25 June 2026, Belgrade

Re:People hosted the conference Digitalisation with Trust: Data Protection in Agriculture and Alignment with European Standards, the first event in Serbia and among the first in the region to focus specifically on data protection in digital agriculture. The conference explored how trust, data governance and privacy protection can support the digital transformation of agriculture in line with evolving European standards and regulatory frameworks.

Organised in cooperation with the Institute for Science Application in Agriculture and the Smart Agriculture Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Belgrade, both SMARTLABOR network members, the conference brought together experts and institutions to discuss data governance and digital skills in agriculture in Serbia and the relevant EU policy framework such as the Data Act, Data Governance Act, GDPR, and the development of the Common European Agricultural Data Space (CEADS). 

6 June 2026, Trebinje

The FARMER Erasmus+ project marked its first important milestone with the completion of the training programme Designing VET Curricula for Emerging Skills: A Practical Approach to Agri-Tech and Future Farming, organized by CREDI, one of the consortium members. The training equipped vocational education providers in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro with practical approaches to integrating digitalisation, smart farming, and emerging green skills into agri-food curricula while strengthening cooperation with employers and innovation ecosystems.

Led by Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini, the FARMER consortium brings together CREDI, Re:People – Centre for Society and Technology, the Rural Development Network of Montenegro, and VET schools from Goražde and Trebinje to modernise vocational education and better align it with the future needs of the agri-food sector.

1 July 2026, Sarajevo

The University of Sarajevo’s Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and CENER21 organized the CarbonConnect – Sustainable Practices from Farm to Fork event, bringing together representatives of the agri-food sector, academia, institutions, and students. The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation, and skills development in building a more resilient and sustainable agri-food sector.

21 April 2026, Knezica 

Smart Village Knežica, in partnership with STARTER, has been selected as the EIT Food Country Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating the country's first formal link with Europe's largest agri-food innovation community.

In this role, Smart Village Knežica will connect startups, researchers, and other stakeholders with EIT Food programmes while strengthening collaboration across the agri-food sector and expanding opportunities for innovation and international cooperation.

26 June 2026, Mostar

Through the HeRuDNet, CROSSMART, and RuralLink projects, REDAH continues to introduce new digital solutions for farmers, including an online marketplace for promoting and selling local products, as well as advanced equipment such as a multispectral agricultural drone and a digital soil scanner. These technologies enable more precise monitoring of crops and soil conditions, helping producers make better decisions and improve the sustainability of their farms.

At the same time, REDAH has organized more than 15 training sessions and workshops focused on digitalisation, precision agriculture, smart farming, and digital marketing, strengthening the skills of farmers, civil society organisations, and public institutions. Together, these efforts contribute to a more innovative, competitive, and resilient rural economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

1 July 2026, Herceg Novi

The Rural Development Network Montenegro participated in an information meeting with farmers from the Luštica and Orjen areas, organized by the Orjen Development and Protection Agency. The discussion focused on the LEADER approach and its role in strengthening rural communities through Local Action Groups (LAGs), cross-sector cooperation, and access to international funding opportunities. The meeting also encouraged the exchange of ideas among local farmers and highlighted the importance of joint action for sustainable rural development.

21-24 April 2026, Bar

Several SMARTLABOR network partners - such as the Albanian Rural Development Network, Rural Development Network Montenegro, Smart Village Knezica, the Association for Economic Development REDAH from Bosnia and Herzegovina and others - took part in the 4th Balkan Rural Parliament, held in Bar, Montenegro, contributing to discussions on sustainable rural development and cooperation across the Western Balkans.

25 June 2026, Tirana

The Albanian Network for Rural Development (ANRD) presented the Declaration of the 4th Albanian Rural Parliament during a policy dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss rural development priorities and Albania's EU accession process, resulting in the establishment of a joint working group to support the implementation of the Declaration's recommendations.

EIT Food's Proof of Concept (PoC) Co-Financing Instrument supports agrifood startups and SMEs in testing innovative solutions with corporate partners through pilot projects and proof-of-concept activities. The call offers up to €60,000 per project for initiatives lasting up to 12 months on a rolling basis with two application deadlines: 31 July and 30 November 2026.

The Horizon Europe-funded signature CODECS project promotes digital solutions that respond to farmers’ real needs, challenges and priorities, ensuring that technology serves people—not the other way around.Through a network of Living Labs across Europe including Western Balkans countries, farmers, researchers and technology providers co-create and test digital solutions under real farming conditions.A key outcome of the project is the CODECS Digital Platform that provides practical tools, case studies and resources to help farmers and stakeholders navigate digital transformation in agriculture.

Explore the CODECS Digital Platform and discover innovative solutions for a smarter, more sustainable and resilient agri-food sector.

Can digital technologies help feed a growing world? While this flagship annual OECD–FAO publication is not about digitalisation, the 2026 edition also discusses AI, digital agriculture and precision technologies as drivers of productivity over the next decade, while highlighting the importance of skills, investment and enabling policies for ensuring that digital transformation benefits farmers and rural communities alike.

How is AI changing European agriculture? Focusing on high-impact sectors, this report also examines practical applications of AI in farming, from decision-support systems to automation. It also discusses the barriers to adoption and the policies needed to support responsible and inclusive innovation.

How digital is European agriculture today? Drawing on evidence from more than 1,400 farms across nine EU countries, this comprehensive study examines technology adoption, digital skills, data sharing and sustainability impacts. A valuable resource for understanding both the opportunities and challenges of the agricultural digital transition.

What does the future of farming look like? This concise and accessible publication explores how AI, robotics, drones and data-driven decision-making are reshaping European agriculture. It also highlights the key barriers to adoption, including skills gaps, investment needs, connectivity challenges and data governance issues.

Led by Re:People – Centre for Society and Technology, the Smart Labor Network (SLN) connects 23 organisations and experts across the Western Balkans to advance digitalisation, skills development and smart agriculture through policy dialogue, knowledge exchange and regional cooperation.

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