Agricultural institute of Slovenia

This study examines conference design preferences among Generation Z participants, with a particular focus on technology-related and sustainability-oriented attributes. As this generational cohort becomes increasingly influential within the business events sector, understanding their expectations is essential for the future development of conferences. Survey data were collected from 257 Generation Z respondents in Serbia, all of whom had prior conference attendance experience. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to identify the underlying dimensions of conference design preferences. The results reveal a four-factor structure comprising experiential and personalized learning, sustainability and social responsibility orientation, technology-enhanced conference interaction, and virtual participation and networking. The findings indicate that Generation Z strongly values interactive digital technologies that enable real-time engagement with speakers and flexible participation formats. In addition, sustainability-related practices, including environmentally responsible and socially conscious initiatives, emerge as a distinct and influential dimension shaping conference attractiveness. The study concludes that technology integration and sustainability are central determinants of conference appeal for Generation Z rather than peripheral features. These findings offer practical recommendations for conference organizers and destination stakeholders seeking to design future-oriented conferences that align with the expectations of this emerging and increasingly important market segment. Article history: Received (February 5, 2026); Revised (February 15, 2026); Accepted (February 22, 2026); Published online (February 27, 2026)

The convergence of illicit economies and terrorist financing represents a critical challenge for global security and governance. This chapter examines the connections between them, shedding light on how these economies sustain and enable terrorist organisations globally. A conceptual framework is presented to analyse the reciprocal relationship between illicit economies and terrorist financing, illustrating how these interconnected systems reinforce each other to create a cycle of instability. The chapter explores key mechanisms through which different types of trafficking, smuggling, and illegal trade are exploited to generate financial resources for operational and strategic purposes. By analysing case studies and leveraging empirical data, the chapter identifies common enablers of these linkages, including weak governance, corruption, and the exploitation of transnational criminal networks. Furthermore, the chapter critically evaluates current policy frameworks and international efforts aimed at disrupting these nexuses, offering a nuanced assessment of their effectiveness and limitations. Recommendations are proposed for enhancing countermeasures, including strengthening international cooperation and addressing systemic socio-economic drivers. By bridging theoretical insights with practical considerations, this contribution provides a comprehensive understanding of the nexus between illicit economies and terrorist financing, equipping students, but also policymakers, researchers, and practitioners with actionable knowledge to tackle this pressing global security challenge.

The combination of Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) of meat and fat samples and principal component discriminant analysis (DAPC) has been proposed as a tool for discriminating the local production of autochthonous pig breeds. Spectral samples (n = 272) belonging to 11 local European pig breeds, Longissimus muscle, and subcutaneous fat (both intact and minced) are collected. Classification accuracy based on DAPC was applied on FT-NIRS to predict breed of origin in i) semi-external cross-validation, splitting the data into training (80 %) and testing (20 %) sets; ii) external validation, in which one breed at a time was excluded from model training and classified in one of the remaining breeds. The effect of varying sample sizes from 50 % to 100 % of the data was assessed. Almost all breeds' spectra variability was summarised into two principal components for tissue and sample preparation. In cross-validation, intact fat yielded higher classification accuracies than intact meat, with less pronounced differences in minced samples. Success assignment rates of ∼81–83 % were obtained for two breeds in intact meat samples and were higher than 83 % for five breeds in fat samples. For minced samples, correct assignments between 80 % and 100 % were possible for five breeds, both in meat and fat samples. Sample size marginally affected the results. External validation confirmed similarity among some breeds, with greater accuracy for fat samples. The assignments success provides encouraging results for discriminating local pig production, mainly based on fat, using a rapid, eco-friendly FT-NIRS method, which could serve as tool for quality assurance. • FT-NIRS on meat and fat is promising in the discrimination of autochthonous breeds. • Common NIR spectra properties, allowed to summarise almost all of the variability. • Fat performed better results than meat for the breed assignment success. • Differences in sample presentation: lower performance of intact samples.

1 Abstract The human-mediated import of non-native queens is threatening the unique adaptations of native honey bees in Ireland through hybridisation and introgression. To study the impacts of this import, we built a SIMplyBee stochastic model of hybridisation between a native Apis mellifera mellifera population in Ireland and a non-native (C lineage) honey bee population. The model included colony honey yield and fitness as complex polygenic traits. We modelled the effects of varying the percentage of imports, the genetic correlations between fitness in native and non-native environment, and the spatial distribution of introgression over 20 years. We measured the levels and rate of introgression and the changes in genetic means for honey yield and fitness. The results revealed that increased imports expectedly increase the rate of introgression. This introgression induced a trade-off between increased honey yield and decreased fitness. Changing the genetic correlation between fitness in native and non-native environment pointed to a larger fitness decrease with negative correlations. The study showed the spread of introgression across the whole simulated area, indicating that even colonies far from the import zones could be affected over time. Furthermore, halting imports generated a desirable direction of change, however the purging of introgressed material was very slow and varied substantially across replicates. These results underscore the risks and long-term impacts of import on complex polygenic traits. We argue that the best way forward to manage the problem of import and associated introgression is to invest in holistic selective breeding of the native honey bee population in its native environment rather than import invasive subspecies that are bred to be successful in a different climate. The study also highlights the lack of fundamental quantitative genetic parameters for complex polygenic traits of different honey bee populations in different environments.

ABSTRACT We studied the physical and chemical profiles of strawberry fruits (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) of the varieties “Clery” and “Asia,” which exhibited uneven ripening disorder. In the first part of the study, evenly (uniformly) ripe fruits harvested in different harvest seasons – spring and autumn – were compared. The chemical parameters, including total soluble solids (TSS), individual and total sugars, individual and total organic acids, vitamin C, and phenolic content, varied between the two seasons. However, the values of physical parameters, such as fruit color and firmness, were similar between the seasons. The second objective was to compare the characteristics of differently pigmented parts of unevenly ripe fruits. The higher levels of TSS, individual and total sugars, vitamin C, and phenolic compounds, along with lower levels of organic acids and firmness, were found in the most pigmented part of the fruit. Uneven ripening appeared as the “white shoulder” or the “green tip” in the strawberry fruit. In the variety “Clery,” the “white shoulder” was observed in both harvest seasons, while in the variety “Asia,” the “white shoulder” was observed in spring, and the “green tip” in autumn. In conclusion, uneven ripening in strawberries results in significant chemical differences between fruit parts and harvest seasons. Moreover, different parts of unevenly ripe fruits show different maturity based on physical and chemical parameters.

One of the most persistent and damaging diseases in olive trees is olive knot disease. This disease is caused by an infection by the Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi that is notoriously difficult to control. The increasing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable agricultural solutions has driven research into plant-based agents. This study investigated the antibacterial properties of essential oils (EOs) and their constituents, olive mill wastewater (OMWW), the phenolic compound hydroxytyrosol (HTyr), and algae and garlic extracts, as well as copper-based and plant-stimulating commercial products against P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi, a significant olive tree pathogen. Antibacterial activity was determined using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The EOs derived from Thymus vulgaris (thyme) and Origanum compactum (oregano), and their key components thymol and carvacrol, exhibited the strongest antibacterial efficacy. Conversely, the OMWW, plant-stimulating products, and algae and garlic extracts showed limited to no antibacterial activity in vitro, with their antibacterial properties determined using the disc diffusion method. While the EOs were highly effective in vitro, regardless of the testing method, their efficacy in bacterial growth inhibition was strain- and concentration-dependent, possibly highlighting some metabolic or genetic variability in the target pathogen, even though the MIC values against all tested strains of P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi were equal. Bacterial membrane disruption and the consequent leakage of metabolites were determined as the modes of action of carvacrol and oregano EO. Carvacrol also promoted plant growth in lettuce without significant phytotoxic effects, although minor necrotic lesions were observed in young olive leaves at higher concentrations, presenting these agents as potential next-generation green bactericides.

A field experiment was conducted in two seasons (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) at three locations in Slovenia (Rogoza, Fala, and Brežice) to evaluate the yield and silage quality of winter cover crops (WCCs). The experiment included Italian ryegrass (IR) in pure stands, fertilized with nitrogen in spring, and mixtures of crimson clover (CRC), red clover (RC), and IR+CRC+RC without nitrogen fertilization in spring. The highest dry matter yield (DMY) was observed in IR+CRC+RC (4.98 t ha-1). For fresh feed, the CRC+RC treatment had significantly higher (p < 0.05) crude protein (208 g kg-1 DM), nitrate nitrogen (116.7 mg kg-1 DM), and buffering capacity (1290 mmol kg-1 DM) but significantly lower (p < 0.05) dry matter (128 g kg-1) and water-soluble carbohydrates (121 g kg-1 DM). For silage, the CRC+RC treatment had significantly lower (p < 0.05) dry matter (476 g kg-1 silage), metabolic energy (9.65 MJ kg-1 DM), net energy of lactation (5.77 MJ kg-1 DM), and neutral detergent fiber (375 g kg-1 DM) but higher ammonia nitrogen (66.5 g kg-1 of total nitrogen), crude protein (158 g kg-1 DM), and acid detergent fiber (279 g kg-1 DM). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found among treatments for acetic, lactic, and butyric acid, crude fat, pH, and soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin). The results of the study show that the same or higher DMY and a comparable quality of highly wilted silage can be produced with mixed Italian ryegrass and clovers compared with those of Italian ryegrass in pure stands. The experiment aimed to determine whether clover-based mixtures can achieve comparable silage quality and dry matter yield without spring N fertilizers compared with those of pure stands of Italian ryegrass fertilized in spring.

In livestock breeding, offspring of a particular sex are often favoured. Various biological mechanisms influence the offspring sex ratio (OSR). It has been hypothesised that maternal body condition/nutritional status influence OSR. We analysed the relationship between the nutritional status of the cow and OSR. The analysed dataset contained 40913 milk recordings of 39192 cows from 3625 farms. Nutritional status was estimated based on the fat-to-protein (F:P) ratio and urea content in milk in the seven to fourteen days prior to conception. Somatic cell count (SCC) was also considered. Cows with >150000 SSC were analysed separately. When SSC was normal (≤150000), high urea with high F:P resulted in a higher probability of male offspring (61%), with OSR significantly deviating towards male (1.47). Conversely, a high urea level and low F:P resulted in a higher probability of female offspring (57%), with OSR significantly in favour of females (0.79). At normal or low milk urea, the sex of the offspring did not change within F:P classes. The sex ratio did not deviate from 1:1 when F:P and urea were in the normal range. When SCC was high, the probability of particular sex did not change significantly in either combination of F:P and urea, but OSR showed a tendency toward males (OSR>1) when F:P and urea were low or normal. Our results confirmed the influence of maternal nutritional status on the offspring sex. Thus, adjusting nutrition in the pre-insemination period seems to be a way to influence the sex ratio of offspring in dairy cows.

A pilot study was conducted with the aim of adapting the processing of "Kraški pršut", dry-cured ham, for thighs from heavy pigs. The focus was on the effect of ham weight and salting duration on the quality of dry-cured ham. From a pool of thighs harvested from heavy pigs, a total of 32 green hams were selected (from 16 carcasses) based on weight (two classes; L-lighter, H-heavier) and we used left and right ham for either the standard or a shortened salting phase. Salting duration consisted of phase 1 (7 days for all hams) and phase 2 (7 or 14 days for L, 10 or 17 days for H, in the case of shortened and standard salting, respectively). Equivalent conditions for all hams were maintained during the remaining phases, with a total maturation period of 18 months. The analysis focused on chemical, physical and rheological properties, sensory attributes, and consumer perceptions. The H hams had lower processing losses, resulting in higher moisture and water activity, lower salt content in internal biceps femoris muscle, and a softer texture (instrumental and sensory) than L hams. The salting duration mainly affected weight losses in the salting phase and, consequently, salt content, which was lower in the shortened salting phase, while no effects were observed on texture. The sensory panel perceived weight's effect on hardness, with L hams being perceived as harder, and salting's effect on sourness, with hams submitted to longer salting perceived as sourer than H hams. Consumer testing indicated a general preference for softer and less salty hams. Overall, the results show that the applied reduction in salting duration was not substantial, and future trials should explore further optimization in terms of salting and resting phases.