Serbia: Tensions rising between farmers and government

Farmers to protest again  

At the beginning of December, some farmers received “passive farm status notice” that effectively denies access to any type of state agricultural subsidy for five years. Among the affected farmers is one of the leaders of farmers’ protests and one prominent activist against lithium mining in Serbia. In a statement issued after the latest gathering of fifteen farmers associations, the farmers called for the dismissal of the entire Ministry of Agriculture, led by Minister Aleksandar Martinovic, as well as the parliamentary Agricultural Committee chaired by Marijan Risticevic and Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. The statement claims that the Prime Minister personally guaranteed the implementation of agreements with the farmers reached at the beginning of fall and that by placing farmers in a passive status by the Ministry of Agriculture, the farmers are being politically persecuted and punished for their involvement in the protests. The meeting was attended by 15 associations from across Serbia, and a few associations decided to begin protests and blockades on December 15, while other associations will determine their actions in the next couple of days.

The Ministry of Agriculture stated that as from August this year more than 3,350 official controls were performed on 1,580 registered farms. Irregularities were found on 235 farms. All farms were given a deadline to address issues identified by the Ministry. Since they failed to comply, their status was made inactive in accordance with the law, the ministry stated, dismissing allegations of any political revenge on the protesting farmers.

Serbian beverage industry safe and sound 

The production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in Serbia grew by 8% in August 2024 compared to the same month last year. These products accounted for 11.9% of total agricultural and food product exports in the first eight months of 2024, despite beverage companies making up just 0.5% of the food industry, according to “Business and Finance” magazine. From January to August, Serbia exported beverages worth €337 million, while imports totaled €140 million, according to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

Data from the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad indicate that Serbia produces over 520 million liters of beer annually. The market is dominated by three foreign-owned companies: Heineken, Carlsberg and Molson Coors Europe, which control over 90% of domestic beer sales. Approximately 80% of their production is sold domestically, with the rest primarily exported to CEFTA countries, accounting for over 60% of total beer exports. In the first half of 2024 alone, more than 188 mn liters of beer were exported, according to the Statistical Office of Serbia. Craft breweries, numbering between 60 and 90, produce an estimated 5–6 million liters annually, representing less than 1% of total beer production. As reported by the Belgrade Institute of Agricultural Economics, craft beer exports amount to roughly 200,000 liters per year. Serbia produces nearly 30 million liters of wine annually, according to research by the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad and the Belgrade Institute of Agricultural Economics. However, production by small, independent winemakers is likely significantly higher. Serbia exports an average of 11.5 million liters of wine per year, mainly to CEFTA markets, with an average export price of €3.6 per liter. The beverage industry's strong export performance highlights its role as a key contributor to Serbia's agricultural and food trade balance.

Financial Times ranks Belgrade’s green market among the best in the world

Belgrade's Kalenic Market, located in the heart of the city, has been recognized as one of the world's best markets by the Financial Times. The list, published last week, features 30 markets from across the globe, including those in London, New York, Sydney, Mexico City, Palermo, and Valencia. From the former Yugoslavia, the list also includes the green markets in Trebinje, Herceg Novi, and the Gruz Market in Dubrovnik. "With a tradition built over decades, Kalenic Market stands as a symbol of the culture, gastronomy, and urban spirit of Belgrade. Its rich selection of fresh vegetables, fruits, local cheeses, authentic specialties, and modern street food concepts makes it an irreplaceable destination for both residents and tourists," stated PUE Beogradske Pijace, the public company managing the city's markets.

Kalenic Market, the largest and most iconic green market in Belgrade, was built in 1926 on the site known as Kalenic Guvno. The land was given to the city in 1907 by the philanthropist and wealthy businessman Vlajko Kalenic. Its location had been designated for a market as early as 1890 during urban planning. The construction of the market was strongly influenced by the Society for the Improvement and Beautification of Krunski Venac, which also financed its development. The market officially opened on November 1. 1926, with 2,819 m² of usable space and 44 shops. As of 2016, the market included 839 stalls, 114 refrigerated displays for dairy products and numerous surrounding shops and commercial spaces.

From Seed to Sustainability project launched

The UN project "From Seed to Sustainability: Food Systems 4 All" was officially launched at the end of November. Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities of Mionica, Serbian Chamber of Commerce, agricultural producers and members of the Kolubara Biodistrict, academic institutions, the UN Resident Coordinator’s office in Serbia, and UN agencies joined forces to transform food systems with sustainable practices.

Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, highlighted that food systems in the region face significant pressures due to increasing stress on land and water resources, climate change, conflicts, and economic inequalities. He concluded that initiatives such as this project demonstrate that the food system transformation is both possible and already underway. The goal of the project is to advance four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Serbia, particularly SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 5 (Gender equality), SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), and SDG 15 (Life on land). The objective of this joint programme is to accelerate Serbia’s progress towards the food system transformation through strengthening inter-institutional coordination mechanisms for the effective implementation of food systems transformation by adopting nature-positive production methods and sustainable management of resources through the inclusive and gender-sensitive bio-district model.

A bio-district is a geographical area where farmers, citizens, tourist operators, associations and public authorities enter into an agreement for the sustainable management of local resources, based on principles and practices of organic production and agroecology, aiming at the fulfilment of the economic and sociocultural potential of the territory. Kolubara bio-district is the first such district in Serbia and Southeast Europe.

"From Seed to Sustainability: Food Systems 4 All" is a one-year initiative funded by the Joint SDG Fund, with support from the European Union and the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. This initiative in Serbia is led by the FAO together with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), with support from the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.