After the successful outcome of the Our Village project, which launches agricultural development and village renewal, Delta Holding recently began a new venture: The Digital Village. They are on the right track, as shown by global events, which increasingly suggest that the production of healthy food is the world’s number one priority
Our firm determination to take care of the environment is reflected, among other things, in the use of alternative energy sources and electric delivery vehicles. Our goal is to use at least 60% energy from renewable sources by 2030 – reveals Ms. Koprivica in this interview for our magazine.
If it were up to you at Delta Holding, Serbian villages would be more developed and tempting to live in than Swiss ones. Do you think that agriculture is our development opportunity?
Our villages have great potential for development and we believe that it is very important for Serbian agriculture and for the economy as a whole to revive it. That is why we launched the Our Village project to show that a comfortable village life is possible.
The aim of the project is to improve the quality of life in rural areas through improved economic conditions and social life. We have recognized that it is possible to encourage revenue growth by educating small producers about modern agriculture, supporting investment, marketing and improving other business skills. We have been talking for a long time about the fact that agriculture is our great chance for development, because Serbia is rich in fertile land which, with proper use, can be turned into a gold mine.
Can you tell us a bit more about your Digital Village venture. What kind of project is this?
We started the Digital Village project in Mokrin, together with our partners BioSense and Mokrin House. The main goals of the project are education in modern agriculture and the use of digital technology to facilitate the work of producers, making them more competitive on the market because they reduce investment and increase yields.
Educating small producers about modern agriculture, and supporting investment, marketing and improving other business skills encourages revenue growth
The project is expected to last for three years. Currently, 30 farms are taking part, and we expect that in the coming years more than 100 farmers in Mokrin will join us.
How do you provide all the electricity for your own needs, besides installing solar panels?
We mainly provide electricity from conventional sources, but our goal is to use at least 60% of energy from renewable sources by 2030. Solar power plants have already been installed at seven locations, so that four of our factories, two cold stores and the Napredak farm will replace 30% of electricity from conventional sources with solar energy.
In addition to solar panels, the capacity of the biomass boiler at the Seme Sombor factory was expanded during 2021; this uses corn waste in the process of drying corn. Smaller biomass boilers also exist for heating the facilities on the Jedinstvo estate in Apatin and Napredak in Stara Pazova. A project is being prepared for a solar power plant at the Sava Center, and other locations will be considered for solar panels and a biomass boiler.
Your online shop Pineapple uses electric delivery vans. What are the environmental benefits?
Electric vehicles do not emit harmful gases while driving. Of course, during the production of parts and electricity for charging batteries, a certain amount of carbon dioxide is emitted, but the total carbon dioxide emission is far lower than for vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.