The Novi Sad Agricultural Fair has proven for 88 years that it is not only a space for exhibitors and people from agriculture, but that it is above all a family event.

The fair always brings a lot of content for the youngest ones, so this year they have enjoyed the agricultural machinery from a different angle. Children are what always remind us that man is a part of nature and that he must take care of it and reconnect with it.

At this year’s stand of the EU Delegation in Serbia, the weekend was reserved for creative and artistic children. With the help of Nikola Stanišić, the founder of “Šumska Tajna“, they got acquainted with the kingdom of mushrooms – how easy or difficult it is to recognise edible mushrooms in nature, whether they can be dangerous and what delicious dishes we can prepare from them.

With the help of the artist Milica Dukić, the children, inspired by new knowledge, made the most interesting mushrooms from plasticine and paper, which then decorated the EU stand, and which visitors can see during the fair.

Due to climate change, pollution, pandemics, safety and the production of healthy food is one of the burning issues, and perhaps the development of mushroom farming could offer a nutritious alternative to conventional agriculture. The European Union has donated EUR 230 million for agriculture and food safety in Serbia since 2000, and in 2017 alone, the value of exports of agricultural products from Serbia to the EU was EUR 1.3 billion. Environmental protection and public health, keeping soil in good condition – these are the main goals in agriculture.

“Šumska tajna” is engaged in the production of healthy mushroom spreads, and they launched and expanded their business thanks to the EU programme that supports startup initiatives in the Western Balkans EU4TECH. Thanks to the help of “EU4TECH” and experienced experts, Nikola and his team strengthened the company, came up with business plans and got the opportunity to meet investors. Today, “Šumska tajna” is a serious brand that exports its products around the world, and Nikola is a mushroom lover who shares his love with others. The reason for sharing this path with the children is very simple – because learning about nature from an early age is very important and helps us to protect it better, find out what can be useful from it, as well as whether there is something dangerous in it.

Since 2000, the European Union has donated EUR 230 million for agriculture and food safety in Serbia. Environmental protection and public health, keeping soil in good condition – these are the main goals of the sector. IPARD (Instrument for pre-accession assistance for rural development) is the leading programme in this area, within which Serbia has been allocated EUR 175 million for the period 2014-2020, with an additional EUR 55 million of national co-funding.