On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Tatjana Brankov, advisor to the Minister, explained what should be the objective of the new strategy – renewing Serbia’s food sovereignty, strengthening the competitiveness of the agri-food sector and sustainable development of rural areas. The strategy defines six distinct goals which cover boosting production accompanied by a stable income, development of products with higher added value, improving the status of households, strengthening resilience to climate change, improvement of innovation and skills and adjustment to European standards.

State Secretary Predrag Rojevic informed the Committee about the veterinary medicine state-of-play in 2025, stressing that the quality, safety and proper use of animal feed have a direct impact on animal health and wellbeing, adding that animal feed is a key link in the safety of the human food chain.

Following a debate, the Committee members adopted, by majority vote, the Republic of Serbia Agriculture and Rural Development Draft Strategy for the period 2025-2034 and the veterinary medicine state-of-play in 2025.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic, and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Dr Anna Oreg, Zika Gojkovic, Dr Sanela Strainovic, Dejan Bulatovic, Veroljub Matic, Radoslav Milojicic, Milija Miletic, Ivan Karic, Slobodan Petrovic and Jozsef Tobias.