Building resilience from policy to field: Agriculture in Serbia better prepared for a changing climate
After five years of coordinated work, the agricultural sector in Serbia is better prepared to face future climate risks. Through the project Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Agriculture, funded by the European Union and implemented from March 2021 to January 2026, climate resilience has been systematically embedded across agricultural policies, institutions and farming practices, strengthening the sector from national strategy to the field.
© FAO/Vesna Anđić
17/02/2026
Delivered by FAO with support from the European Union and in close partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia, the project focused on how climate and disaster risks are addressed in practice. This included strengthening policy tools, improving coordination and expanding hands-on support for municipalities, advisers and farmers so that risks can be anticipated earlier, losses reduced and recovery accelerated when shocks occur.
“Over the past years, with the support of funding from the European Union, FAO has worked with strong commitment towards one of the most important goals for the future of agriculture in our country: building a climate-resilient agricultural sector,” said Dragan Glamočić, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia. “Our mission was clear – to strengthen capacities at all levels.”
By the end of the project, most targets had been exceeded, helping Serbia move closer to an agricultural sector that was more resilient and sustainable and better aligned with the European Union, improving its ability to respond to climate risks while maintaining productivity and rural livelihoods.
“Together, we have worked hard to make agriculture more resilient to natural hazards,” said Andreas von Beckerath, the European Union ambassador to Serbia. “With confidence – and a certain degree of pride – we can say that agriculture in Serbia is now better prepared and more resilient. This is one of the many important achievements of this project.”
Looking ahead, the project’s value lies not only in what was delivered, but also in what can be scaled and sustained through stronger coordination and targeted investment.
“The foundations laid by this project give us a platform to scale proven approaches, deepen intersectoral coordination and mobilize investments that align productivity with sustainability in the face of climate change,” said Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.
From strategy to systems: embedding resilience in policy and institutions
At the national level, resilience depends on how policies are designed, coordinated and implemented. The project worked closely with the Serbia Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management to identify gaps in existing strategies, programmes and legislation and to identify entry points for integrating disaster risk management and climate-smart agriculture into key policy frameworks. Technical recommendations were provided for eight key policy instruments, including the National Programme for Rural Development, the National Climate Change Adaptation Programme and the European Union Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD) III programme.
By aligning national approaches with European Union frameworks and IPARD III requirements, the project also supported the country’s progress along its European Union accession path.
In parallel with policy work, the project tackled a long-standing challenge: coordination across institutions responsible for climate and disaster risks in agriculture. While climate change had previously been addresses by a single focal point within the ministry, the project supported the establishment of an interdepartmental Climate Change Working Group. Bringing together representatives from 13 units of the ministry and other relevant institutions, the platform improved the sharing of information, strengthened coordination and enabled a more coherent response to climate and disaster risks.
“The most useful is the exchange of ideas within the working group on climate change and disaster risk management. It is beneficial to bring all sectors of the ministry together in one place. Through the project, we have learned a lot about climate trends and impacts, as well as adaptation and mitigation measures. But the most helpful part has been the joint work with colleagues and the project team.” – said Jelena Docić, adviser with the Rural Development Sector within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.
More than 80 ministry staff strengthened their technical capacities through tailored training programmes on climate change, soil health, disaster risk management and European Union policy frameworks. Climate resilience is now increasingly treated as a cross-cutting priority rather than a standalone issue, supporting evidence-based decision-making well beyond the project’s lifetime.
Empowering municipalities to act where it matters most
While national policies set the direction, resilience is built locally. The project supported 23 climate vulnerable municipalities in Serbia – well above the original target of 15 – through participatory assessments, training and hands on technical assistance.
Concrete results followed. Twelve municipalities introduced climate smart measures into their local support schemes for the first time, while others expanded or refined existing interventions. A total of 83 municipal staff were trained in areas ranging from local disaster risk assessment and water management to the economic benefits of climate change adaptation.
In Kraljevo, the project supported the development of a local disaster risk reduction plan with a strong focus on agriculture and vulnerable populations. Other municipalities improved their ability to monitor agricultural damages and subsidies through new data management software, enabling disaster support for farmers that was more responsive and better targeted. This marked a shift from reactive response to proactive risk reduction at the local level.
Advisers as change agents: bridging policy and practice
Agricultural advisers play a pivotal role in translating policy into practice. Working closely with the Serbia Agricultural Advisory and Extension Services, the project integrated climate-smart agriculture and disaster risk management into regular adviser capacity development.
From 2022 to 2025, more than 400 agricultural advisers, nearly half of them women, participated in learning programmes that combined classroom learning, field demonstrations and online courses. Topics ranged from the impacts of climate change on crop and livestock production to soil management, irrigation, renewable energy and agricultural insurance.
Field based learning proved particularly effective. In orchards, vineyards and demonstration plots, advisers observed climate-smart practices (e.g. subsoiling, improved drainage, frost protection and solar energy use), strengthening their ability to guide farmers through increasingly complex climate challenges.
“The project trainings were very useful for agricultural advisers from different sectors. They combined basic theory with practical field work. The theory helped us explain climate change impacts and adaptation measures to farmers more clearly. Field visits were especially important because we could see real examples and learn how to apply measures in practice. This helped us better support farmers and address the specific needs of different agricultural sectors.” - Dragana Urošević, an agricultural adviser with PSSS Požarevac. © FAO/Sanja Knežević (Dragana Urošević in the field.), © FAO/Vesna Anđić (Dragan Terzić in the field.)
Learning by doing: climate-smart fields
For farmers, seeing is believing. One of the project’s most visible outcomes was the establishment of more than 400 demonstration fields and plots that showcase over 35 climate smart agricultural practices in real farming conditions. Organized through climate smart field schools and supported by local partners, these sites reached more than 1 600 farmers.
“Demonstration fields are essentially open-air classrooms, places where innovations, technologies and best practices are presented and tested under real farming conditions. The purpose is to encourage farmers to adopt practices that strengthen their resilience to climate challenges and disasters. For example: how to retain more water in the soil, how to restore soil quality, and how to make greater use of solar energy in agriculture, among many other measures that make farms more climate resilient," said Dragan Terzić, consultant for demonstration fields, Agrolink Association.
By experimenting without bearing additional costs, farmers were able to compare traditional and climate smart approaches, from improved soil management and crop rotation to water saving irrigation techniques. This practical, low-risk learning model accelerated uptake and fostered a tangible shift in attitudes towards innovation and risk management.
The next generation of farmers
The project also looked to the future by investing in agricultural education. The elective subject “climate change in agriculture” was developed and introduced in 12 secondary agricultural schools (over one-third of all agricultural high schools in Serbia), reaching more than 300 students and teachers.
Through interactive and practice-oriented learning, students gained an understanding of climate risks, mitigation and adaptation measures, and their application in real agricultural settings. For many, this provided a first glimpse of a future in which farming can be both productive and resilient.
“The subject is designed differently from traditional ones. It’s elective and interactive, encouraging students to learn, explore, research and draw their own conclusions. They gain knowledge about climate change and learn how to apply these methods and insights in their own agricultural practice. Throughout the course, students learn about the effects of climate change – such as droughts, floods, heavy rainfall and other natural disasters – and how to reduce or prevent potential damage. They also learn key concepts such as mitigation (reducing the impact of climate change) and adaptation (adjusting to existing changes), both of which are essential to lowering risks.” - Mirjana Marić, teacher of agricultural subjects at the Agricultural–Chemical School “Dr. Đorđe Radić” in Kraljevo. © FAO/Vesna Anđić
A foundation for the future
As climate change continues to test agriculture in Serbia, the Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Agriculture project has demonstrated that coordinated policy action, strong institutions and practical, farmer centred solutions can make a real difference. By linking national strategies with local action, empowering advisers and farmers, and investing in youth and women, the project has helped build a system capable of adapting to future risks.
The project formally concluded on 31 January 2026, marked by a final event that brought together more than 150 representatives from public institutions, advisory services, farmers’ organizations, academia and international partners. While the project has ended, the structures, capacities and partnerships it created provide a strong platform from which to scale proven approaches, mobilize further investment and ensure that resilient agriculture becomes a shared reality across Serbia.