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Overuse of fertilizers can have harmful effects on the environment. The Nitrates Directive aims to protect water quality by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use of good farming practices. The paper is based on research about agricultural producers' awareness about the impact of fertilizers overuse on the environment. Data were collected by face to face interviews with farm owners on 39 farms in Serbia. Analysis of the collected data showed that all farmers use fertilizers. It is important to notice that 79.4% of farmers use chemical fertilizers more than recommended, and 87.1% use organic fertilizers more than recommended. Furthermore, 66.6% of farmers do not know specific harmful pollution effects of nitrates on soil and water. 71.7% of farmers have not heard about the Nitrates Directive. Therefore, it can be concluded that farmers are not sufficiently aware of fertilizers impact on the environment and it is necessary to provide education on this.

Typical and traditional products are becoming an important element of the agro-food panorama in Serbia. For keeping and, even, fostering this positive trend an effective strategy for the valorisation of these products is necessary. For that it is crucial to have a clear idea about the perception and attitude of consumers. The paper analyses the main factors that affect consumers' interest for purchasing Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products in Serbia. A field survey - focusing on two PDOs namely Petrovac sausage and Futog cabbage - was performed in the period July-October 2012 with 251 Serbian consumers. The analysis showed that there are perspectives for PDO products in Serbia, as a large proportion of Serbian consumers are positively oriented towards products with designation of origin and would buy them. Interest for PDO products is connected and influenced by interest in typical products, awareness of PDO/Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) scheme, daily eating habits, education and income level. The main influence of these factors is identified for all sample, as well as for three different groups of consumers obtained by cluster analysis; "consumers with strong interest in PDO products" represents 28.7% of the sample, "consumers moderately interested in PDO products" stands at 41.8% of the sample while 29.5% of the interviewees belong to the third group "consumers poorly interested in PDO products". The fact that more than two thirds of respondents are either strongly or moderately interested in PDO products show that Petrovac sausage and Futog cabbage have good perspectives in the Serbian agro-food market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]