CROSS-COUNTRY REPORT: IDENTIFYING TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES AND SKILL NEEDS IN THE WESTERN BALKAN AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

In 2022-2023 ETF has conducted a cross-country analysis on the current and emerging technological changes and skill needs of small and medium-sized companies operating as part of the agri-food value chain in the Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The study focused on the following three specific agri-food value chain niches identified by the ETF:

• the development and production of digital solutions for agri-food,
• the development and production of biochemical and microbial products for agri-food, and
• the production of organic food.

The main questions explored in this report are the following:

• • What are the main characteristics and technology trends in agri-food and the selected agri-food niches in the Western Balkans countries? 
  • What are the current and emerging skill demands in agri-food and the specific market niches?
  • How well does the existing education and training provision – including formal and non-formal training, support to companies and other activities – respond to the current and emerging skill needs?

Please read the cross-country report