Name Case Study Site: CSS6 – IPTPO (Istria, HR)
Responsible partner: Institute of Agriculture and Tourism Poreč (IPTPO). Case Study Site leader: Igor Paskovic. CSS team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Geographical description
The case study area is located on the largest peninsula of the Republic of Croatia in the northern part of the Adriatic coast, Istria (Figure 1). It covers an area of flatland of approx. 2.813 km^{2 1,2}. According to its geological and geomorphologic structure, the Istrian peninsula can be divided into three completely different areas. The hilly northern and north-eastern rim of the peninsula, with its sparse vegetation and barren Karst terrain, is known as White Istria. To the south-west of White Istria, there is a morphologically much more varied area, made up of flysch foothills with impermeable marl, clay, and sandstone layers, giving it the name of Grey Istria. The limestone plateau running alongside the coast, covered with red earth, is called Red Istria. The total length of the Istrian coast, including the islands and islets, is 539 km. The western coast of Istria is longer and more indented, measuring 212 km, islets included³ . The presence of impermeable flysch layers has made Istria rich with water. The most significant surface waterways in Istrian County are Mirna, Raša, Boljunčica, Dragonja, and the sinking stream Pazinčica. In terms of water supply, an important role is played by surface reservoirs Butoniga and Boljunčica³ . The region has a Mediterranean clime (Cfb - Köppen climate classification) (and/or Submeditereanean (Cfa and Cfb / Köppen)) with a mean annual temperature of 2°C to 4°C in colder months, and 35°C to 40°C in the heart of summer. Annual precipitation is 1000 to 2000 mm. The amount of sunshine is significant, around 2 000 to 2 400 hours of sunshine annually, sky 4.5 to 5 tenths overcast ^4-7 . Latitude: 45°13’16” N Longitude: 13°36’08” E

Main farming systems
The region of Istria covers 5% of the total area of the Republic of Croatia, of which more than 50% is arable land^2,8. In Istria, according to data from 2016, there are 5,378 farms. Farms use 45,607 ha of agricultural land of which 8,850 ha are permanent crops excluding citrus plantations¹ . The number of cattle in 2016 was 7,779. Agricultural land on ecologic agricultural practice is 1,973 ha, 773 ha are permanent crops¹. The area is recognized for olive growing and high-quality extra virgin olive oil (Figure 2. Olive fruit Olive farming)^2,8. From ancient times in this region, it was important to raise cattle, sheep (Figure 2. Istrian sheep), and goats, and to preserve the tradition, we have protected our indigenous species. In the Istrian region, we have Istarska pramenka, one of the nine protected indigenous sheep species in the Republic of Croatia³.​

Ongoing research and innovation actions

Pesticide usage training for farmers holds annually at IPTPO.

Due to the best of our knowledge, studies on agricultural production in the region are linked only to
our Institute.

Main current research project activities are:

• Centre of excellence for biodiversity and molecular plant breeding (European Regional Development Fund)
• Phytochemical Farming: Mineral Nutrients and Elicitors Application to Enhance Olive Leaf Phenolics (Croatian Science Foundation)
• Influence of different vinification technologies on the qualitative characteristics of wines from Croatian autochthonous varieties: the role of wine in the human diet (Croatian Science Foundation)
• Advanced solutions for assuring the overall authenticity and quality of olive oil – OLEUM (H2020)
• Biochar as a tool for environment-friendly and sustainable grapevine nutrient management in the context of climate change (Croatian Science Foundation)
• Agrobiodiversity – the basis for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in agriculture
• WildBioAdapt – Wild plant species in the function of adaption of agriculture and tourism to climate change

Literature sources
 1. “Poljoprivreda – pregled po županijama”, Republic of Croatia- Central Baureau of Statistics
 2. https://www.istra-istria.hr/
 3. http://www.azrri.hr/
 4. “Statistical Yearbook 2006.”, Republic of Croatia- Central Baureau of Statistics
 5. “Köppen's Classification of Climates and the Problem of Corresponding Croatian Terminology”, Tomislav Šegota, Anita Filipčić, Geoadria, vol. 8/1, 17–37, 2003
 6. https://meteo.hr/
 7. https://www.istramet.hr/
 8. https://www.coloursofistria.com/

Picture sources
 9. Olive fruit (http://phytofarmol.iptpo.hr/)
10. Olive farming (https://www.coloursofistria.com/hr/maslinari/farma-jola)
11. Istrian sheep „Istarska pramenka“ (http://www.azrri.hr/index.php?id=62&L=106)