Visit of Scholars from the University Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Assist. Prof. Nataša Romanjek Fajdetić, Ph.D. and Assoc. Prof. Mihaela Blažinkov, Ph.D. visited the Faculty of Agriculture, where they met colleagues, exchanged knowledge and experiences, and learned more about the Faculty’s teaching and research activities. On 2 October 2026, they gave a talk to the Faculty’s staff and students, providing an opportunity to share their expertise and discuss areas of common academic interest and potential future collaboration. A brief overview of the discussion is provided below.
Beyond the Game of Thrones Coastline
When most travellers picture Croatia, their minds instantly drift to the dazzling Adriatic coast. With more than 1,000 islands, crystal-clear waters and historic stone cities such as Dubrovnik—made world-famous as a major filming location for Game of Thrones—it is easy to understand why tourism is a central pillar of the country’s economy.
However, reducing this vibrant Southeast European nation to its sun-drenched resorts overlooks a far more compelling story.
Home to fewer than four million people, Croatia combines remarkable agricultural diversity, a history of influential inventions and forward-looking biotechnical research.
Croatian Scientists Are Producing “Thunderstorm Water” to Strengthen Crops
Researchers from Croatian biotechnical departments are investigating methods of improving crop resilience through applied physics. One of these methods involves plasma-activated water, or PAW.
The process treats water with cold plasma, producing chemical reactions similar to those occurring naturally during thunderstorms. Lightning can enrich rainwater with reactive nitrogen compounds and hydrogen peroxide, which may influence plant growth and stress responses.
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| The Croatian Professors with the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Assoc Prof J.Govinden Soulange and the HoD AFS, Dr D. Ramful Baboolall |
Lettuce was irrigated with plasma-activated water in outdoor plots and controlled greenhouse conditions. The greenhouse reached temperatures approximately 10°C higher than those recorded outdoors.
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| Prof. Nataša Romanjek Fajdetić |
The greenhouse lettuce treated with PAW developed higher concentrations of proline. This amino acid acts as a natural osmoprotectant, helping plants cope with heat, water loss and other forms of environmental stress.
“The lettuce grown in the greenhouse had a higher content of proline. Proline protects the plant—it helps the plant fight stress.”
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Prof Mihaela Blažinkov |
The work has already contributed to four A1-category scientific papers. The researchers are now examining how drought affects secondary metabolites in medicinal plants such as sage, chamomile and lavender.
From the Cravat to Electric Supercars
Despite its modest population, Croatia has a rich tradition of innovation spanning fashion, aviation, electrical engineering and modern transport.
The Necktie
The modern necktie developed from the distinctive cloth worn around the necks of Croatian soldiers. The word cravat is itself derived from the name given to the Croats.
The Parachute
Renaissance-era Croatian ingenuity contributed to early concepts and functional designs that influenced the development of the modern parachute.
Nikola Tesla’s Croatian Roots
Nikola Tesla was born in what is now Croatia. His extensive body of work helped establish modern alternating-current power systems and transformed electrical engineering.
Electric Supercars
Croatia’s inventive culture continues through a new generation of engineers developing record-breaking, high-performance electric vehicles.
The “Green Part” Feeds the “Blue Part”
Croatia depends on a complementary relationship between its coastal and continental regions. The Adriatic “blue part” attracts international tourists, while the inland “green part” supplies much of the agricultural produce required to sustain the tourism economy.
The boomerang-shaped region of Slavonia, situated in the eastern continental interior, is one of Croatia’s principal agricultural areas. Its fertile plains support the production of cereals, fruits, vegetables, wine and livestock products.
Agriculture and tourism are interconnected
Slavonia’s farms form part of the domestic supply chain that feeds Croatia’s residents and the millions of visitors arriving on the coast each summer.
The region is also known for protected traditional products such as Kulen, a highly valued spicy cured-meat speciality closely associated with Slavonian food culture.
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| Interacting with the students |
The Green-Transition Challenge in Croatian Agriculture
Croatia’s transition towards more sustainable agriculture illustrates the practical tension that can arise between environmental objectives and day-to-day farming realities.
European restrictions on conventional pesticides encourage farmers to adopt lower-risk alternatives. However, biological crop-protection products frequently require preventive application, accurate timing and specialised technical knowledge.
Environmental regulations must be accompanied by farmer training, effective extension services and affordable crop-protection alternatives. Without this support, the transition may create production difficulties, regulatory workarounds and continued reliance on food imports.
Certified organic production currently represents only a limited share of Croatia’s agricultural area, while the country continues to import a substantial proportion of its food. These conditions demonstrate that agricultural sustainability depends on practical support as well as regulatory ambition.
The Quiet Excellence of Croatian Olive Oil and Wine
Although countries such as France and Italy dominate international headlines, Croatia produces highly regarded olive oils and wines. Because physical land availability is limited, many producers focus on boutique quality, regional identity and small-scale production rather than industrial volume.
Croatia possesses a remarkable combination of microclimates, soils and indigenous grape varieties. These conditions support distinctive wines whose characteristics are closely connected to their places of origin.
Olive-oil producers similarly rely on careful harvesting and small-batch pressing to produce high-quality extra-virgin olive oils, many of which have received international recognition.
“Maybe they say that our olive oil is the best in Europe. Some other countries could not say that. They are very jealous because we have very good oil.”
Small Nation, Big Impact
Croatia is more than a picturesque summer destination. It is a dynamic meeting point between agricultural tradition, scientific research, technical ingenuity and regional identity.
From plasma-activated irrigation water to centuries of influential inventions, Croatia demonstrates that a country’s physical size does not determine the scale of its contribution to the world.
What enables some small nations to become global powerhouses of groundbreaking ideas?
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