Articulating Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Development Goals: Serbia Case Study

There is a growing concern that, with the increasing global population and affluence, the pressure on agricultural and natural systems will increase. It is estimated that agriculture directly enables the achievement of 12 out of the 17 SDGs [11]. More recently, there is an growing amount of evidence that agriculture emerges as a central pillar for the achievement of all SDGs and holds the 17 SDGs together [12]. Therefore, agriculture represents the universal entry point for accelerating development priorities both locally and globally, whether to develop agricultural systems or through policy intervention [13]. Some ASEAN countries (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), rich in natural resources, experienced difficulties in sustainable development but overcame obstacles by enhancing produced capital, which contributed to a higher GDP [14]. Some authors elucidate that, globally, SDGs 12, 13, 14 and 17 are the most important/influential on the rankings, while SDGs 1, 6 and 7 are least important [15]. Accordingly, poverty, clean water and energy are still underestimated and neglected in SDGs achievement. In a comprehensive analyses for India, study [16] reported a higher priority on SDGs 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and lower on SDGs 1, 13 and 17 and drew attention to how regional heterogeneity must be considered. Based on those findings, it can be summarized that some SDGs are still disregarded, although significant efforts and financial resources are allocated, especially in developing countries. Moreover, there are SDGs that are easier to achieve, so more money and resources are invested in them, which leaves some other SDGs neglected. Given the limitation for individual achievement of SDG goals, it is necessary to use different approaches, and there are diverse concepts and pathways that could result in SDGs implementation, such as sustainable intensification [17], climate-smart agriculture [18], agroecology [19], organic agriculture [20], eco-labels [21], agriculture 4.0 [22], carbon neutrality [23] and others, whose outcomes vary in dependence on a trade-off and synergies between agricultural productivity and environmental protection. Warinda et al. [24] presented results for the developing countries of East Africa where innovation and technology adoption, and investments in agriculture, resulted in well-being outcomes. A multi-dimensional approach to problem solving can be a key advantage for achieving sustainability, but it is necessary to connect and harmonize approaches in solving problems. All these concepts should be embedded as part of systemic changes that facilitate the implementation of SDGs. Also, they need to be scaled out in a way that respects the specification and requirements of local food systems. This can ensure a quantum leap in agricultural development toward SDGs and strengthen the role of agriculture, and balance trade-offs through innovation breakthroughs that can trigger profound changes, leading to simultaneous and interlinked reconfigurations of multiple parts of the global food system [25]. Today, we can agree that globalization has been beneficial to agriculture, but up to now, it has not offered a solution for food security. Under such circumstances, it might not be possible to sustain current rates of agricultural productivity and growth, while intensifying pressure on an already degraded environment, with climate change, soil depletion and water scarcity [26,27,28,29]. Sumberg [30] summarized that, in the future, agricultural success will depend on the relationship between agriculture and nature, and particularly showed how this relationship is framed by those promoting the idea of their arrangement. Accordingly, sustainable development goals have made a significant contribution to defining the problems in agriculture, but there are other priority areas (quality, safety, sovereignty, etc.) that shape a sustainable food production system and need to be considered to achieve food security and sustainability in all spheres. Hence, some specific solutions could not be easily scaled up and replicated; so, they should be assessed independently for a particular region or country. At the moment, agriculture in Serbia follows the global trends coming from the EU, with commitment to the SDGs’ achievement. However, the structure of agriculture and the farms themselves are not able to follow the changes that lie ahead (like legislation based on EU), which has a direct impact on the efficiency of production [31]. Taking into account the need to implement ecological and sociological regulations, while striving to maximize yields, creates pressure that mainly targets primary production. A common problem for organic farmers is that they have to develop and maintain their production, their brand and their search for consumers, while at the same time keeping up with documentation. If, for some reason, they are less efficient in one activity, they will fail. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to (i) elucidate how Serbia fits into the global context of SDGs and the local realization of sustainable practices (organic agriculture) and (ii) articulate development in Serbia in delivering and mainstreaming sustainable agriculture.