Balkan agricultural producers address climate challenges for fig and pumpkin seed oil

Agricultural experts and producers in the Balkans are addressing the challenges of climate change and drought on traditional crop production. In Herzegovina, the Federal Agromediterranean Institute Mostar held a workshop focused on fig cultivation. Experts emphasized the potential for fig production to expand through value-added products like jams, noting that while the plant is well-adapted to the local terrain, it requires patience as significant fruiting only begins in the third or fourth year.

In Croatia, the 22nd Bučijada in Ivanić-Grad hosted a scientific symposium regarding pumpkin seed oil. The event focused on the antioxidant potential, stability, and quality of the oil. Nives Lovrić, president of the Croatian Pumpkin Seed Oil Producers Association, highlighted that extreme weather conditions and droughts have caused yields to drop to near zero in some regions. To combat this, producers are working with the scientific community to develop new hybrids that are more resistant to drought.