The State Department’s Support for East European Democracy (SEED) programs promote long-term stability in the region and help realize the U.S. Government’s (USG) goal of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. The primary goal of the SEED Act is to promote democratic and free market transitions in the former command economy countries of Eastern Europe. USDA’s role is to assist Serbia to enhance its economic growth by helping to reform its agricultural sector, strengthen its agriculture industry, and further develop the market for U.S. agricultural products and trade.

USDA programs will:

• Increase Serbian integration into global agricultural markets

• Build capacity for a sustainable and competitive agricultural sector

• Increase two-way trade between U.S. and Serbia

USDA’s strategy for achieving its goals targets three areas:

1. Build a science-based, regulatory framework that is consistent with WTO obligations and incorporates international standards.
2. Increase communication and dissemination of information within the government and between the government and the private sector.
3. Increase farm efficiency and competitiveness.

Primary Initiatives

USDA is providing in-country and U.S.-based technical assistance to the Serbian public and private sectors through internal (e.g., FAS, APHIS, FSIS, ERS) and external (e.g., land-grant universities, FDA) resources. With a view toward WTO accession, the following initiatives are being used to implement the strategy to achieve the goals:

Food Safety experts are working with the ministries and private sector to strengthen Serbia’s regulatory systems in meeting international standards (CODEX) for production and processing of agricultural goods. Contact: Carolyn Schramm, carolyn.schramm@fas.usda.gov, 202.720.1230.

Plant Health experts are helping Serbia’s ministries and private sector to develop and implement a plant health system that is consistent with the WTO Agreements and the international standard-setting body (IPPC). Contact: Jason Sandahl, jason.sandahl@fas.usda.gov, 202.720.6915.

Animal Health experts are helping Serbia’s ministries and private sector to develop and implement an animal health system that is consistent with the WTO Agreements and the international standard-setting body (OIE). Contact: Jennifer Maurer, jennifer.maurer@fas.usda.gov, 202.690.0707.

Biotechnology experts are helping Serbian agencies to strengthen the decision-making process and implementation of a transparent, practical, regulatory framework based upon sound science. Contact: Joanna Apergis, joanna.apergis@fas.usda.gov, 202.720.7361.

Agricultural Extension experts are working with the Ministry of Agriculture to train consultants (public and private extension agents) to provide educational and technical information that will assist farmers in farm management, crop production, and selecting appropriate options for rural development.

Conservation Tillage Project. Using American made machinery, demonstration plots were set up in April 2006 in Pancevo, by Serbia scientists Mr. Nikola Skrbic, Extension Consultant for Ag Machinery, and Mr. Bogdan Garalejic, Extension Consultant for Field Crops, both from Tamis Institute. Professor Greg Roth, Pennsylvania State University (PSU) provided technical guidance for the project. Results to date already demonstrate that planting is faster, saves labor, and the soil retains moisture longer helping to alleviate expensive irrigation systems. This program will have significant and continued economic and environmental impact. USDA and Penn State University have been able to develop relationships between the Serbian scientists, two US companies, Serbian farmers, and the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture. There is considerable potential for launching a successful training and outreach program that will empower Serbian colleagues to develop the use of conservation tillage systems where appropriate in Serbia. Contact: Veronica Priddy, veronica.priddy@usda.gov, 202.690.1831.

Economic Analysis experts from USDA's Economic Research Service are training the Serbian Government on methods to analyze alternative policy scenarios to determine their impacts on domestic markets and their compliance with requirements of the WTO and standard-setting bodies.  Contact:  Nancy Cochrane, cochrane@ers.usda.gov, 202.694.5143 or  Veronica Priddy, veronica.priddy@ usda.gov, 202.690.1831 

Market Information experts from USDA's Economic Research Service are working with Serbian agencies to strengthen their system for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating high quality agricultural market information.  This will provide farmers, policymakers, and agribusinesses with the pricing information they need to make rational production and marketing decisions to facilitate Serbia’s transition to a fully functioning market economy. Contact: Nancy Cochrane, cochrane@ers.usda.gov, 202.694.5143; or Veronica Priddy, veronica.priddy@ usda.gov, 202.690.1831.

More Photos from Serbia-Montenegro: