achieved higher milk production, with an average daily yield of 34.52 litres compared to 28.39 litres in Simmental cows. This difference was statistically significant. Holstein-Friesian cows also achieved a higher total milk yield and higher gross margin. However, the Simmental breed generated higher additional income from the sale of male and female young cattle and culled cows, confirming the economic relevance of its dual-purpose character. Feed costs were the dominant variable cost category in both breeds. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina's clear aspirations for accession to the European Union entail gradual alignment with measures and instruments of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy during the pre-accession period, aimed at preparing the country for integrationinto the complex institutional and legislative framework of the EU CAP. To monitor this process, an assessment of total support to producers in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been calculated using relative indicators: TTP (Total Transfers to Producers), NRP(Nominal Protection Rate), and NRA (Nominal Assistance Rate), which enable monitoring of agricultural policy and, based on that, an assessment of Bosnia and Herzegovina's standards alignment with EU CAP standards. The calculations have shown that the most significant changes are expected in the support structure, moving towards further reduction of direct support per output, strengthening area/headage payments, and harmonizing amounts per unit of measurement as the first step towards production-related payments currently in force in the EU. In addition to indicators, an assessment of income for Bosnian producers after accession to the EU has been calculated. By simulating Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the EU, answers have been obtained regarding the application of the EU CAP and possible implications of implementing a harmonized agricultural policy, which could be beneficial for decision- makers in future pre-accession and accession negotiations when opening agriculture chapters.

Greenhouse vegetable production offers many advantages over traditional open-field cultivation methods. These benefits include regulating and controlling growing conditions, leading to higher crop yields, year-round production, and increased resource allocation efficiency. Many studies demonstrate that heating systems improve production in greenhouses, leading to increased yields and improved economic profitability. However, similar research is lacking in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in regions with a continental climate. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the economic efficiency of vegetable production (lettuce, spring onion, tomato, and spinach)  in a greenhouse equipped with an additional heating system compared to one without such a system. The experiment was conducted in two 100 m2 greenhouses using identical cultivation technology. The results showed that the temperature in the two separate greenhouses was statistically significantly different in winter; however, the observed yields did not show a statistically significant difference. Unexpectedly, the economic results were contrary to expectations, with lower returns in the greenhouse with heating. The main reason is the higher costs associated with deprecation (1,238 BAM) and the geothermal pump's electricity consumption (700 BAM). In conclusion,  through this research, it was found that the tested vegetable production using a geothermal heat pump is not economically justified. It is recommended to consider the use of such equipment under different conditions, such as larger greenhouse areas with improved insulation (double-layered plastic). Furthermore, it is recommended that similar experiments be conducted at this location to confirm or challenge the results obtained in this study.

Poultry production in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the strongest and one of the most advanced branches of agriculture from a technological point of view. Evidence suggests that egg production achieves positive financial results as well as a positive trade balance. It is also evident that strong fluctuations sometimes occur, as a result of ever-present market changes but also natural conditions. During the observed period, 2013-2019 egg production in Bosnia and Herzegovina increases by 2.99%, and the average production is 0.7 billion eggs per year. It remains to see whether this promising sector can stimulate agricultural development. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the economic viability of egg production, as well as to determine major supply and demand trends in egg production/poultry production in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Primary data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews with representatives of a poultry company in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while secondary data were collected through official statistical agencies, reports, etc. Major production-economic indicators were used for four years (2016-2019). Results showed positive financial results during all observed years, while best performances were evident during the 2018 year and lowest performances were evident during 2017 (66.22% lower compared to 2018). The financial result is mainly influenced by changes in output prices, while companies tend to produce their animal feed which significantly reduces production costs. Also, by-products, poultry fertilizer is highly appreciated by agricultural producers and company make a significant amount of money from it. It remains to see whether egg production can continue to achieve positive results, and is it going to be recognized by policymakers as well as agricultural producers as a more important agricultural branch in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina faces numerous challenges, including global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, regional issues like African swine fever, and increasingly severe impacts of climate change. On the other hand, BiH is clearly committed to EU integration, as reflected in current state and entity level strategic documents. Moreover, the country's efforts to accelerate the harmonization of its agricultural policy with the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have been further motivated by the granting of candidate status in 2022 and negotiation status in 2024 for full EU membership. This paper provides an overview of the development of agricultural policy in BiH from 2014 to 2023 at the state and entity levels (including the Brčko District of BiH) to assess the level of harmonization with the EU CAP using the unique APMC methodology for classifying and visualizing agricultural budget transfers. The analysis covers three groups of measures: (1) market measures and direct support to producers, (2) structural measures and rural development measures, and (3) general agricultural measures. Key macroeconomic indicators such as gross value added, employment levels, and trade balance were analyzed to obtain a comprehensive picture of the current state of the agricultural sector and its significance for the economy of BiH. An important contribution of the paper is comparing Bosnia and Herzegovina's agricultural policy with those of the Western Balkan countries. The main conclusion that can be drawn from this paper is that agriculture is an important sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy, with budgetary transfers to this sector showing a growing trend. However, the process of harmonization with the EU acquis is slow and requires greater decisiveness from policymakers, faster adoption of the legislative framework, and appropriate legal solutions, along with the necessary institutional strengthening to address the current challenges of the EU integration process.

By signing the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, the leaders of the countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), committed themselves to the implementation of five basic courses of action established by the action plan, which include: 1) decarbonization, 2) circular economy, 3) depollution, 4) sustainable agriculture and 5) protection of nature and biodiversity. This commitment means that the creation and implementation of policies should be strongly marked by an environmental approach, not only because of EU requirements but also because of the practical importance for overall sustainable development. Because of this, support measures in an increasing number of countries imply the application of measures such as making direct payments subject to the fulfillment of the so-called cross-compliance or special payments for agroecological practices, sustainable land management, etc. However, the measures included in the Green Agenda in BiH are applied very modestly, which will be presented in this paper for the period 2018-2021. Practically, measures to support organic production, soil fertility control, and the protection of genetic resources are the only ones on track with the Green Deal goals. It is expected that the new strategic documents in the field of agriculture will take into account the objectives of the CAP, and thus the Green Deal, and will bring the agriculture policy of BiH closer to the policy of the EU, for which BiH decided a long time ago.  

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, wheat and maize are the most important crops, holding a dominant position in the country's arable land. Consequently, this paper analyses wheat and maize production in the Brčko District, focusing on the applied agrotechnical measures and the economic results, as reflected by the gross margin per hectare. The research involved 30 farms in the district, with more than 1.5 hectares of the targeted crops. Data was collected through structured survey questionnaires, which included detailed questions about the applied agrotechnical practices, yields, costs, and revenues. The results indicate that average yields are 5.3 tons/ha for wheat and 8.7 tons/ha for corn. Economic analysis shows that the gross margin was 639 KM/ha for wheat and 1,611 KM/ha for corn. The higher financial results for maize are partly due to higher yields and more stable production. Conversely, the moderate gross margin for wheat highlights the need to optimize agrotechnical measures to boost productivity and economic profitability. The largest share of total costs is for mechanization and mineral fertilizers, while the most notable irregularities in applying agrotechnics occurred in fertilization, mainly due to the lack of soil fertility analysis. Therefore, this paper recommends conducting soil analysis before fertilization to optimize costs and prevent unnecessary fertilizer application. 

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a highly valued and nutritionally important crop. The goal of new production technologies is to shorten the vegetation period, allowing for a higher number of harvests, while preserving the environment and improving the nutritional quality of lettuce. This study investigated the effect of geothermal heating on growth dynamics and the accumulation of bioactive compounds in lettuce. Two production systems were compared: a greenhouse with geothermal heating and one without heating. The geothermal system provided a more stable soil temperature, which significantly shortened the vegetation period by 31 days. In contrast, lower soil temperatures in the unheated greenhouse enhanced secondary metabolism, leading to higher concentrations of phenolic compounds (80.5 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (2.37 mg/100 g), and increased antioxidant capacity (112.7 μmol Fe²⁺/100 g). These results indicate that temperature regimes strongly influence both primary growth processes and the synthesis of bioactive compounds in lettuce. Geothermal heating ensures faster crop development but may reduce the accumulation of certain antioxidants. Future research should aim to optimize temperature management to balance yield, energy efficiency, and nutritional quality in greenhouses lettuce production.

Sewage sludge is a by-product of wastewater treatment. Sewage sludge is a desirable material for application in agriculture production as a fertilizer or soil conditioner, as it is characterized by a high content of organic matter and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. However, sewage sludge tends to concentrate trace metals, organic pollutants and pathogenic organisms due to the initial pollutant load of the treated wastewater and the treatment processes. Although various chemical methods can be used to remove trace metals from sewage sludge, the use of microbes is considered a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach compared to chemical treatments. This review examines the risks of trace metals in the application of sewage sludge and demonstrates the efficiency of their removal using physical, chemical and biological methods.

Abstract The dairy industry has been undergoing changes for years, introducing innovations and pushing the boundaries of the category and consumer experience. Numerous factors, such as economic, psychological, cultural, socio-demographic, personal and many others, influence the decision to buy and consume a certain dairy product. It is important to qualitatively research and identify factors that significantly influence consumer behavior. Consumers also set certain criteria when it comes to brand, taste, nutritional value, marketing, product origin, on the basis of which we conclude that knowing consumer preferences also means success in the market. Due to the previously stated reasons, the main goal of this paper is to determine consumer purchasing behavior towards dairy products and their preferences.The survey method was used in the research to collect primary data, and a survey questionnaire was used as a research instrument. A total of 250 respondents participated in this research, which is conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Abstract Social media plays a crucial role in influencing consumer purchasing decisions, particularly in the context of food products. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and other social networks offer consumers easy access to a wealth of information, including reviews, recommendations, and insights from other users. As more consumers turn to online sources for information and shopping, it becomes essential for food companies to develop and execute digital marketing strategies that not only enhance product visibility but also foster consumer trust. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of company activity on social media on consumers’ decisions to purchase food products. Additionally, the study aims to explore whether socio-demographic factors influence consumers’ attitudes toward food marketing on social media and how these factors affect the choice of social media platforms used to gather information about food products. To gather data, a survey was conducted, and the results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, variance analysis, and regression techniques. Total of 156 respondents participating in the research. The findings revealed that company activity on social media significantly influences consumer purchasing decisions concerning food products. Furthermore, socio-demographic characteristics were found to affect the types of social media most commonly used by respondents for obtaining food-related information.

A two-year experiment was conducted with a local maize hybrid under full (F) and deficit (D) drip irrigation and rainfed conditions (R) to estimate maize evapotranspiration in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Three approaches, namely, A&P, SIMDualKc (SD), and vegetation index (VI), to estimate the actual crop coefficient (Kc act), the actual basal crop coefficient (Kcb act), and the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act), were applied with the dual crop coefficient method and remote sensing (RS) data for the first time. While Kcb act from all approaches matched FAO56 tabulated values, SD showed differences in comparison to A&P of up to 0.24 in D and R conditions, especially in the initial and mid-season stages. VI demonstrated very good performance in all treatments. In F, the obtained Kc act for all approaches during the initial and end stages were higher than the tabulated values, ranging from 0.71 to 0.87 for the Kc ini act and from 0.80 to 1.06 for the Kc end act, while the mid-season period showed very good agreement with the literature. The maize crop evapotranspiration range is 769–813 mm, 480–752 mm, and 332–618 mm for F, D, and R, respectively. The results confirmed the suitability of both approaches (SD and VI) to estimate maize crop evapotranspiration under F, with the VI approach demonstrating an advantage in calculating Kcb act, Kc act, and ETc act values under water stress conditions. The higher observed yields (67.6%) under irrigation conditions emphasize the need to transition from rainfed to irrigation-dependent agriculture in BiH, even for drought-resistant crops like maize.