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13. JEEP INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE - MAK 2026

THE ROLE OF MEDICINAL PLANT SPECIES IN THE GREEN TRANSFORMATION OF AGRICULTURE: LINKING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION WITH ECONOMIC VALUE

Prijić Željana, Dragumilo Ana, Đukić Nikola, Ivetić Aleksandra, Milan Lukić, Mikić Sara, Mrđan Snežana, Marković Tatjana

Abstracts

The cultivation of endangered medicinal plant species is a key element in the green transformation of agriculture, linking species conservation with sustainable market development. The cultivation of endangered and/or protected medicinal plant species represents an effective conservation strategy, reducing harvesting pressure on wild populations while ensuring the preservation of genetic resources. Their production systems are suitable for low-input and agroecological practices, often requiring minimal chemical inputs and enabling cultivation on marginal or less intensively farmed land. Furthermore, these medicinal plants support climate- resilient agriculture due to their adaptability to specific ecological conditions and their role in crop diversification. The development of sustainable value chains, supported by traceability, certification, and environmentally friendly processing technologies, increases their market value while contributing to Green Agenda objectives, including biodiversity protection, circular economy principles, and rural development. In this context, medicinal plants serve as a strategic bridge between environmental responsibility and economically viable agribusiness models.

Keywords

MAPs, Endangered species, Sustainable agriculture, Plant conservation

Acknowledgment

This research was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Serbia (Grant: 451-03-136/2025-03/200003).

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