SAME MEASURES, DIFFERENT OUTCOMES: BIOTECHNICAL SOIL AND WATER PROTECTION IN SERBIA AND SELECTED EU COUNTRIES

Abstract

Soil and water degradation poses increasing threats to agricultural productivity, ecosystem stability, and food security across Europe. Despite growing policy emphasis under the European Green Deal and the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, the effectiveness of protective measures varies substantially across countries and implementation contexts. This study aims to provide a comparative, evidence-based assessment of biotechnical soil and water protection measures in Serbia and selected EU Member States (Hungary, Romania, the Netherlands), explicitly linking policy instruments to field-level implementation and environmental outcomes. A systematic scoping comparative review was conducted, integrating peer-reviewed scientific literature (2018-2025), EU regulatory and policy documents, and outputs from EU-funded research projects (CORDIS database). Identified measures were evaluated using a multi-criteria framework encompassing environmental effectiveness, long-term sustainability, transferability, and economic-operational feasibility across eight quantitative and qualitative indicators. Seven biotechnical measures were systematically evaluated: cover crops, riparian buffer strips, reduced/conservation tillage, biological pest control, controlled drainage systems, constructed wetlands/nature-based retention zones, and precision agriculture. Meta-analytical evidence confirms high effectiveness of cover crops (nitrate leaching reduction: 56–69%), riparian buffer strips (NO₃-N reduction up to 90%), and constructed wetlands (>1,092 kt N removed annually across Europe). Implementation maturity is consistently higher in EU Member States than in Serbia, where adoption remains largely project-driven and institutionally fragmented. No single measure constitutes a universal solution. Effectiveness depends on context-specific packages of complementary practices embedded within coherent policy and institutional frameworks. For Serbia, the primary bottlenecks are institutional fragmentation, insufficient soil monitoring, and limited financial incentives. Shifting from pilot-scale experimentation toward systematic, policy-driven scaling, supported by strengthened advisory services and cross-sectoral coordination, is identified as a priority for achieving resilient soil-water systems.