Food security issues in the former Yugoslav countries

Abstract

Food insecurity creates serious ethical, economic, and stability problems in all countries of the world, resulting in a need for its research. Each country seeks to ensure the highest degree of self-sufficiency in meeting the food needs by its own food production. However, the production of a sufficient quantity of food, and in particular its adequate structure, is not always fully realized. Therefore, ensuring food security has become an issue of primary strategic importance. Given that all the countries of the former Yugoslavia are relatively new countries undergoing a difficult period of transition, and that there are no local studies on food security, it remains to be examined how food- secure these countries are today and what factors affect their food security. The survey covered all countries of the former Yugoslavia: Republic of Serbia, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Slovenia and Northern Macedonia. The survey data were taken from the FAOSTAT database, World Bank, as well as the national statistics of the countries of the former Yugoslavia, and hierarchical regression analysis was used. The results of the research showed that there is a statistically significant influence on the level of food security of all independent factors: general level of economic development, population growth, foreign trade, investments in agriculture. Of all the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia has emerged as the most nutritionally secure country, while the lowest level of food security has been observed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Determining Food Security in Crisis Conditions: A Comparative Analysis of the Western Balkans and the EU

“…This paper's results are in line with results in previous research on this issue [22][23][24]. The research results showed significant differences among analyzed countries in terms of food security levels [22] and, as the main indicator of discrepancy stands out GDP per capita [23,24]. Thus, the creation of adequate strategies and policies is necessary to increase food security [24].…”

“…Thus, key aspects of integrating Western Balkan countries to the EU that push these countries to adapt their agricultural policies to the CAP are the accession negotiation pressures and EU IPARD support [46]. This paper's results are in line with results in previous research on this issue [22][23][24]. The research results showed significant differences among analyzed countries in terms of food security levels [22] and, as the main indicator of discrepancy stands out GDP per capita [23,24].…”

“…In this regard, numerous measures have been proposed to improve Serbia's food security, emphasizing the adoption of adequate food standards and strategies, the establishment of trust with investors, and the reduction of corruption present in the agri-food sector. Recent research of food security issues in the former Yugoslavia countries authored by Kovljenić and Raletić-Jotanović (2020) [24] showed a significant influence of the different factors on the level of food security: level of economic development, population growth, foreign trade, investments in agriculture. This study also showed that of all countries of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia is the most food secure country, while the lowest level of food security is held by Bosnia and Herzegovina.…”

Food Self-Sufficiency of the SEE Countries; Is the Region Prepared for a Future Crisis?

“…Using a set of indicators, the authors concluded that the greatest negative impact on the food system had a low level of gross domestic product per capita and corruption in the analyzed period. The research of the food security in the former Yugoslavia countries, authored by Kovljenić and Raletić-Jotanović [24], discussed that the highest level of food security is in Slovenia, and the lowest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The key factors were: Level of economic development, population growth, international trade, and investment in the agriculture.…”

Demographics characteristics of consumers as factors in the purchase of cereal products in the Republic of Serbia

“…Food insecurity/security is closely linked to the number of undernourishment. Undernourishment is the result of the absence of one or more factors contributing to good nutrition (Kovljenić & Raletić-Jotanović, 2020). One of the priorities of each country is to improve food production, ensure food security and high quality, as well as draw attention to the importance of a healthy diet, which is an integral part of preserving and improving health and disease prevention (Radosavljević, 2010: 131).…”