Jems
Novi Sad, April 23, 2026 – The opening conference for the project INNOBEE – Innovative Solutions for Enhancing Beekeeping Processes and Modernizing Support in Apiculture in cross border region of CRO and SRB co-financed by the EU under the Interreg VI-A IPA Programme Croatia-Serbia 2021-2027, was held in the presence of around 70 participants, including project partners, representatives of beekeeping associations, educational institutions and the media.
The INNOBEE project, running from 15 January 2026 to 14 January 2028, aims to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of the beekeeping sector in the cross-border region of Croatia and Serbia by implementing innovative solutions and strengthening collaboration between beekeepers and research institutions, to enhance the resilience, vitality and productivity of bee populations.
The project will involve higher education and research organisations, entrepreneurs in the beekeeping sector, beekeeping cooperatives, sectoral agencies, umbrella organizations (unions of beekeeping organizations, federation/associations of beekeepers), agricultural schools in program area, regional chambers and public authorities. Through pilot implementation of innovative summer and winter treatments and the development of advanced beekeeping technologies within a cross-border cooperation framework, the project promotes knowledge transfer and innovation in apiculture, with the overall objective of educating beekeepers and enhancing their knowledge and skills to enable the adoption of innovative solutions in their daily practice.The project also promotes investment in modern equipment for the newly established cross-border centre to become a centre of excellence in the field, smart beehives to allow monitoring the condition of bees in real time, as well as the application of digital technologies (website and mobile app) to allow beekeepers to efficiently manage their daily operations, anytime and from anywhere.
The importance of the project for the beekeeping sector in the CB region was emphasized in the opening speech by Ognjen Dopuđ, director of the partner organization, Fund for European Affairs and Development of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Participants had the opportunity to become acquainted with the partner institutions, which were presented by the Vice-Dean for Education at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Prof. Dr. Sc. Krunoslav Zmaić, who presented the institution that is the Lead partner in the project, furthermore, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Prof. Dr. Sc. Nenad Magazin and the director of the Scientific Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sc. Vet. Med. Marko Pajić.
The project manager, Prof. Dr. Sc. Zlatko Puškadija, the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences in Osijek emphasized the project’s main objectives, outputs, results and project team, while Dr. Sc. Vladimir Polaček, the Scientific Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Prof. Dr. Sc. Ivan Pihler, the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad presented modern trends in beekeeping, as well as the importance of cross-border cooperation.
The highlight of the opening conference was the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the establishment of the Cross-Border Center to Support beekeeping.
