Are agricultural policymaking organizations prioritizing the recruitment of young researchers with expertise in digital agriculture?

Angeliki Milioti
Jul 9
3 min read

In recent years, digital agriculture has emerged as a transformative force across global food systems, with the potential to address productivity, sustainability, and climate adaptation challenges. As this technological shift gains momentum, it becomes increasingly relevant to assess whether agricultural policymaking organizations in Serbia are aligning their human resource strategies accordingly—particularly in attracting and supporting early-career researchers with digital competencies.

Current Institutional Context

Serbia’s institutional framework for agricultural research and policymaking is comprised of several key actors, including:

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (MAFWM)
The Institute for the Application of Science in Agriculture (IPN)
Numerous agricultural faculties (notably in Novi Sad, Belgrade, and Čačak)
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (PKS) and its agrifood sector initiatives
Public institutes and centers for innovation and rural development

Although these institutions have increasingly acknowledged the relevance of smart farming, precision agriculture, and ICT-based solutions in official strategies and documents (e.g., the “Smart Specialisation Strategy of Serbia” and “Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development 2014–2024”), the practical implementation in terms of human capital investment remains ambiguous.

Recruitment of Young Researchers: Emerging but Limited Focus

There is limited direct evidence to suggest that Serbian policymaking bodies are actively prioritizing the recruitment of young researchers with digital agriculture profiles. Job calls and research competitions published by public institutions often emphasize traditional agricultural disciplines (e.g., crop science, soil science, agro-economy), with digital skillsets rarely highlighted as core requirements.

However, a gradual shift is noticeable in certain areas:

Some research institutes and universities have started integrating digital agriculture modules in their postgraduate programs, such as courses in remote sensing, GIS, data analytics, or farm management software.
The Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, through programs like IDEAS and PRISMA, has provided a platform for early-career researchers to propose digital innovation projects in agriculture. However, competition remains high, and dedicated calls for digital agriculture are still lacking.

Research Support and Mobility Initiatives

While Serbia participates in Horizon Europe, COST Actions, and other EU-funded schemes that promote digital agriculture and young researcher mobility, domestic support mechanisms remain underdeveloped:

There are few national grants specifically aimed at early-career researchers in digital agriculture.
Opportunities for interdisciplinary projects that connect agronomy with computer science, engineering, or data science are still fragmented and depend heavily on institutional initiative rather than state-level strategic planning.

Encouragingly, some pilot initiatives supported by donor organizations (e.g., FAO, GIZ) and public-private partnerships (e.g., within digital innovation hubs) have demonstrated the feasibility of involving young researchers in digital agriculture use cases. However, these tend to be isolated efforts rather than part of a coordinated national policy.

One of the main barriers to attracting young researchers in digital agriculture in Serbia is the absence of a clear national policy framework that explicitly prioritizes human capital development in this domain. Most job announcements and institutional recruitment strategies continue to emphasize traditional agricultural disciplines, while digital competencies remain marginal or unspecified. Additionally, there is insufficient integration of digital agriculture within formal job descriptions or public research priorities, which limits the visibility and appeal of these roles for early-career professionals. Funding limitations also pose a significant challenge, as early-career researchers often encounter difficulties accessing stable postdoctoral positions or independent research support within agricultural sciences.

Despite these challenges, there are notable opportunities for progress. Expanding the role of digital agriculture in university curricula and doctoral training programs could better prepare young researchers for emerging sector demands. Encouraging interdisciplinary research that bridges agronomy with data science, engineering, and information technology could create more dynamic and future-oriented research environments. Furthermore, revising and updating national strategic documents—such as post-2024 agricultural development strategies—to include digital agriculture as a core focus would provide a valuable policy framework. By offering targeted fellowships and institutional incentives, Serbia could significantly increase the number of young professionals choosing to specialize in digital agriculture and help build a workforce capable of driving innovation in the sector.

References:

Are agricultural policymaking organizations prioritizing the recruitment of young researchers with expertise in digital agriculture?

Recent Posts

Comments