NEWS: From Fruit Processing to High-Value Bioeconomy: Unlocking Adrion Potential in Plant-Based Innovation
Šumadija and Pomoravlje region, located in the heart of Serbia, has long been a center of fruit cultivation, traditional food processing, and rural heritage. Known for its fertile soil, favorable climate, and centuries-old agricultural practices, region produces a wide range of fruits — including plums, grapes, apples, and berries — which form the backbone of local identity, culture, and economy.
This tradition has created a rich portfolio of authentic products such as šljivovica (plum brandy), homemade juices, dried fruit, marmalades, and wines — most of which are still produced by small-scale farmers and family-owned cooperatives. However, while the final products are celebrated, what remains largely invisible is the volume of fruit by-products that are generated in the process: plum pits, grape pomace, peels, seeds, and pulps. In Serbia alone, tens of thousands of tons of such biomass are generated annually, and in most cases, these are either discarded, incinerated, or repurposed as low-value compost or animal feed.
This reflects a structural inefficiency in the agri-food sector, one that is not unique to our region but present across many rural regions in Southeast Europe. The prevailing model is linear: focused on producing, processing, packaging, and selling the main product, with little consideration for residual flows. This not only creates environmental pressures and missed economic opportunities but also limits the adaptive capacity of rural regions to respond to global market trends.
The BioFarms Cluster (BFC) project, financed by the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme, addresses this exact gap. It envisions a new model — one where plant-based by-products are reimagined as a strategic resource for the development of high-value products in the nutraceutical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and functional food industries. The project aims to build transnational value chains for plant-based innovation by connecting knowledge institutions, SMEs, farmers, and regional agencies across seven countries in the Adriatic-Ionian area.
At REDASP – the Regional Economic Development Agency for Šumadija and Pomoravlje – we view our participation in the BFC project as an opportunity to redefine the role of traditional agriculture in the knowledge economy. Our region is rich in raw materials, but for too long we have been limited to primary production. BFC allows us to explore value chain diversification: how can local producers go beyond fruit and brandy, and instead tap into markets for plant-based oils, dietary fibers, polyphenols, natural extracts, and innovative bioactive ingredients?
To answer this, we work with local partners to build capacity — from mapping fruit waste streams and identifying bioactive potential, to introducing extraction technologies and piloting new product development: plum pits — often seen as waste — contain oil that can be used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Grape pomace is a rich source of antioxidants. Apple skins are a valuable source of pectin. With proper coordination and technological support, these materials can become part of structured value chains that are environmentally regenerative and economically viable.
Beyond the technical dimension, this transition holds strategic importance for rural development. Bioeconomy-based innovation strengthens local entrepreneurship, encourages youth engagement, and enables participation in green markets. It offers small producers a chance to improve margins, reduce waste, and remain competitive without abandoning tradition. At the same time, it advances EU policy goals — from the European Green Deal to the Circular Economy Action Plan and Rural Pact — by promoting climate-sma rt resource use and regional innovation.
The BFC project exemplifies how EU transnational cooperation can serve as an accelerator of change. Through shared methodologies, training programmes, and cross-border exchange, it enables regions like Šumadija to leapfrog developmental constraints and access know-how that would otherwise remain out of reach. It also allows partners to learn from each other, to compare models, and to co-create solutions tailored to their ecological, cultural, and economic contexts.
As the implementation of BFC continues, REDASP is committed to using the project not just as a temporary intervention, but as a strategic entry point for long-term structural transformation. We are currently initiating regional dialogue around the bioeconomy, identifying financing opportunities, and preparing SMEs for integration into new value chains. We are also working to ensure that the benefits of this transformation are inclusive, particularly for women, youth, and small producers in marginalized rural areas.
In conclusion, Šumadija and Pomoravlje is ready. It is a region of agricultural strength, deep-rooted authenticity, and an emerging will to innovate. With the support of the BFC project and the ADRION Programme, we are starting to unlock the hidden value of what was once considered waste — and turning it into a driver of sustainability, competitiveness, and cross-border cooperation.
