Growing confectionery sunflower for consumption is becoming more and more attractive in the whole world. In Eastern European countries production, processing, and breeding of confectionery sunflower differ from oil-type sunflower. There is no precise information on the sowing areas of confectionery varieties and hybrids in Eastern European countries, mostly because, in statistical reports, sunflower producers do not provide separate data on the share of varieties in gross revenue of all manufactured products. Confectionery sunflower seeds are used in bakery products, but also in a number of natural health products and healthy snacks, as well as for direct consumption in the hull, dehulled, raw or backed form. Confectionery sunflower breeding is characterized by the fact that different markets have different demands when it comes to the seed size, hull colour, and other traits, which make this process more difficult and costlier. Market demands and production area of confectionery sunflower show a steady increase due to its nutritional value and use in human nutrition. In Eastern European countries, it is expected that the highly productive confectionery hybrids will replace varieties, which will lead to the increase of surfaces under this crop.

The ongoing climate change, coupled with the transformations of cultivation practices and land use in sole crop production, may cause a significant decline in sunflower yield stability. Considering that the sunflower is the third oilseed in the world oilseed market, with 45 million tons of grain per year, and that it takes the fourth position in the vegetable oil market, the implementation of sustainable growing technology in sunflower production is a necessity. Considering the above, the goal of the research was to analyze and recommend sustainable sunflower production technology in intercropping systems. A four-year trial was conducted in Serbia’s agroecological conditions (45${}^{\circ }$34${}^{\prime }$23.2${}^{\prime \prime }$ N 19${}^{\circ }$86${}^{\prime }$18.9${}^{\prime \prime }$ E) using a split-plot design. Two oil-type hybrids and one confectionary-type hybrid were intercropped with common vetch, red clover, and alfalfa. Common vetch × sunflower intercropping resulted in the decrease in almost all sunflower traits. Moreover, sunflower × alfalfa intercropping proved to be the most appropriate. The yield of NS Gricko and Rimi PR were statistically on the same level with sole cropping, while alfalfa biomass had better results after alfalfa was intercropped with NS Gricko, as compared to sole cropping. In view of the prevailing belief that yields are more stable in intercropping than in sole cropping, further research is needed in this respect, in addition to further research of the time and method of sowing.

The most important criteria for introducing new confectionary hybrids into the production is high protein yield. Path coefficient analysis was used to obtain information on direct and indirect effects of studied traits (seed oil content, kernel oil content, seed yield, kernel protein content, mass of 1000 seeds, kernel ratio and hull ratio) on protein yield. The research was conducted during three vegetation seasons, on 22 experimental confectionary sunflower hybrids created in the breeding program at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops. Strong and very strong correlations were found among the largest number of examined traits. A weak negative interdependence was determined between kernel oil content, kernel protein content, mass of 1000 seeds, hull ratio, and protein yield using the analysis of simple correlation coefficients. Positive but weak correlation was determined between protein yield and seed oil content, and kernel ratio. Very strong positive correlation was determined between protein yield and seed yield (0.468**). The seed oil content had a very strong direct negative effect on protein yield (DE=-0.734**). The mass of 1000 seeds had a weak negative direct effect on protein yield. Kernel protein content and kernel oil content demonstrated a weak direct positive effect on protein yield. Path coefficient analysis of protein yield showed a very strong positive direct effect of kernel ratio (DE=1.340**), seed yield (DE=0.657**) and hull ratio (DE=0.992*). These findings confirm the effect of seed yield, kernel ratio, and hull ratio on protein yield, and their importance as the selection criteria in confectionary sunflower breeding.

Changing climate conditions coupled with the transformations of cultivation practices and land use in sole crop-based sunflower production may significantly decline yield stability of this oilseed crop. Given that sunflower takes the third place in the world oilseed market, with 45 million tons per year, and in the fourth place in vegetable oil production, it is necessary to adapt production technologies toward sustainable agriculture. Considering that, the goal of the research was to analyze and beneficial sustainable production technology of sunflower in intercropping systems. A four-year trial was conducted in Serbia’s agroecological rain-fed conditions (45°34’23.2"N 19°86’18.9"E) using a split-plot design. Two oil types and one confectionary sunflower hybrid were intercropped with common vetch, red clover and alfalfa. Analyses showed that intercropping of sunflower with common vetch resulted in the decrease in almost all sunflower trait values. Also, sunflower × alfalfa intercropping provided to be the most appropriate. The yield of NS Gricko and Rimi PR were statistically on the same level with sole cropping, while alfalfa biomass had better results when intercropped with NS Gricko as compared to sole cropping. Concerning the general belief that yields are more stable in intercropping than in sole crop, further research in this respect is needed, in addition to the research of time and method of sowing.

Cold-pressed sunflower oil has gained increasing attention for its superior nutritional quality and retention of natural antioxidants compared to refined oils. Its composition and oxidative stability, however, are strongly influenced by both genetic factors and environmental conditions during seed development. Variations in temperature, solar radiation, and humidity can alter the activity of desaturase enzymes and the accumulation of bioactive compounds, thereby determining the sensory and functional quality of the oil. This study provides a comparative assessment of cold-pressed sunflower oils obtained from oil-type hybrids cultivated in Serbia and Argentina, and confectionery hybrids (intended for food use) grown in Serbia, in order to elucidate the combined effects of climatic conditions and genetic diversity on oil quality. Oils from Serbian-grown hybrids exhibited higher oleic acid (30.54–42.72%) and lower linoleic acid contents (46.03–58.44%) compared with those from Argentina, indicating temperature-driven desaturase inhibition. Total tocopherol content ranged from 341.56 to 719.41 mg/kg, while carotenoids and chlorophylls varied between 3.75–17.78 mg/kg and 0.02–1.43 mg/kg, respectively, with elevated pigment accumulation under higher solar irradiance. All oils met Codex Alimentarius standards and showed low peroxide (1.54–7.06 mmol/kg) and acid values (0.40–3.87 mg KOH/g). Principal component analysis differentiated oils according to geographical origin and hybrid type, explaining over 77% of the total variance. These results demonstrate that both genotype and climate decisively modulate fatty acid composition, antioxidant content, and oxidative behavior, shaping the nutritional properties of cold-pressed sunflower oils.