The University of Zadar awarded local family farms with certificates obtained within the TAKE IT SLOW project

The University of Zadar is a partner in the strategic Interreg Italy – Croatia 2014 – 2020 TAKE IT SLOW project, the goal of which is the strategic management and promotion of the Adriatic as a sustainable, green and smart European tourist region, through the establishment of a value chain in tourism based on smart specialization principles. In accordance with this goal, the project foresees education on ecological certificates and labels for local small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in agriculture and production. Ultimately, as a result of this, it was necessary to ensure professional assistance and obtaining of an ecological certificate or label for at least one entrepreneur.

After a successful cycle of educational lectures, the University of Zadar, in cooperation with Ana Marušić, BEng From Biotechnicon Entrepreneurial Centre started the process of obtaining the European certificate on ecological products and labeling of ecological products. Biotechnicon Entrepreneurial Centre is a control body authorized to carry out the professional control procedure in ecological production according to the authorization decision of the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the process, three local farmers met the conditions and obtained a certificate on ecological production and labeling of ecological products, namely: Family farm Kuzman Juričić, Family farm Ražnjević Matej and Family farm Buona Acqua. On July 6th 2022, Tomislav Klarin, Assistant Professor from the Department of Tourism and Communication Studies of the University of Zadar, Ana Grzunov, MEcon, Advisor for Agriculture and Fisheries of Zadar County and Ana Marušić, BEng, from Biotechnicon Entrepreneurial Centre visited the family farms and officially presented them with the achieved certificates.

Family farm Kuzman Juričić is located in the area of Jasenice, and its production is carried out on a total of 8 plots with more than 100 olive trees of the orkula, oblica and sitnica varieties. In addition to olives, this family farm is involved in almond growing, with about more than 10 trees. 

Family farm Ražnjević Matej is located in the Municipality of Polača, and this family farm's primary activity is the production of fresh fruit of figs and almonds and, in a smaller area, olives and grapes. The farm annually produces about 2,000 kilos of fresh figs and about 700 kilos of dried figs, then 1,000 kilos of almonds in shells, and about 800 kilos of olives that are processed into oil.

Family farm Buona Acqua is registered in Stankovci, and has a total of 23 plots in Stankovci, Vukšić and Dobra voda. Under ecological production, olive groves on a total of 7 plots were included in the control system. Only the young plantation itself has about 700 olive trees.