About the Conference
The story of this conference series began in 2022 as a scientific-professional meeting titled The Future of the Croatian Wine Industry, held at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka.
From the very beginning, the goal was not to create another large, formal conference with parallel sessions and limited discussion space, but rather a platform for open, meaningful, and focused dialogue.
Over time, the conference evolved from a national, Croatian-language event into an international scientific conference held in English, with participants and organizing committee members from various European countries.
The third edition, taking place in May 2026, confirms this development:
- a strong international program committee
- 40 submitted papers
- participants from 8 countries
- conference conducted in English
Despite its growth and internationalization, the conference has retained its core identity:
a small, invitation-based event focused on discussion, idea exchange, and research collaboration.
Thematic Focus
Although topics have expanded from the wine sector to agriculture more broadly, the central theme remains:
Economic, organizational, and developmental aspects of the agri-food sector under conditions of change and uncertainty.
The conference encourages research on:
- sustainability and competitiveness
- impacts of climate and market changes
- innovation and technological transformation
- risk management
- consumer behavior and market strategies
- public policies and development strategies
The conference acts as a bridge between academia, policymakers, and practitioners.
A Platform for Collaboration
One of the key objectives is to foster international research cooperation.
The smaller number of participants enables:
- intensive communication
- exchange of research ideas
- development of joint projects and publications
The conference is not just a place to present results, but a space for:
- shaping new research questions
- developing project proposals
- connecting with international partners
- mentoring early-career researchers
Looking Ahead
The evolution from a national event to an international scientific conference demonstrates how a clear vision, thematic focus, and commitment to quality can create a recognizable and sustainable academic event.
Its value lies not in size, but in:
- quality of discussions
- intensity of collaboration
- long-term contribution to understanding agricultural development
Past Conferences
The Future of the Croatian Wine Industry (April 8, 2022)
The first conference “The Future of the Croatian Wine Industry” was held at the Faculty of Economics and Business in 2022. The conference brought together researchers, experts, and sector representatives with the aim of discussing key challenges in Croatian viticulture and winemaking – from climate change and investment in technology to market trends, distribution, and consumer perception. From the very beginning, it was clear that the goal was not to create another large, formal conference with multiple parallel sessions and limited space for dialogue, but rather a platform for open, meaningful, and focused discussion.
Conference program: “The Future of the Croatian Wine Industry”
Sustainability of Croatian Agriculture (May 16–17, 2024)
The second edition of the conference, held in 2024 under the title “Sustainability of Croatian Agriculture”, programmatically and thematically expanded the initial idea. The conference gathered scientists and experts from various fields of agriculture and opened an interdisciplinary dialogue on sustainability, competitiveness, and sector development. Held at the Sveti Martin Congress Centre, it further strengthened the concept of a smaller, invitation-based conference with strong interaction among participants through discussions, joint activities, and field visits.
Conference program: “Sustainability of Croatian Agriculture”
Sustainability of European Agriculture, May 14 – 16, 2026
The Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka is organizing the third international scientific conference „Sustainability of European Agriculture“ from May 14-16, 2026, at Moise Palace in Cres.
Date: 14–16 May 2026
Location: Cres, Moise Palace
Organizer: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka
Instructions for Authors
Presentation at the Conference
For your presentation, please use the presentation template to ensure consistency and professionalism across all sessions. Your presentation should not exceed 10 minutes.
There is no conference fee. Participation is free for all authors who have submitted their papers and received confirmation by the programme committee.
Publication
Authors may submit papers in accordance with the Instructions for Authors by the June 15, 2026 to: poljoprivreda@efri.uniri.hr. An abstract must be included with the submission.
Authors will be notified of acceptance via email.
The conference is supported by Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and the City of Cres.
Scientific / Programme Committee and Organizing Committee of the Conference
