In this paper, the authors analyze products from the organic farming system from consumption and consumers. The research aimed to determine the characteristics of the Serbian organic market, discover attitudes, practices, and features of different organic food consumers and identify factors that influence organic products’ purchase. This was done following the theoretical framework of green marketing, which refers to the holistic management process responsible for identifying, anticipating, and satisfying customers and society’s needs for profitably and sustainability. The research for this study was conducted in Novi Sad and Belgrade in late 2015 and early 2016. The sample included 496 respondents over 18 years of age, varying levels of education, marital status, and other sociodemographic characteristics. The sample was divided into three internally homogeneous yet mutually heterogeneous clusters according to three criteria: factors that generally influence their food purchasing decisions, their opinions regarding characteristics of food products and their eating habits, and their sociodemographic characteristics. The analysis shows that organic consumers can be divided into three clusters with corresponding components related to aspects of products that are sold in the Serbian market. In Cluster 1, respondents who assign the least importance to whether they eat “healthy” products and to the number of calories in those products are presented. Cluster 2 respondents care most about what they consume, and in Cluster 3, respondents assign importance to eat “healthy” food. The findings of this study show that the decision whether to buy organic products or not is predominantly determined by the price and quality of products (which is also related to the socio-economic characteristics of consumers) so that eco-marketing should therefore be more directed towards those consumers who are already “more environmentally and health-conscious”, because in this way, the desired results of improving the domestic market of organic products will be achieved.

Flame weeding is an alternative method of weed control. Essentially, it is a supplement to other physical and mechanical processes used in organic production. Weed control costs have a large share of the total cost of crop production. This study aimed to investigate hand weed hoeing’s cost-effectiveness, accompanied by inter-row cultivation and flame weeding applied in organic maize production using two different machines to determine the economically best solution. For this purpose, the prototype flame weeder and commercial flame-weeding machinery were used. Designed primarily for smaller fields, the prototype flame weeder was equipped with a cultivator and a 70 kg propane bottle. Commercial Red Dragon flame weeder, fitted with an 800 kg propane tank and featuring no cultivation implements, is designed for larger areas. The analysis has shown that hand hoeing produced a higher yield (8.3 t/ha in total), but it contributed significantly to the production costs. The costs per hectare decreased when the prototype flame weeder and the commercial Red Dragon flame weeder were used compared to hand hoeing. More beneficial economic impacts were recorded when the prototype flame weeder was used (489.39 €/ha) than in applying the Red Dragon flame weeder (456.47 €/ha). The efficacy of flame weeding is somewhat limited and could be enhanced by additional hand hoeing, if the effect of the machine in terms of weeding is observed. However, the analysis has shown that, in this case, investments in additional hand hoeing are not economically justified because the operating costs incurred therein (168 €/ha) were not met by a yield increase of 500 kg/ha, i.e., a surplus revenue of 100 €/ha. Moreover, the economic impacts of flame weeding would be considerably more significant in larger fields.

The concept of sustainable development has been widely analyzed in scientific literature and is understood as a process aimed at balancing human activities with the environment. Sustainable agricultural systems generate economic value, manage natural resources responsibly, and support rural development. Modern agricultural production, however, faces challenges across these dimensions, making their assessment essential for the long-term viability of farms. This paper introduces indicators of economic, ecological, and social sustainability for agricultural holdings, using the FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) database as a foundation. The structured nature of FADN allows for consistent analysis of sustainability, while additional indicators assess the impact of agricultural policy on farm performance. Together, these provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and improving farm sustainability. The main contribution of the study is the establishment of a set of feasible indicators that can be derived from the FADN database to support comprehensive sustainability assessments.

The authors are discussing the concept of organic production, its origins and development. Organic agriculture has been developed in three stages: stage of emergence (1924-1970), stage of expansion (1970-1990) and stage of growth (after 1990). In the first stage organic production faced problems in terms of its scientific recognition, acceptance by the producer, members of the wider community as well as acceptance at the national level. The second stage was defined with gradual expansion of the production system, the establishment of non-governmental organizations, the recognition and the establishment of the first legislative framework and the adoption of organic practices. In the third stage organic production is recognized and accepted around the world. Today there are laws on organic production in almost all developed countries, and in most of the developing countries. Areas under this system are increasing and the state official are acting as advocates of organic agriculture, supporting this system in the form of various premiums and subsidies for producers.

The authors of this paper discuss the concept of organic agricultural products with an emphasis on economic performance. Research has shown that the total cost of production on organic farms is on average lower than that of conventional farms. Variable costs are 30 -40% lower. On the other hand, fixed costs are 45% higher than those from conventional production. An analysis of the economic situation of organic farms in Europe shows that, on average, they have profits or gross margins similar to those of comparable conventional farms, i.e. within the range of +/-20% of profits achieved on similar conventional farms. A survey conducted among organic producers on the territory of the Republic of Serbia showed that gross margins in organic production were on average 20% higher than in conventional production. Consequently, the economic aspect of organic production is more favorable than conventional production for the shown cultures.

Rural poverty in developing countries comes in various forms. Food insecurity, discrimination, human rights violations, inadequate health care, and social protection are just some of the manifestations of poverty that affect the rural population. However, the most severe form of poverty is the lack of access to food for the most vulnerable segments of the population. Several strategic approaches to rural poverty reduction have been developed at the international level and have been implemented specifically in developing countries. These strategies focus on agriculture as the dominant economic activity in rural areas. In addition, the strategies aim to strengthen local rural communities while adhering to the principles of environmental, economic, and social sustainability.