Today (25.01.2024), NGO Green Home implemented a networking event in Podgorica for the innovative agricultural system titled “Challenges in the Local Food System”. This event brought together local food producers, including farms, factory producers, as well as those who have started or are considering starting their own business or startup in this field. The event discussed successful entrepreneurial stories as well as the challenges faced by this sector.
This event demonstrated the importance and usefulness of networking and connecting agricultural producers, as well as collaborative action towards improving conditions for further development in this industry while emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about the need to reduce the impact of agricultural production on the environment.
MSc. Branka Žižić, EIT Community Officer, presented several current calls opened by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in the field of food (EIT Food). The focus was on the call “Consumer Involvement Labs in the New Food Product Creation Process,” which is open until February 12, 2024. The call involves the participation of 1 research organization and 1 food producer in consulting consumers in the process of creating a new product that meets consumer demands, is technically feasible, commercially viable, and has minimal impact on the environment. More information about the call is available here.
Additionally, the SEEDBED incubator and TEST FARMS calls were presented. The attendees were also informed about the start of operation of the EIT RIS Hub in Montenegro. MSc. Kasim Agović, an expert in plant protection, spoke about the difficulties and perspectives in agricultural production, specifically regarding the lack of knowledge in the preparatory steps of establishing perennial crops, crops, or farms, as well as processing in agricultural production.
MSc. Kasim Agović addressed the challenges of climate change that negatively impact agricultural production, but also presented a set of measures to reduce or mitigate the impact of climate change on farmers themselves. “The networking event for members of the agricultural-food and innovation ecosystem organized by Green Home is a great opportunity for agricultural producers to learn more about production support possibilities and share their views on the current agricultural situation in Montenegro, discussing challenges, difficulties, but also the potential of food production. I believe that more events like this can contribute to networking producers, exchanging ideas and resources, which is significant considering that Montenegrin agricultural production is fragmented and non-competitive in the market,” emphasized MSc. Danijela Despotović, who presented the company La Organika to the attendees. The event is part of the activities we carry out in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation in Food (EIT Food), aiming to network the agricultural innovation ecosystem.
