#APF2023

The Agricultural Policy Forum 2023 is successfully completed! This year, the event gathered more than 116 representatives of relevant institutions from 15 countries from Southeast Europe beyond on October 25^th and 26^th in Podgorica, Montenegro. The focus of the APF 2023 was on partnership and cooperation in dealing with climate adaptation in SEE.

The Agricultural Policy Forum 2023 was held under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro and the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in South-Eastern Europe.

The participants of the Agricultural Policy Forum 2023 highly appreciated the support provided by the convening institutions and organizations: European Commission (DG Agriculture and Rural Development), German Government (Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture – BMEL, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development – BMZ and German Agency for International Cooperation – GIZ), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Podgorica Agenda summarizes the main outcomes of the Forum.

Plenary Speakers Presentations

EU Green Deal, sustainability food system and IPARD opportunities – Mr. Krzysztof Sulima, Neighborhood, Enlargement and Pre-accession assistance Unit, European Commission, DG AGRI – online address

Towards Preparation of a Climate Adaptation Partnership – Ms. Aleksandra Martinovska Stojcheska, PhD, Professor, Head of Institute of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food – Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

Policy Accelerating Organic Production and Market Breakthroughs: Lessons from Denmark and EU – Mr. Paul Holmbeck, World Board Member, IFOAM – Organics International, Director Organic Denmark (1995-2020)

Regional Soil Partnership – Mr. Mirko Knezevic, PhD, Professor, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro

Sustainable Forest Management in the Western Balkans – Mr. Nenad Petrovic, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, Serbia

State of the Art of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Standards in SEE Region – Ms. Ivana Dulic Markovic, PhD, SEEDEV – Agricultural Consultancy, Director, Republic of Serbia

Situation and Needs of Rural Youth in the Western Balkans – Ms. Emelj Tuna, PhD, Professor, Association of Agricultural Economists of North Macedonia

LEADER Approach in the Western Balkans – Ms. Evelina Azizaj, National Coordinator, Albanian Network for Rural Development

Working Groups Presentations

WG 1 Conclusions Regional Soil Partnership

WG 2 Conclusions Agricultural Policy Development

WG 3 Conclusions Organic Agriculture