Serbia’s agriculture and environmental sectors are facing a period of rapid change. New funding for habitat restoration, circular solutions for food waste, declining livestock numbers and stricter EU production standards all point to the growing need for long-term investment, innovation and sustainable production.
Beeld: D.R.
Up to USD 150,000 for habitat restoration in Serbia
UNDP has launched a call for projects to restore degraded habitats and establish ecological corridors in Serbia, with applications open until 30 September 2026.
Selected projects can receive up to 70% co-financing, or a maximum of USD 150,000 per project. The initiative aims to restore at least 200 hectares of priority habitats and establish ecological corridors connecting 10 km² of ecosystems.
The call comes at a time when Serbia has adopted its Nature Protection Programme for 2026–2031, aligned with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.
The need for science-based restoration was recently highlighted by the devastating wildfires in the Deliblato Sands, one of Serbia's most important biodiversity areas. The area contains 18 habitat types of European conservation importance under the Natura 2000 framework, alongside a unique mosaic of sand, steppe and forest ecosystems. Experts warn that recovery should focus on restoring this ecological balance rather than simply reforesting the area.
Beeld: Unsplash
From food surplus to energy: Serbia and Croatia pilot circular waste system
A new cross-border project, WAVE (Waste and Food Residues to Alternative Value for Energy), will test an integrated system for reducing food waste and turning unavoidable organic waste into renewable energy and compost.
The project will be piloted in Šabac, Serbia, and Otok, Croatia, linking food donations, the sale of marketable surpluses, separate bio-waste collection and energy recovery. It is implemented by NALED and partners from Serbia and Croatia with EU co-financing through the Interreg VI-A Croatia–Serbia Programme.
A central element will be a digital platform connecting farmers, food distributors, hotels, restaurants, caterers, charities and waste-management companies. Users will be able to register expected food surpluses, quantities and locations, after which the platform will connect them with potential buyers, food donation centres or processing facilities.
The system will also create a market for second-class agricultural products, food that is safe for consumption but often remains unsold because of its appearance or size. Small producers could use the platform to combine deliveries and reduce transport costs.
Food unsuitable for human consumption will be directed towards different forms of recovery. In Šabac, collected bio-waste will be transported to an existing fermentation facility for biogas production, while Otok will introduce separate collection and install at least two composters. Used cooking oil will also be collected separately as a potential feedstock for biodiesel.
The pilot will involve at least 100 households in each city, as well as selected HoReCa facilities preparing more than 50 meals per day..
The project could offer a practical model for the region's circular economy: food that is still safe for consumption is first offered for donation or sale, while organic waste that can no longer be used as food is converted into energy or compost.
Beeld: D.R.
Serbia’s livestock decline raises food independence concerns
Serbia is increasingly losing its food independence as livestock numbers continue to fall, warns Vladan Bogdanović, Dean of the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Agriculture.
Since 2012, cattle numbers have dropped from 908,105 to 698,871, pigs from 3.4 million to 2.4 million, while the poultry population has nearly halved to 14.5 million.
The negative trend has been present for the past 35 years, but it is much more noticeable today,
Bogdanović said, pointing to a lack of a systematic approach to agriculture. He stressed that the sector needs long-term, development-focused policies rather than short-term support measures.
Milk production is also under pressure, with the price of raw milk reportedly falling by 50% over the past two years. At the same time, continuing rural depopulation is leaving fewer people to sustain livestock farming.
Bogdanović warned that without long-term reforms and stronger support for livestock production, Serbia's declining livestock sector could further undermine domestic food production.
Beeld: Unsplash
EU Tightens food import rules: what it means for Serbian producers
The EU is tightening requirements for agricultural imports from third countries, shifting the focus beyond food safety to how food is produced. Serbian producers will increasingly need to meet stricter standards on pesticide use, environmental protection, traceability, animal welfare and production conditions.
The biggest challenge is expected in livestock farming, where compliance with EU animal welfare and environmental requirements could require substantial investment in infrastructure and equipment.
The changes are particularly important for Serbia, as around 50% of its agricultural exports go to the EU.
The focus is no longer only on whether a product is safe, but also on the way it is produced,
agro-economic analyst Žarko Galetin told RTS.
While higher compliance costs could put additional pressure on producers and eventually food prices, early adaptation could help Serbian exporters strengthen their position on the EU market.
More information
If you would like to know more about Serbia’s agri-food sector and opportunities in areas such as post-harvest handling, cold-chain development, and sustainable production, you can go to the country page of Serbia at this website. You can also send an e-mail to the LAN team at the Dutch Embassy in Belgrade: bel-lvvn@minbuza.nl