Food Technology and Biotechnology in the Development of the Republic of Croatia

S. Grba, T. Lovrić and V. Marić

Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology University of Zagreb

Article history:
Received June 15, 1994
Accepted September 26, 1994

Summary:
A number of fundamental guidelines are crucial in outlining the role of food technology and biotechnology in Croatia: general trends in the production and distribution of food, medicines, and biologically active substances in production, technological and natural environment, as well as specific requirements of the present situation and orientation in future development of Croatia. It is expected that food technology and biotechnology in particular, the development of which is gaining in importance worldwide, will occupy an appropriate place in development strategy of Croatia, since the priorities of that strategy include food production, bioprocesscs and environment protection. Processing of agricultural products is very important for overall efficiency of agricultural production, for increased valorization of those products, for ensuring supply of quality and inexpensive food and for export of specific food and biotechnological products. In order to achieve these goals strict production norms must be satisfied, which implies modern and rational technology in production and distribution. By adopting, albeit belatedly in some segments, the technologies of production of food and biologically active substances used in the developed countries, Croatia is in the position to take advantage, to a considerably greater extent than before, of its geographic location, climatic and agroecological conditions, and the structure of economy which awards the agricultural and food system as well as tourism, a prominent place. In Croatia, provided the interdisciplinary cooperation, there is a satisfactory intellectual basis for rapid development of the food system and its inclusion into modern trends. The role of scientific and educational institutions is very important, and in that context the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology in Zagreb plays a particularly important role.