North Macedonia steps up efforts to digitalize agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy of North Macedonia, organized a national consultation workshop on 28 April in Skopje to accelerate the digital transformation of the agrifood sector.

The event gathered around 40 attendees, including farmers, young students and representatives from government institutions, civil society, academia and the private sector, to discuss the current state of digitalization in agriculture and jointly develop concrete policy recommendations for sustainable progress.

North Macedonia has a strong foundation for digital transformation, thanks to its robust digital public infrastructure. Key systems such as the data interoperability platform, digital identification, the national electronic services portal and digital registries provide a critical base upon which to build. Leveraging these systems presents significant opportunities for the food and agriculture sector to reap the benefits of digitalization.

The country has made notable progress in aligning its e-government systems with European Union pre-accession requirements. However, several challenges remain. Improvements are needed in data collection and availability and system interoperability. Existing platforms need to be updated, missing key services need to be introduced, digital systems need to meet the current needs of the agricultural sector.

Additionally, despite high internet access and widespread ownership of digital devices, farmers in North Macedonia often face low levels of digital skills. The adoption of digital technologies in farming remains limited, and addressing the barriers to adoption is essential to improving productivity, sustainability and resilience in the sector.

To address these gaps, FAO has supported the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in conducting a comprehensive assessment of the current state of digitalization in the North Macedonia agrifood sector. The assessment covers the country’s information and communication technology infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, human capital and innovation ecosystem, digital solutions market, existing government systems, and more. Based on this, policy recommendations will be developed in consultation with local stakeholders to guide the sector’s transformation.

“Modernizing agriculture is not only an economic necessity,” said Borce Serafimovski, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy. “It is also a strategic and social priority. Digitalization offers powerful tools to improve competitiveness, sustainability and the livelihoods of rural communities. Through this workshop, and with FAO’s support, we are taking a concrete step towards identifying gaps and shaping digital solutions that are accessible and relevant to our farmers.”

The consultation workshop presented the key findings of a situational analysis conducted by FAO and featured interactive working sessions, with participants working together to identify challenges and opportunities for digital agriculture. These discussions will directly inform the final report and help formulate practical policy recommendations that align with national development goals and European Union integration processes.

“North Macedonia has a strong digital foundation, but to unlock its full potential for agriculture, we need to close the gaps in skills, systems and services,” said Kristina Mitic Arsova, FAO National Programme Coordinator. “This workshop is an opportunity to bring all voices to the table – from institutions to farmers and students – and to co-create policies that will drive inclusive digital transformation in the agrifood sector.”

This initiative is part of FAO’s broader support to North Macedonia under its Country Programming Framework, which focuses on inclusive and sustainable agricultural development, food security and climate-resilient agrifood systems.