Serbia: Dutch participation at the Novi Sad fair

Orange Pavilion at the International Agro Fair in Novi Sad 

The 92^nd annual Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad was traditionally organized in the second half of May.  It featured over one thousand exhibitors this year, remaining one of the largest and most significant events of its kind in this part of Europe. For more than nine decades, it has served as a testament to the strength and resilience of Serbian agriculture. "The fair is proof of the strength of Serbian agriculture, as well as a place where tradition and innovation meet," said Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamocic during his opening remarks.

This year, the Orange Pavilion hosted 12 Dutch companies, showcasing a wide range of expertise —from precision agriculture and animal genetics to potato seed production and fruit tree nurseries. Their presence reflects the growing interest in Dutch-Serbian cooperation in sustainable and innovative farming. In parallel, the agricultural team of the Embassy organized an innovation mission focused on AgriTech and Regenerative Agriculture. This initiative aimed to strengthen ties between Dutch and Serbian stakeholders and support Serbia's transition toward a more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable agricultural sector. The mission provided a platform for knowledge exchange, business matchmaking, and the exploration of joint opportunities in areas such as smart farming technologies, soil health, and circular agriculture.

The continued participation of Dutch companies at the agricultural fair in Novi Sad underscores the strong commitment of both countries to forward-looking farming and joint efforts to tackle global challenges in food production and sustainability.

Adoption of new technologies in agriculture a natural generational development 

The adoption of new technologies in agriculture is a natural generational development, similar to the introduction of combines in the past, said Momir Alvirovic from Agro-Dron, a pioneer in drone use in Serbian farming. Key themes at the 92^nd International Agricultural Fair, held partly in the stand of the European Union, included artificial intelligence, food quality control and organic wine production. Participants discussed how much new tech is applied, farmers’ willingness to experiment, and main challenges. Alvirovic highlighted modern digital tools like robotics and drones that help farmers increase productivity and reduce costs without changing basic farming principles. Srdjan Tadic from Atfield Technologies noted traditional methods require much effort and often have poor results, while sensors and AI help better understand climate and soil. Milan Banic from AgAR stressed farmers need concrete results and education to adopt advanced tech, citing potential operational cost savings of up to 25%. Vladimir Crnojevic of BioSense Institute called for faster education reforms and emphasized online resources and innovation adoption as crucial.

Global instability demands readiness and resilience           

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Dragan Glamocic, stated for Radio-Television of Vojvodina (RTV) that instead of presenting agricultural strategy through abstract figures, his team simplified it into a clear vision that citizens can relate to. Speaking in Novi Sad, he said global instability demands readiness and resilience, and for Serbia, that means striving for food sovereignty. While Serbia often underestimates its strengths, he emphasized that it has the region’s most developed agricultural sector, with a €1.2 billion surplus last year. Still, weak links remain, particularly pig farming, which needs urgent strengthening. Glamocic stressed support will shift from crisis-response to strategic investment, especially in sectors like livestock and fruit production, which bring far higher returns per hectare than grains. He warned against incentivizing cereal exports while importing meat and milk. The goal is to stimulate intensive agriculture, maximizing land value and securing long-term food security and economic growth.

Serbia maintains agricultural and food trade surplus in 2024

According to the Statistical Office of Serbia, the country maintained a positive balance in agricultural and food trade throughout 2024. Exports reached €5.14 billion, marking a 9.5% increase compared to the previous year. Imports during the same period totaled €3.94 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of €1.2 billion.

This upward trend has continued into 2025. Weekly NIN writes that the Ministry of Agriculture reported that in the first quarter of the year, agricultural and food exports rose to €1.31 billion (up 10.9% from Q1 2024) leading to a surplus of €248.6 million. Agriculture Minister Dragan Glamocic emphasized that these figures confirm agriculture as one of Serbia’s most stable and competitive economic sectors. He highlighted strong international demand for Serbian food products, particularly within the European Union. To support this momentum, the Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to backing export-oriented producers, with a focus on innovation, quality improvement, and compliance with EU and partner market standards.

However, new EU regulations are introducing challenges for Serbian exporters. Large companies operating in the EU are now required to disclose how their operations impact society and the environment. This includes detailed reporting on suppliers, wages, energy usage, and workers’ rights—requirements that increasingly apply to exporters in countries like Serbia. While the new rules are aimed at improving transparency, many Serbian businesses lack the systems and resources to fully comply. Although mandatory reporting for smaller companies has been delayed until 2027 or 2028, and a proposal to reduce the number of affected businesses is under review, market expectations remain high. Serbian companies face both financial and technical hurdles in adapting to these evolving standards. Even if regulatory timelines shift, the growing demand for sustainability and responsible business practices will continue to shape the competitive landscape.

Serbia’s most expensive farmland compared to the worth of 20 real estates in the capital

Demand for arable land in Serbia remains strong, according to the latest data from the Republic Geodetic Authority (RGZ), as reported by daily Dnevnik. The highest-value transaction in recent months took place in Backa Topola, where 116 hectares of farmland were sold for over €2 million (roughly equivalent to the price of 20 small apartments in Belgrade). The highest price per square meter, however, was recorded in Kac, near Novi Sad. There, a fertile plot of 10,717 square meters was sold for €14 per square meter, totaling €150,000. RGZ data shows that Kac has experienced strong demand for years, consistently pushing farmland prices to record highs.

Yet, the most expensive plot sold to date remains a transaction from the year before last in Rumenka, also near Novi Sad. In that deal, a parcel just under two hectares (19,970 square meters) sold for €50 per square meter—an astonishing €500,000 per hectare. At the time, this sale broke the previous record held by Kac, where land had reached €400,000 per hectare. In the third quarter of last year, the most expensive agricultural land sale occurred in Surcin, near Belgrade. A 4,097-square-meter plot was sold for €39 per square meter, totaling nearly €160,000. At that rate, a full hectare would cost €390,000. Experts note that the supply of quality arable land in Serbia is shrinking, which contributes to these soaring prices. They also predict that demand—and prices—will continue to rise in the coming years.

Farmers prepare collective response due to sharp milk prices cut by the dairy processors  

Dairies across Serbia have significantly reduced the purchase price of milk (by as much as €0.13 per liter) prompting alarm among farmers and a call for urgent action. Milija Palamarevic, President of the Association of Cattle Breeders of Central Serbia, warned that small and medium-sized farms are at risk of collapse under the mounting pressure. “For the past two months, dairies have been steadily lowering prices,” Palamarevic told Beta news agency. “The current average price paid to small and medium producers is around €0.34 per liter, while large farms receive up to €0.55.”

Palamarevic, who operates a farm near Kraljevo with 170 head of cattle, including 100 dairy cows, reported a personal loss of €0.10 per liter on the milk sold from his farm. He also voiced concern about the state-of-the-art milk quality testing laboratory scheduled to begin operations in early 2026, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture. “This will be another blow to producers,” he said. “Small farmers simply cannot meet the microbiological standards that large, robotized farms can—especially those that have benefited from state support.”

He drew comparisons to the dairy crisis of two years ago, when many producers were on the brink of collapse until the government responded with increased milk premiums and subsidies for heifers and dairy cows. “If the Minister’s proposed measures go ahead, thousands of barns across Serbia will shut down, and farmers will be forced to sell off their herds,” Palamarevic warned. He emphasized that milk producers are unwilling to accept what they see as unfair treatment from the state. A meeting is being planned in the coming days to coordinate a collective response to what they view as harmful agricultural policies. Palamarevic added that Minister of Agriculture will be invited to the meeting—“if he has the courage”—to explain why milk is being purchased below production cost.

Serbia and China to Develop Smart Farms Through Strategic Agricultural Partnership

Serbia will collaborate with China to develop “smart farms” as part of an expanded strategic partnership in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management announced following a meeting in Belgrade between Minister Dragan Glamocic and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming.

Minister Glamocic emphasized that agriculture is a key sector for strengthening cooperation under “the Belt and Road “ Initiative. He highlighted several priority areas, including the development of smart farming technologies, improvements in livestock production, plant breeding and selection, the advancement of fruit growing, and the use of agricultural waste for energy generation. Ambassador Li announced the establishment of a dedicated fund to support joint projects in these areas and expressed his expectation that Serbia will soon propose concrete initiatives. Minister Glamocic reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to deepening cooperation, including through expert-level meetings focused on food safety, plant protection, and veterinary services. These efforts aim to streamline regulatory procedures and facilitate the export of Serbian agricultural products to the Chinese market. Chinese Ambassador welcomed the 30% growth in bilateral agricultural trade in 2024 and expressed satisfaction with the increasing number of Serbian experts in agriculture and the food industry who have participated in training and knowledge exchange programs in China.