Lavender is one of the Lamiaceae family’s most famous ornamental, aromatic, and medicinal plants. It is widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries and is an excellent honey plant. The plantation cultivation of lavender in BiH is still not as developed as in other countries. Still, an increasing number of farms and specialized farms recognize this culture’s potential. Given the need for more research on the economic results of growing lavender in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this research aims to analyze the cost of growing fresh lavender and the economic efficiency of its processing. Primary data was collected with the help of surveys conducted on four farms, focusing on the necessary investments and operational costs of growing lavender and the income from the sale of dried flowers. The results showed that the cost of growing 1 kg of fresh lavender flowers ranges from 0.71 BAM to 1.33 BAM, which indicates significant differences between the observed farms. Lavender processing also showed different levels of economy among farms. According to this research, cultivating lavender in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an economically profitable option; however, it is necessary to research a more significant number of farms. Also, due to different applied agricultural techniques in the cultivation of lavender, economic results differ significantly from farm to farm, so one of the research recommendations is additional education of producers in this area to increase the economic efficiency of these farms with the improvement of production technology. 

The meat processing sector, as one of the most important sectors of the food industry, considering the real and potential impact on the primary production and its development potential, deserves attention to be continually analyzed to identify strengths and weaknesses and opportunities for development. For this purpose, an analysis of business enterprises that were in Bosnia and Herzegovina dealt with the processing of meat in the period 2011-2014, which is a continuation of previous research with the aim of continuous monitoring of this sector, provided that this research is going into deeper analysis. Based on the analysis of small, medium-sized and large enterprises, the meat processing sector cannot be rated as successful because the significant weaknesses are evident in medium-sized enterprises, especially in small enterprises, while the positive values of indicators of large enterprises lose significantly because of the small share of these companies in the overall sector. Therefore, the significant weaknesses in terms of indicators of liquidity, indebtedness, profitability and effectiveness of medium-sized enterprises and especially small enterprises are evident.

The paper presents a check list and distribution of species belonging to the genus Ceratina in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period 2018-2023. Data on the diversity and distribution of Ceratina species have not been previously published. In addition to the field-collected material, specimens of Ceratina species stored in the collection of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina were included in the species overview. A total of six species belonging to the genus Ceratina were recorded, representing 23% of the European fauna and 55% of the Ceratina species fauna in the Western Balkan Peninsula region. The distribution of species was analyzed based on their occurrence in relation to the biogeographical regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with most findings in the Mediterranean region, 50% of occurrences. All six identified species from Bosnia and Herzegovina are represented in the Mediterranean region.

STRUCTURE is a software package that uses molecular data from multiple loci to analyze population structure. To analyze Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data using STRUCTURE, a specific input file format is required. However, because SNP studies often involve thousands of loci, these input files are typically too large to edit manually. To address this challenge, several software tools and functions have been developed. However, in the case of plant data, some of these tools either fail to process the data correctly or generate inaccurate input files. To overcome these issues, a new software tool - SNP2STR - has been developed. SNP2STR converts SNP data into the input format required by Structure. It generates a file with an optional first row containing marker names, followed by two rows of data per individual, formatted according to the corresponding markers. The software is open-source and available on GitHub. It also offers potential for future upgrades based on user feedback.

This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of common bean (Phaseolus vulagris L.) landraces from the existing collection maintained at the Gene-bank of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo using microsatellite markers (SSR). A total of 21 accessions of common bean were genotyped using ten SSR markers. The obtained molecular data was analyzed using genetic structure and factorial correspondence analyses. The examined accessions of common bean were not completely structured in accordance to the gene center of origin, which indicates that during the long cultivation period of common bean in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), spontaneous crosses occurred between Mesoamerican and Andean common bean genotypes. The results of analyses confirmed that this was a heterogeneous and very interesting genetic material.

This study aimed to examine the genetic variability of tartary buckwheat populations (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sampling was performed on a total of 25 samples with 5 samples from each population. Collected samples were lyophilized and afterward, DNA extraction was conducted using a peqGOLD plant DNA kit. A total of ten primers were used for DNA amplification, where seven primers pairs resulted in successful amplification. The results showed that polymorphisms were detected on all of the analyzed loci. Also, significant genetic differences between populations of tartary buckwheat from different production regions of this agricultural species have been proven.

Surface water quality is a variable value that depends on the impact of many factors. The Drina River Quality Testing was one of the main motives for writing this paper. In order to get as complete and accurate insight into the water quality as possible, the monitoring lasted for two months (April-May). Sampling was carried out in five locations on the territory of the municipality of Gorazde over the given time intervals, at the hydrological station, 500 and 1000 meters downstream and 500 and 1000 meters upstream of it. The monitoring was carried out to determine the content of heavy metals: Pb, Cd, Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, and selected alkali and alkaline earth metals: K, Na, Mg, and Ca.  In order to complement the analysis, basic physical and chemical parameters of the water quality were also monitored: temperature, conductivity, redox potential, pH value and dry residue. The experiment was carried out in the Chemistry Laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences in Sarajevo.  Despite numerous attempts to disturb the Drina River’s recognizable quality, the measured parameters did not show significant chemical contamination. The measured parameters should be broaden in the future in order to include organic pollutants too.  

Pueraria, or kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep) is a dangerous invasive foreign species of the legume family (Fabaceae). It inhabits neglected, open, bright habitats of urban areas (neglected field land, railways, etc.) and forest edges. In many countries, it is characterized as a dangerous invasive species. Due to the great danger of endangering autochthonous diversity, the goal was to create a model of predictive distribution with regard to environmental factors in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Distribution data was taken from available literature sources, as well as our own field research. The model is made on the basis of climate substrates in the form of raster layers taken from the WorldClim database that are aligned to the same, resolution, size and coordinate reference system at a resolution of about 1x1 km. In addition to the climate variables, 20 m DEM and CLC 2018 data in the form of raster layers were also used. The obtained results indicate that the distribution of the given species in the area of the Neretva river basin, and the possibility of its expansion, is why it is necessary to implement adequate preventive measures. The variable Bio_9 (Medium temperature of the driest quarter) has statistically significantly the greatest impact on the habitat suitability of a given species.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of pruning on the yield and quality of grapes of three table grape varieties Black Magic, Muscat Bleu and Alphonse Lavallee in Herzegovina. The research lasted three years (2011-2013), each variety had three varieties of pruning, and each variety had four repetitions. The load levels of the studs in this research were 28 (Variant I), 32 (Variant II) and 40 (Variant III) buds per vine. The most important indicators of fertility and quality of grapes of the tested varieties were measured. Research carried out at the site of Vrapčić in the Mostar vineyard shows that all three investigated varieties can be successfully grown at the mentioned site, although the meteorological conditions in the years of the research were less favorable than the multi-year average. For all analyzed parameters, the greatest influence on their values was the variety, as an experimental factor, followed by the year of the research, and the least variant of pruning. Based on all the obtained results, it can be concluded that the Alphonse Lavallee variety gives the best results in the area of Herzegovina. 

The aim of this research was to examine the degree of freezing and the fertility of winter buds along the shoots of the Malvasia Istriana and Garganega vine varieties grown in the Žepče area. The vine is sensitive to low winter temperatures, and the degree of freezing of the winter buds and other organs depends on the biological characteristics of the variety and the ecological conditions of cultivation. The degree of freezing of winter buds was determined by the method of provocation of buds, while the fertility of shoots was determined by counting inflorescences per bud, shoot and reproductive shoot. Samples were taken at the beginning of March, 10 shoots with 10 buds for each variety. Fertility and the degree of freezing of winter buds along the length of the shoots were monitored. Based on the obtained results, the percentages of buds, fertility coefficients of buds and shoots, and the fertility of varieties, as well as the fertility of developed buds from the first to the tenth nodus on the shoot, were calculated. By analyzing the measured parameters, we can conclude that the tested varieties can be successfully grown in the ecological conditions of Žepče, and the values of all tested parameters were higher in the Malvasia Istriana variety compared to the Garganega variety.

Acidic ammonium oxalate extraction is used to estimate the amount of amorphous or poorly crystalline iron in soils and sediments. Iron is the one element from the “iron triad” which have similar chemical behaviour. Other two elements are nickel and cobalt. The aim of this study was to evaluate acid ammonium oxalate extraction of all elements from iron triad. The samples of natural clay were used in the investigation. Samples for total amounts of metals were prepared with microwave digestion with HNO3 and HF, and measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Ammonium oxalate extraction was done by earlier established procedure in acid medium and with absence of light. Measurements were conducted with atomic absorption spectroscopy with flame atomization (FAAS). For statistical evaluation, maximum, minimum, average, median and correlations were used. The investigated iron triad elements lie in the next sequence: Fe>Ni>Co. The poorly crystalline iron and ammonium oxalate extractable Ni showed higher correlation (r = 0.874) than ammonium oxalate extractable cobalt (r = 0.446), suggesting that iron and nickel are more similar regarding ammonium oxalate extractability.

For the purposes of the inventory, an analysis of 55 literature sources of useful plant species in the households of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was performed. A total number of 748 plant species have been identified. According to the taxonomy, they are classified into 112 families and 418 genera. The most numerous families within which useful species are cited are: Compositae, Rosaceae, Lamiacae, Apiacae, Brasicaceae, Ranunculaceae and Poaceae. The useful species are mostly used in treatment and nutrition. Some of them are also used in the production of drugs, so they are described in pharmacopoeias such as: the Yugoslav Pharmacopoeia (2000) describing 88 species, the WHO's monographs on medicinal plants describing 62 species, the European Pharmacopoeia (8th edition) with 79 plants. Useful species with the most citations in the literature are: Urtica dioica, Hypericum perforatum, Althaea officinalis, Juniperus communis and Sambucus nigra. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with a high diversity of useful plants and significant potential that can be used in the future. A large number of publications indicate that the population throughout history has used biodiversity and natural resources in a traditional and sustainable way. The results are the basis for future research on sustainable management, promotion of natural values, useful plants and and conservation of biodiversity in BiH.

Traditional dishes of Bosnia and Herzegovina represent a wealth of flavors and culture shaped over centuries by the historical and social influences of various conquerors. These dishes reflect a blend of Ottoman, Mediterranean, Austro-Hungarian and Balkan cuisines, where locally sourced ingredients have been transformed into diverse and recognizable dishes. Each region in Bosnia and Herzegovina boasts its specific culinary traditions. In eastern Herzegovina, cuisine is known for dishes like japrak and cicvara, while Prijedor and Banja Luka are famous for banjalučki ćevap and pita. Sarajevo offers iconic dishes such as sarajevski ćevap and begova čorba. The Krajina region is renowned for kljukuša and other varieties of pita, Zenica and Žepče areas preserve authentic recipes that combine simplicity with rich flavors. Materials for the study include books, journals, academic theses, video materials, websites and live communication (interviews and conversations). Descriptive and analytical methods were used to document and analyze culinary customs. The descriptive method explains traditional dishes' ingredients, preparation methods, and cultural significance. The analytical method focused on comparing and contrasting these customs across different regions. The research revealed significant dish differences regarding preparation methods, names and habits across the country. Preserving these customs is essential for maintaining cultural identity and heritage. Efforts to document and promote these culinary traditions can help and maintain the cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina for future generations. The research has been conducted in the frame of the subject „Culture of eating in Bosnia and Herzegovina“.  The aim was to collect and preserve traditional dishes of Bosnia and Herzegovina highlighting regional differences between Mediterranean-influenced Herzegovina and Central European-inspired northern and central Bosnia.  

A genome-wide association study on resistance to the phytopathogenic fungus V. inaequalis was conducted on traditional Bosnian-Herzegovinian apple cultivars. Since the software for conducting GWAS, PLINK ver. 1.9, is adapted to work with diploids, it was necessary to identify and remove triploid varieties beforehand. Triploid identification was performed using axiomFP.py ver. 1.2 software, revealing that 20% of the examined collection were triploids. Based on the ploidy analysis, leaf samples from 35 diploid varieties were collected from the ex situ collection in Goražde (Bosnia and Herzegovina) for further research. The disease intensity was then determined by classifying the leaves into six categories (1-6) using the SAD. By calculating McKinney's disease index, a variation was observed, ranging from 27.2% ('Senabija') to 61.1% ('Crvenka'), indicating differences in variety resistance. After isolating and reisolating the pathogen and examining its morphological characteristics, V. inaequalis was identified, and its presence in the mentioned orchard was confirmed. GWAS revealed strong signals on chromosomes 04, 05, and 16 for resistance to this pathogen, using high- resolution SNP markers. This study offers insights into the genetic basis of resistance in traditional apple germplasm from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the phytopathogenic fungus V. inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab, highlighting the need for further research to develop varieties that are more resistant to this pathogen.

The nutrition of children and youth is an issue that is being studied around the world and needs to be addressed at all levels, from the family, through kindergartens, schools, health centers, ministries and departments that operate at the very top of government. Today, socio - economic circumstances affect the purchasing power of the family and the availability of food, thus contributing to the poor eating habits of primary school children. Foods full of sugar are also used, forgetting to use a natural sweetener - honey. Today, honey is one of the last unprocessed natural foods. Honey consumption varies from country to country. There is still no data on the consumption of honey by school age children. The results of many studies show that honey is not just a food sweetener, but that children who consume honey develop a better memory over time.  Therefore, the aim of this work is to examine the eating habits of primary school children and the level of consumption of honey and bee products. The results of the research showed the frequency of honey consumption, the type and quantity of consumed honey and other bee products, and the correlation between the degree of nutrition with the eating habits of students.