Safety, security and food supply have emerged as critical strategic issues in Europe and globally. In response, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, aims to shift perspectives on resource use and agricultural production methods. This initiative focuses on connecting large domestic and regional companies with small farms, facilitating their digital transformation and education, as highlighted by PKS President Marko Čadež at the “Transformation of Food Systems” conference.
Čadež emphasized that enhancing competitiveness in food production requires a fundamental change in how resources are perceived and utilized. He noted that PKS, along with the Ministry of Agriculture and regional chambers of commerce, seeks to strengthen the ties between large producers and smaller farms, promoting knowledge transfer and cooperation.
Technological advancement will be pivotal in this transformation. The PKS Center for Digital Transformation (CDT) has already assisted numerous companies in the processing, food and agricultural sectors and will continue this collaboration with the BioSens Institute and other research organizations. The focus will be on supporting innovative ideas and businesses that adopt smart technologies, including robotics and the Internet of Things, to promote regenerative agriculture practices in primary production.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Aleksandar Martinović, acknowledged that traditional intensive agricultural methods have led to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem instability. He stressed the need for a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to agriculture, advocating for regenerative practices that align with nature rather than oppose it. On October 9, the Ministry established a Working Group tasked with preparing public policy documents to promote and regulate regenerative agricultural methods.
The conference, organized by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), featured two panels focused on regenerative agriculture. Nabil Gangi, Deputy Regional Representative for FAO Europe and Central Asia, discussed how regenerative agriculture can address global challenges such as climate change, food supply crises, and biodiversity conservation. The first panel included discussions with officials from Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, while the second showcased experiences from regional companies, featuring Milica Milanović from Nestlé and Jovan Bugarčić from Imlek.
