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The purpose of this research is to analyze implications of SEE trade liberalisation for the B&H agribusiness sector and to provide policy recommendations for both the public and private sector.

This study uses revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index and Grubel‐Lloyd index (GLIIT) to indicate sectors and markets where country's exports are more (or less) competitive in relation to their trading partners, present on a given destination market.

B&H agrifood import, export and trade deficit are growing, but export growth rate is significantly higher, especially on SEE markets. The values of RCA and GLIIT index are indicating better overall B&H agribusiness performances at SEE market in comparison with EU 27. Findings confirm that trade liberalization opened up a window of opportunity, which is not efficiently utilized by B&H agribusiness sector.

RCA does not provide information of how spotted advantages will evolve and overlooks impacts of public policies. The GLIIT offers no information of correlation in quality between imported and exported goods.

As for the government, the main implication is the mode to improve the business environment, especially to empower institutions which have to provide services in order to meet international agreements requirements and customers' requirements.

There are no studies examining B&H agribusiness trade patterns, competitiveness and level of integration at SEE market which used disaggregated trade data. The outcomes could be used to craft both direct public sector policies and private business policies in order to improve sector competitiveness.

The purpose of this paper is to set out to define lifestyle pattern framing behavior shared by traditional food products (TFP) and organic foods (OF) consumers to identify, if possible, a generic way to facilitate development of TFP and OF production in order to pave the road for more sustainable food production and consumption.

A convenience, non-probabilistic sample (n=800) was designed and customer survey was conducted in December 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis were performed to identify common lifestyle pattern shaping consumption of both products’ groups.

TFP and OF consumption patterns are driven by common lifestyle pattern defined by concern for welfare of all people, social equality and nature; and by consumers’ belief that food is a basis of their health, while food and cooking make an important part of family life.

This study shows that public and private promotion/marketing policies for OF and TFP need to be designed in a way that strongly emphasizes their symbolic meaning that elicits in consumers feeling of belonging to both local community and their family, and at the same time highlights the level of social responsibility of their producers. In addition, this study contributes to the body of knowledge in this area.

No similar study has been done to date that was focussed on identifying common combination of lifestyle factors that frame and drive customers’ tendency to purchase either TFP or OF products. This study offers a unique and valuable insight into topics and values around which a generic public or private promotional strategy for the two product groups would evolve, and which will decide effectiveness of any such strategy.

In the last 3 decades, the rapid growth of tourism activities is evident. Globally, tourism is becoming of prime importance for the development of local economies. A similar trend is observed in the Balkan region and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The total contribution of tourism in GDP of Bosnia and Herzegovina growth is evident, from 2.0% in 2011 to 2.6% in 2017, with bright forecasts from United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) which predicted the 3.4% share of tourism in national GDP by 2028. With aim to indicate the development potential of the touristic sector, gastro tourism sector was ‘screened’ through questionnaires with tourists (n = 245) and with destination management offices (n = 7). This approach should provide insights into stakeholder's capability to understand and react to new challenges that brings gastro tourism; insights into the current gastro offer; and insight into profile, motives and overall tourist's satisfaction. Main findings of the study show that the stakeholders' activities and understandings are not enough to provide a unique identity to the sector. On the other hand, tourists' profile and expectations rise with level and type of information they gather, and this study shows that tourists' expectations are more influenced by the age, education and gender of the tourists', while their satisfaction depends on the working status and monthly income. Future research, which is also the main implication of this study, should follow three main avenues: (1) how to build efficient governance mechanism to ensure development of strong stakeholder network able to create, execute and reinvent shared vision and strategic plan; (2) building knowledge and understanding of local culinary system and practice as step ahead in process of territory interpretation and transformation into the valuable intangible touristic resources; and (3) gastro tourist needs, wishes and ways to engage tourist.

The main purpose of this paper was to evaluate the validation process of food safety control measures.

The validation of control measures has been analyzed at 50 food companies in Serbia. The sample included companies that produce food of both plant and animal origin and have certified food safety management systems. A total of 156 control measures that combat physical hazards (41.6%), followed by microbial hazards (34.0%) and chemical hazards (24.4%), have been analyzed. To enable quantification of the validation protocols, each control measure was assigned a score.

The validation scores showed that the highest level of validation was observed in large companies, as opposed to small and medium-sized companies (p < 0.05). The type of food safety hazards and the food sector did not reveal any statistical differences in-between the scores. The main approach to validating control measures was referring to the technical documentation of equipment used (52.6%), followed by scientific and legal requirements (30.7%). Less than 20% of the analyzed control measures were validated with operational data collected on-site. No mathematical modeling was observed for the sampled food companies. Future steps should include the development of validation guides for different types of control measures and training modules.

This study can serve as an improvement guide for food safety consultants, food safety auditors, certification bodies, inspection services, food technologists and food managers.

This study is one of the first to provide an insight into how food companies validate their control measures to combat microbial, chemical and physical food safety hazards.