Agriculture in Croatia is set for rapid expansion, as the government raises subsidies by 40 per cent.

In 2007, €600 million was ploughed into the sector by the Croatian administration, according to Miroslav Božić, deputy minister for agriculture, forestry and water management, speaking at the Green Week in Berlin.

“The government intends to encourage the cultivation of organic foodstuffs,” he added, admitting that there has been a lack of awareness about organics among Croatian consumers and producers alike. Only one per cent of Croatia’s farmers have gone organic, but according to the deputy minister this proportion should rise to five per cent within four years.