Serbia’s Agri-Food Agenda: Dairy pressure, market action, and resilience

Farmer protests in Serbia intensify amid continued concerns in the dairy sector

Farmer protests in Serbia have intensified after two weeks of demonstrations, with agricultural associations expanding road blockades across several parts of the country. According to the reported information, representatives of 32 farmer associations agreed to broaden the protest action following a joint meeting held on 21 February.

The reported concerns relate primarily to the economic position of dairy producers, including low milk prices, unstable purchase conditions, and concerns over imports. Farmers are also seeking stronger market protection measures and clearer institutional responses to their requests.

The situation has become more tense following claims by some protesters that they received threats during the blockades. In parallel, Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić stated that decisions would not be made under pressure and described the protest approach as politically motivated.

Farmer representatives, for their part, have indicated that they are not seeking further talks without concrete follow-up, and have asked for written proposals addressing milk pricing and market protection.

Based on the reported developments, the protests point to continued strain in Serbia’s dairy sector and underline the need for a credible, structured response to issues affecting producer sustainability and market stability.

In the meanwhile, Lidl Srbija has increased purchases of domestically produced milk, with around one million additional liters to be bought in the coming weeks in cooperation with Mlekara Ub. The milk will be processed into UHT products and sold across Serbia under the Pilos brand.

Serbia seeks temporary dairy import levies to stabilize the milk sector

To address pressure in Serbia’s milk sector, the government has opened consultations with the European Commission on possible levies on imported dairy products. According to the reported information, Serbia has requested levies on milk powder and semi-hard cheeses from the European Union.

The proposed measure would last up to six months and would apply to products entering the Serbian market in higher volumes than in the same period last year and at prices below the minimum economic cost of production. Serbian officials presented data on milk procurement, higher domestic production, lower purchase prices, stock levels at some dairies, and wider disruptions in the European milk market.

Agriculture Minister Dragan Glamočić said the measure is intended as a temporary and proportionate market-stabilization step, not a trade restriction. He also said Serbia is ready to monitor the effects and continue exchanging data with the European Commission.

The European Commission welcomed Serbia’s decision to begin consultations in line with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and requested additional written clarifications and data before talks continue. Serbia also said it would take appropriate steps regarding imports from other markets where increased imports have also been recorded.

The proposed measures signal a government effort to address dairy market pressures through temporary protection, formal coordination with the EU, and a stated focus on preserving domestic market stability and protecting producers.

The Serbia Competitive Agriculture Project launches a new digital platform

The Serbia Competitive Agriculture Project (SCAP) presented its new Interactive M&E/BI-AI Platform for Project Monitoring and Evaluation at a launch event attended by high-level sectoral officials and institutional representatives.

The platform, implemented by the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, is built on Business Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence tools and is designed to support real-time monitoring of key performance indicators, improved reporting, and data-driven decision-making in the agricultural sector.

The platform addresses key challenges including fragmented data, legacy systems, limited scalability, unequal access for vulnerable and rural users, and limited search functionality while underlining the institutional importance of digital transformation in agricultural governance and project implementation. SCAP offers a practical example of how digital tools can strengthen transparency, efficiency, and impact in the delivery of public agricultural support.

From climate risk to resilient agriculture

The thematic conference “Adapting to Climate Reality – Towards a Resilient Agriculture of Serbia,” organized by the Seed Association of Serbia, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted a clear message: climate volatility is no longer a future scenario, but a current operational and economic challenge.

Bringing together representatives from industry, science, and public institutions, the conference focused on the risks already reshaping agricultural production: drought, extreme rainfall, temperature stress, and increasingly unpredictable seasons. Resilience was presented not only as a technical issue, but as a strategic priority for yield stability, food security, and the long-term sustainability of the sector.

The program had a strong practical focus, with contributions covering climate risk and resilience, recent experiences in seed production, field-level innovation, and production diversification. By combining scientific insight with on-the-ground experience, the event offered companies actionable approaches rather than just problem analysis.

A panel discussion further shifted attention to implementation, including resource management, policy support, financial instruments, and stronger cooperation between institutions and businesses. The overall takeaway was clear: building resilient agriculture will require coordinated action and scalable solutions that work in real production systems.