International Project „Cross-border network for education and research of natural resources“
Project Code: RORS-279

Lead partner:

University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I of Romania" Timișoara  

Partner: Regional Development Agency South Banat  


Project implementation period (final):

📅 Start date:13. avgust 2021

📅 End date: 4. januar 2023

Budget of the project: 1,124,337.90 €

The project is implemented within the framework of the Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme.

Principal investigator: Dr Nenad Zarić, Faculty of Biology – University of Belgrade



Project Theme

• Impact of agriculture and anthropogenic activities on natural resources, primarily watercourses and soil in the South Banat and Timiș regions.
• The project addresses common challenges related to the protection and sustainable use of the most important natural resources — agricultural land and water — in the cross-border area of the South Banat District and Timiș County. One of the key features of the project is the education of pupils and students on the sustainable use of natural resources.
• The project introduces systematic pollution monitoring in the cross-border region between Serbia and Romania.

Project Objective

• Establishment of a cross-border network for education and research on natural resources through the collection of data related to the analysis of agricultural soil, water, and pollution caused by intensive agriculture.

Project Results

• Procurement of Equipment

University of Life Sciences 'King Mihai I of Romania' from Timișoara:

o ICP-MS – instrument for metal analysis

Regional Development Agency South Banat:

o LC-MS/MS – instrument for the analysis of organic pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, etc.)
o Complete laboratory equipment for sample preparation (scales, centrifuge, fume hood, mill, ultrapure water system, pipettes, etc.)
o Necessary chemicals (solvents, standards, etc.)

The instruments and laboratory equipment used for the implementation of the research activities are located at the premises of the Institute of Public Health Pančevo, Miloša Obrenovića 2.

• Establishment of a monitoring system used for collecting data on pollution originating from heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides.
• The implementation of the planned analyses has a positive effect on the quality of food produced and consumed within the project area.
• Based on the conducted analyses, a Guideline Book was issued containing data on the current state of water and soil, as well as recommendations for the sustainable use of natural resources in the cross-border region.

Target Groups

The project is primarily aimed at users and managers of natural resources, for whom workshops were organized, as well as the local population, for whom educational seminars were held. The project also targets public authorities, research and academic institutions, civil society organizations, and students in Serbia and Romania, while simultaneously contributing to raising awareness among the wider public in the cross-border region.

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