ORGANICA.net

The main objectives of this project were: • To create a business network of organic entrepreneurs from Osijek-Baranja county and Northern Bačka district and strengthen cross-border cooperation in the wider region. • To promote and establish innovative approaches in marketing and promotion of organic products. • To create market for domestic and regional organic products and thus boost the local economies. • To introduce modern ICT tools, establishing a support infrastructure, and increasing know-how and building capacities of organic and tourism related entrepreneurs. The project has undertaken four groups of activities: 1. Mapping of potentials and creation of organic producers database: • Mapping of potentials for organic production • Creating database of organic producers 2. Capacity building of Eco-entrepreneurs: • Establishing educational video-web portal on organic production • Establishing resource centre for eco-entrepreneurs, including refurbishment of the centre, training for eco-entrepreneurs, providing consulting and marketing services to eco-entrepreneurs 3. Creating market for organic products - Education of consumers: • Organizing education seminars for consumer groups • Introducing organic food to pilot kindergartens, including kindergarten workshops and demonstrations, Organic Food Bazaar, Open Farm days • Media presentation on benefits of using organic food • Publications and visibility tools 4. Networking and establishing cross-border relations: • Study visit to Slavonian organic farms • Bio-fest and international conference in Subotica • Organizing Bio-fest in Osijek region

The project created a cross-border business network making it operational and efficient, and offered and promoted new innovative approaches in the marketing and promotion of organic products. New business relationships were established between Croatian and Serbian eco-entrepreneurs. Specific results that were achieved include: • Mapping resources and creating database of Croatian and Serbian eco-entrepreneurs; • Resource centre in Erdut was refurbished and made fully operational; • Organic food was introduced to 45 kindergartens; • Three "Bio Fests" organised (international conference, organic fair); • New web portal created and made operational with more than 14 000 users; • Consumers educated and offered new venues for buying organic products. The project has been particularly innovative and with excellent sustainability and multiplier potential: mapping methodology and Dbase replicable to other regions/data being available on E-portal; new ICT media easily replicable to other areas of education, information dissemination and networking; know-how in methodology of consumer groups education and publications replicable.