As part of the project “EU for sustainable plant protection in Serbia”, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, a two-day educational event for agricultural high school students was held on 19 and 20 May during the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad. The event brought together 22 students from six agricultural schools across Serbia, from Ruma, Kraljevo, Futog, Požega, Zrenjanin and Vršac. Through interactive and hands-on activities, the students had the opportunity to learn about the principles of sustainable plant protection, the proper use of plant protection products, modern application equipment, and the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators.
On the first day, students attended lectures focused on the proper selection and use of plant protection products, equipment used for their application, and the impact of pesticides on bees. Through discussions with experts, master’s and PhD students from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Belgrade, they learned how important the correct application of pesticides, the use of protective equipment, and good agricultural practices are for protecting human health and the environment. After the lectures, students worked in groups and prepared for the activities planned for the following day.
On the second day, the “Bee Smart Challenge” was organized at the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad – an interactive two-and-a-half-hour challenge during which students, divided into teams, completed a variety of tasks. They researched plant protection products and analyzed their labels to recognize signs that warn of harm to bees, talked with exhibitors about the proper use of pesticides and the importance of modern equipment, with visitors about the most common mistakes made when applying pesticides, and with beekeepers about the role of bees in food production and ways to protect them.
The event was made even more meaningful by the fact that 20 May marks World Bee Day. Within the challenge, students were also given a creative task to produce a short video on the theme “Without bees, there is no future.”
Through a combination of education, teamwork, games, and practical activities, the students gained new knowledge and skills, while also developing a deeper understanding of the importance of building a future agricultural system that is sustainable, safe, and focused on protecting nature and pollinators.