AREA aim is to reinforce and advance the research capacity of 13 excellent groups at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, lead by scientists with unique expertise in Serbia, specifically in crop physiology and anatomy, biodiversity, weed science, horticulture, plant pathology, aquaculture, food biochemistry, food technology and biotechnology. AREA project is focused on a set of coherent activities that will both improve the research capacity of each individual group, allowing it to advance its own state-of-the-art research programmes, as well as stimulate interactions amongst research groups, by enhancing implementation of existing DNA marker technologies and introducing innovative technologies (such as Raman micro-spectroscopy) from which all research teams will benefit. In collaboration with EU partner organizations, following the purchase of the necessary equipment as well as the essential training in new techniques, the achieved expertise in DNA-based technologies will encompass:

• Characterization of genes responsible for crop stress responses and response to herbicides
• Molecular taxonomy of plants
• Microbial pathogenic populations analyses
• DNA-based GMOs and food tracing
• Marker-assisted selection in fish and fruit breeding
• Genetic diversity of zooplankton and zoobenthos
• Molecular characterization of lactic acid bacteria.