lettuce growing conditions checked in a lab

Skilling up the Western Balkans agri-food sector: digitalising, greening

Project context 

  • The ETF supports anchoring smart specialisation priorities in agri-food in a realistic supply of relevant skills – in particular at medium and high levels.  
  • The ETF looks at skills from an agri-food SME standpoint. It facilitates networking among companies and those who seek to develop concrete solutions to support skills development for innovation, growth and competitiveness. 
  • The ETF’s work is closely linked with digital and green transitions that are transforming the agri-food sector by raising competitive pressures and corresponding skills needs of companies. 
  • The ETF’s project ‘Skilling up the Western Balkan agri-food sector: digitalising, greening’ was designed to enhance joined-up skills development among a broad range of Western Balkan stakeholders and their European peers. The ETF actions directly contribute to the Acquis Chapter 25, Science and Research. 
  • The collaboration on skilling, upskilling and reskilling that we, the ETF, facilitate prepares the ecosystems to make the most of the opportunities offered by the EU’s sectoral, business support frameworks, and financial instruments. 

What is the network about? 

The ETF network ‘Skilling up the Western Balkan agri-food sector: digitalising, greening’ was launched in 2022. The network contributes to: 

  • strengthening skills development for innovation, growth, and competitiveness of the agri-food sector; 
  • facilitating convergence of the sector with the agri-food developments in the European Union; 

Who are the members of the network?   

  • Innovative SMEs in agri-tech, green and digital transition of the agri-food sector 
  • SMEs looking to make an innovation shift 
  • Business associations and industry clusters supporting SME internationalisation  
  • VET institutions and higher education institutions in agri-food 
  • Research institutions in agri-food 

Profiles of companies (not exhaustive) that are part of the network can be found here. 

Is the work backed by research? 

  • Technological changes and skills needs. The research aimed to identify technological changes and corresponding skills needs. The research focused on three specific niches of the sector: development and production of digitalisation solutions for agri-food, production of biochemical and microbial products for agri-food, and production of organic and functional foods. The findings of the research are compiled in EU report, regional report, and country reports: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia. 

  • Foresight: A process-driven foresight examined key drivers of change in agri-food and identified critical skills for the most innovative agri-food niches: agri-tech and organic and functional food. The participatory process pointed out actions that have to be taken to address future skill demands. The foresight also facilitated the emergence of initiatives for future regional cooperation. A draft foresight report is available. 

What is the link to national and EU policy? 

  • Advisory board: Inside the initiative the work is followed by an informal Advisory Board.  This is made up of a group of stakeholders who consult and comment on the work of the project on a regular basis.  The participants of the Board are made up of a mix of EU institutional stakeholders, regional representatives, the national smart specialisation working groups, and agri-food sector representatives from the various economies of the region.   

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence