JTI brought together domestic and international experts in tobacco production at the CORESTA Conference

More than 50 experts from 20 countries attended the international scientific conference dedicated to the safe and sustainable use of crop protection products in tobacco production. This was the 64th meeting of the CORESTA Agrochemicals Analysis Working Group, held for the first time in Serbia, organised by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) – the only international company that purchases domestic tobacco and the largest tobacco manufacturer in the country.

The conference was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Tatjana Brankov, Special Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, who stated that it was a great honor for Serbia to host, for the very first time, a distinguished group of international experts, researchers, regulatory bodies, and industry representatives, united around a common mission of improving safety and sustainability standards in tobacco production. “Support for science, exchange of experiences, and cooperation with the private sector are the keys to sustainable development and improving the quality of our agricultural production,” said Prof. Brankov.

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Throughout the conference, discussions focused on the latest scientific and regulatory approaches in the field of crop protection, with particular emphasis on laboratory methods, producer licensing, and the control of agrochemical residues in tobacco. Knowledge, experience, and best practices were presented by both domestic and international experts, including representatives of the Tobacco Administration, experts from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, members of the CORESTA network, and representatives of JTI.

Tobacco Administration: Growth in Production and the Importance of Regulation

Jelica Ćirović, Assistant Director of the Tobacco Administration, and Sanja Babić, Head of the Analytical Affairs Department, spoke about how tobacco production is regulated in Serbia and how the licensing and control system functions.

They emphasised that the tobacco and tobacco products market in Serbia is stable and strictly regulated. Production is carried out through a licensing system involving legal entities (producers and processors) as well as individual farmers, who grow tobacco in cooperation with legal entities, under constant administrative and market oversight. Thanks to this model, the tobacco sector has significant financial importance: today it accounts for 34% of total excise revenues, while an additional €3 million annually flows into the budget through administrative fees and registration charges.

Concrete growth indicators support these results. In 2025, the number of registered producers increased to 941, while the total area under tobacco reached 5,019 hectares. The dominant variety remains Virginia, accounting for 98% of total production. Of the total leaf tobacco produced, 25% is exported as raw tobacco, while the remaining 75% is further processed and exported in that form.

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JTI: Investments in Sustainable Domestic Production and Farm Visits in Kuzmin and Bingula

As conference hosts, JTI representatives highlighted best practices in the application of crop protection products, stressing the importance of education and continuous monitoring of agrotechnical measures in the field.

For years, the company has invested in the improvement of domestic tobacco production: over the past 15 years, more than €17 million has been invested in strengthening farmers’ capacities, modern drying, irrigation, and gasification systems, as well as modernisation of the factory in Senta. In 2025 alone, JTI contracted cooperation with 430 farmers, secured production across 2,500 hectares, invested €1.3 million in new machinery, and continued strong investments in knowledge and infrastructure. A key added value of these systems lies in their applicability to other crops, which is crucial given the increasing frequency of droughts.

Speaking about daily cooperation with farmers, Milan Bjelivuk, JTI’s Leaf Production Manager, said: “We invest significant resources in primary production and farmer education. Every year, we organise training, monitor the implementation of agrotechnical practices, and solve field challenges together. Our main task is to prevent the presence of agrochemical residues in tobacco leaves and ensure production in line with the highest safety standards.” He added that JTI works with chemical companies to promote the use of substances with short pre-harvest intervals and minimal risk for consumers and the environment.

As part of the second day of the conference, JTI organised visits to farms in Kuzmin and Bingula, offering international participants an opportunity to witness the practical application of modern agrotechnical solutions. During the tour of tobacco plantations, modern dryers, and warehouses, guests learned about sustainable production standards and how JTI collaborates with local farmers.

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Shared Mission of Institutions, Companies, and Academia

The joint efforts of institutions, the private sector, and the scientific community once again demonstrated the importance of connecting knowledge, practice, and responsibility in order to advance safety and sustainability in agricultural production. This very principle of cross-sector cooperation represents the essence of the CORESTA Conference, organised in Serbia by JTI and Field Test.