Regional Policy Dialogue: A moment to pause, reflect, and move forward

Agrifood systems transformation in the Western Balkans

As the year was ending, Montenegro found itself at a rare crossroads. With key European Union (EU) negotiation chapters closed, formal milestones have been reached and a demanding reform cycle completed. Still, the larger question remained, how to ensure that this progress translates into lasting change for people, communities and ecosystems.

It was against this backdrop that policymakers, experts, practitioners, as well as representatives of the United Nations (UN) from across the Western Balkans gathered in Podgorica for the Regional Policy Dialogue on accelerating sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Convened with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the dialogue was part of broader regional efforts to strengthen policies and partnerships shaping the future of agrifood systems. More than an event, the dialogue created space for reflection on what has been achieved, what remains fragile, and what must come next if the region is to truly demonstrate its readiness for the opportunities and responsibilities of European integration.

Food and agriculture at heart of the dialogue

From the outset, the conversation moved beyond agriculture as a single sector. Agrifood systems were discussed as living systems shaped by climate change, environmental pressures, market volatility, demographic trends and social inequalities. Montenegro’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Vladimir Joković emphasized that transformation cannot be rushed, nor achieved through isolated interventions. It requires strong institutions, long-term vision and partnerships that extend across government, communities and regions.

Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević added another layer to the discussion, framing EU integration not as an endpoint, but as a framework for continuous reform. Aligning policies with European standards opens access to markets, investments and funding but also demands the capacity to absorb those opportunities responsibly, with farmers, rural communities and vulnerable groups at the center.

The dialogue gained depth through regional perspectives that reflected both shared challenges and diverse pathways. From Serbia, Tatjana Brankov, Special Advisor to the Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, spoke of a global food system under strain one that places growing pressure on the environment, public health and social justice. In this context, she stressed that transforming agrifood systems is no longer a political choice, but a global necessity. Serbia’s experience with biodistricts illustrated how this transformation can take shape on the ground, linking sustainable production, local value chains, nature protection and rural development within a single territorial model.

North Macedonia’s contribution, shared by Neda Gruevska, Head of Department for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy of North Macedonia, reinforced the message that modernization must go hand-in-hand with nature. Investments in knowledge, innovation, digital agriculture and practices that protect soil, water and biodiversity were presented not as optional add-ons, but as foundations of long-term food security particularly for smaller countries where smart, targeted support can yield outsized results.

Throughout the dialogue, one theme consistently resurfaced: integration. Policies, data, financing and governance must work together if agrifood systems are to become more resilient and inclusive. As Deputy Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Europe and Central Asia, Nabil Gangi noted, no single challenge can be addressed in isolation, be it climate, nutrition or economic resilience. Transformation requires a systemic approach, grounded in evidence and sustained through cross-sectoral collaboration.

The presence of the United Nations system reinforced this perspective. UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, Caroline Tissot, highlighted that agrifood systems transformation is as much a societal challenge as it is an agricultural one, calling for closer linkages of food, health, environment, trade and social inclusion agendas.

Rather than concluding with declarations, the dialogue left participants with a shared sense of responsibility. Closing negotiation chapters and adopting strategies are important achievements, but they are not guarantees of success. The real test lies in maintaining momentum, strengthening coordination across institutions and borders, and ensuring that reforms deliver tangible benefits for people and places.

In this way, the Regional Policy Dialogue in Podgorica marked a meaningful pause at the end of the year, not a moment of closure, but of renewed commitment. A reminder that progress must be continuously achieved, and that the transformation of agrifood systems in the Western Balkans will depend on the region’s ability to work together, learn from one another and turn opportunity into lasting change.