The European Training Foundation has published a new report as part of its Skilling-up the Western Balkans Agri-food Sector initiative, which aims to support regional cooperation and strengthen skills development in a sector vital to economic resilience and growth.

Focusing on two strategic sub-sectors—agri-tech and organic and functional food production—the report presents the results of a participatory foresight study conducted with stakeholders from across the region. It identifies key technological and non-technological drivers of change, maps emerging skill needs, and examines the extent to which current education and training systems are equipped to meet future labour market demands.

The findings highlight both the significant potential and the pressing challenges facing the agri-food sector in the Western Balkans. They underline the importance of investing in advanced digital, green, and cross-cutting skills to enhance productivity, foster innovation, and support the transition to a more sustainable and competitive agri-food economy.

The report also sets out a series of forward-looking recommendations and good practices to guide policymakers, training providers, and industry stakeholders in aligning skills ecosystems with future opportunities.