Agriculture and food industry development

Having in mind the importance of agriculture and food industry for economic development at the local and national level, NALED has recognized this area as one of the strategic priorities and is institutionally working to improve the business environment in these areas, through thematic projects and the Food and Agriculture Alliance, founded in late 2017.

KEY INITIATIVES

SIDA: Enhancing Competitiveness through Sustainable Agriculture

Through long-standing cooperation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, NALED works on improving economic competitiveness by promoting sustainable practices and more efficient public procurement.

Within the project “Public Procurement and Good Governance for Improving Competitiveness”, concrete tools were developed to support the agricultural sector, including a guide for the adoption of regenerative practices in primary crop production, as well as an analysis of carbon footprint and sustainability in this sector. These resources provide a foundation for the transition towards more sustainable production models and improved resource management.

The cooperation has continued through the project “Enhancing Competitiveness through More Effective Public Procurement and Sustainable Supply Chains (ESG)”, which focuses on the development of sustainable supply chains and the application of ESG principles. One of the key objectives of the project is the establishment of a Regenerative District in Serbia, through support to local self-governments and farmers in transitioning to regenerative agricultural practices.

As part of the project, an analysis of the impact of regenerative agriculture practices on food quality was conducted, including nutritional value and the safety of plant-based products, confirming the importance of sustainable approaches in agriculture.

EIT Food Hub Serbia / EIT Food Country Representative

NALED served as the EIT Food Hub in Serbia during the period 2024–2025. The programme was implemented with the support of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and focused on strengthening the agrifood innovation ecosystem.

Through this initiative, NALED supported the innovation community – researchers, students, entrepreneurs and startups – by promoting EIT Food programmes, open calls and funding opportunities, as well as by organising a wide range of events, workshops and educational activities. These activities addressed key topics such as regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems and the implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy, with the aim of strengthening collaboration between academia and industry. A particular focus was placed on fostering innovation through the organisation of two Challenge Lab programmes, which brought together young innovators and supported the development of new ideas in the agrifood sector.

Building on these achievements, NALED has been awarded a new three-year mandate and, as of 2026, continues its cooperation with EIT Food as the national representative for Serbia (EIT Food Country Representative). In this role, NALED independently continues to develop and connect the national innovation ecosystem with leading European stakeholders in the agrifood sector.

Precision Agriculture for Sustainable Production

NALED is implementing a precision agriculture project with the support of the GIZ and in partnership with TeleGroup, as well as organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina – REDAH and Privredna komora Republike Srpske. The project aims to improve sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in the Western Balkans through the application of precision agriculture principles.

Through the project, modern digital solutions will be introduced in 10 pilot municipalities in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, enabling data-driven decision-making in agricultural production. The use of the AgroLIFE platform, along with tools such as drones, soil sensors and insect monitoring stations, will provide farmers with real-time, field-specific data, reducing the use of fertilisers and pesticides and improving the overall sustainability of production.

Reform of Seasonal Workers Engagement

In October, NALED participated in the establishment of eAgrar – a unified online platform for the simplified registration of agricultural holdings and the submission and processing of applications for national subsidies. In order to create the necessary conditions for the functioning of the online register of agricultural holdings, a Working Group was formed, with NALED as its initiator and member. Through amendments to the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development (“Official Gazette of the RS”, No. 41/2009, 10/2013 – other law, 101/2016, 67/2021 – other law and 114/2021), in which NALED took part, the legal framework for the implementation of eAgrar was established.

Exemption from VAT for food donations

NALED participates in the Working Group responsible for drafting the Rulebook on food surplus donations, and together with the Coalition for Giving, in April 2020 submitted an initiative for VAT exemption on goods, primarily food, and services donated to the public sector and humanitarian organisations.

Working groups in which NALED participates that are thematically related to food and agriculture:

• • Working Group for Regenerative Agriculture
  • Working Group for the Drafting of the Law on Work Engagement in Seasonal and Other Temporary Jobs in Certain Sectors
  • Working Group for Agriculture, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures