BALKANSGROW - Green Resilient Organic Wisdom

The transition towards sustainable and resilient food systems is a cornerstone of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, aligning with the European Union’s strategic priorities in sustainability, digitalization, and regional cohesion. Despite the region’s rich agricultural potential, structural challenges persist, including: Small-scale farming and low productivity, limiting competitiveness. Limited integration of digital tools, making market access difficult. Reliance on traditional farming methods, hindering sustainability efforts. Gaps in vocational education and training (VET), particularly in organic farming, management, and digital skills. At the same time, consumer demand for organic products is rising, both in the EU and the Western Balkans. Yet, only 20% of agricultural businesses effectively use digital marketing tools, demonstrating a disconnect between market demands and existing agricultural practices. To address these challenges, our project bridges vocational education, sustainability, and digitalization, equipping students and teachers with practical skills in organic farming, business management, and digital marketing. Our project aligns closely with the objectives of the call by reinforcing capacity building in vocational education through: Strengthening professional skills in organic farming, business management, and digital marketing. Bridging the gap between VET and the labour market, ensuring that students acquire skills that respond to real market demands. Promoting digitalization in agriculture, creating a functional e-commerce platform for organic products. Fostering sustainability, supporting the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans through regenerative agricultural practices.