The paper analyzes the impacts of mining activities on sustainable land management in mining areas in the Republic of Serbia and Romania and discusses the main challenges related to the management of these issues in legislation and practice. Particular attention is paid to land disturbance, mine waste management and land reclamation, as well as access to land for mining purposes, the transfer of mining royalties and the partnerships of the mining industry, governments, communities and civil society for sustainable mining. Both governments are willing to provide the adequate role to mining in strengthening the national economies, but they face numerous constraints in this matter. Sustainable mining practices and consistent implementation of the mining for the closure planning approach, within an improved legislative framework and in cooperation with stakeholders at all levels, create conditions for the development of creative, profitable, environmentally-sound and socially-responsible management and reuse of mine lands.

The paper examines differentiation business strategies in food production in Braničevo-Podunavlje region (Serbia). The research methodology includes survey research focused on the producers engaged in the production of value-added agricultural products, which have a greater potential for differentiation and branding. A range of survey indicators enable farmers and entrepreneurs of differentiated products to emphasize key success factors, detect barriers, and generate business ideas and innovations. Survey research was conducted in the period December 2018–January 2019, among 67 farmers, legal entities, and unincorporated enterprises−producers of high-quality niche food products in Braničevo–Podunavlje region. Results of the research indicated vegetable and fruit processing, beekeeping, and milk processing as sectors of the most promising value-added food products, including those that form the region’s basket of products. The study’s findings should contribute to the development of differentiated business models in the food sector and strengthening their role in smart regional development.

The increasing global population and urbanization have led to a growing interest in urban farming to provide sustainable food production. Indoor smart gardens, a new form of urban farming, have emerged as an innovative and technology-based solution to urban agriculture. This paper explores the role of indoor smart gardens in modern urban farming and their potential impact on food production, environmental sustainability, and human health. Consequently, comparison was used of traditional outdoor farming vs. indoor smart gardening. Also, a comparative study was conducted using the case study of two leading brands of indoor smart gardens: Aerogarden and Click & Grow. The research’s results show that smart gardens have significant potential to revolutionize urban farming practices and address the growing demand for food production in urban areas. Our review of the literature and case study showed that smart gardens can significantly increase food production, improve environmental sustainability, and enhance human health in urban areas.

Food security is becoming an increasingly important issue worldwide, and in this respect, urban agriculture has a substantial role. Nonetheless, pressure for agricultural land conversion and fragmentation is highest in peri-urban areas. In order to respond to these challenges, urban farmers use different adaptation strategies and business models, including product differentiation based on geographical indications (GIs). The paper considers land take (LT) issues in Futog, the settlement of the City of Novi Sad, registered as the GI of Futog cabbage, as an illustrative example which reflects the attitude of land use policy and planning in Serbia towards the specific conditions and requirements that growers of GIs have to meet. The purpose of this study is to identify the role of urban land use planning within LT processes and the implications this has on urban agriculture, accordingly. The supporting framework used for quantifying LT in the period 2000–2018 was CORINE Land Cover (CLC), specifically Urban Atlas (UA) datasets for two time series between 2012 and 2018. Since a significant part of agricultural land registered as a GI in Futog was planned for conversion into construction land, the authors conclude that current forms of land use planning in Serbia are not adequate to ensure the protection of either urban agriculture or GIs. Given that there is a clear correlation between GI products and their place of origin, this study recognized the necessary inclusion of all protected agricultural areas, as well as areas with GIs, into legislation binding for land use planning in Serbia, with limitations in terms of new LT.

In this paper, the authors analyse the dynamics of agricultural subsidies, compared to the developments in public revenue and public expenditure and the total subsidies of the republic budget, in the years of 2006-2013. We performed desk research using official statistical data and processing them with standard statistical methods, and studying and quoting a number of scientific papers and documents of national and EU institutions. We also considered the government's projection of the scope and structure of agricultural subsidies by 2024, having in mind the fiscal consolidations and the obligations of adjusting legislation, support policy and institutional framework in agriculture with those of the EU. A three-year fiscal consolidation programme, which includes, among other things, reducing and re-examining agricultural support programmes, should create a healthy basis for stable and growing budget transfers to agriculture. Investment support will still be very important, and producers could expect a more significant growth in direct payments just before and just after joining the EU.

Since 2004, in the Republic of Serbia incentives for credit support to entities active in sector of agriculture have been included in the agricultural policy measures. Although the national model for mentioned financial support has been changed over time, in essence it remains the same. The main goal of the paper is to analyze incentives derived from the national agricultural budget used for credit support of agriculture, i.e. to review the main characteristics of the current support model, while to recommend possible improvements. The research was based on desk research and descriptive methods, as well as on methods of analysis and synthesis. According to performed research, it can be concluded that the average share of incentives for credit support within the total incentives paid from national agricultural budget was less than 2% in analyzed period (2014-2022.). The average level of realized incentives in observed period was 73%, indicating the significant need of agricultural entities for subsidized loans. In order to develop agriculture in the Republic of Serbia, the authors suggest certain advancement of current model of credit support, considering possibilities for extension of repayment period and increase in upper value limit for investment loans. Besides, authors suggest the consideration of establishing a "specialized agricultural bank" as a state financial institution, which will provide comprehensive credit support covering the developmental requirements of domestic agricultural producers.