IMPETUS' Journey in Digital Skills in Agrifood sector
For years, IMPETUS was known as a leading advocate for Internet Privacy & Governance, tirelessly working to safeguard digital rights and data protection. Yet, the digital age demanded more. Recognizing the growing impact of technology on all sectors, IMPETUS ventured into unchartered territory with this project: digital skills in agriculture and labor. There was no previous specific in-house knowledge in this area. This bold step was marked by the launch of the online training program, “Digital Skills in Agriculture in the Era of AI,” which aimed to bridge traditional farming with advanced digital solutions. Combining in-house skills from the Consortia was an inspiring combo of diverse knowledge and ideas to foster collaborative environment.
This regional initiative was not just about introducing technology—it was about transforming mindsets and building new capacities. For IMPETUS, this meant learning new methodologies and frameworks entirely different from its core expertise. Navigating the complex landscape of agrifood systems and labor dynamics required adaptability, curiosity, and strategic thinking. The team immersed itself in understanding AI applications, precision farming, and digital labor platforms, embracing a steep learning curve with determination and enthusiasm.
The results were remarkable. Participants from diverse backgrounds gained hands-on experience in AI-powered tools for agriculture.
For IMPETUS, the Skills Foresight in the Agri-food Sector and Digital Skills Needs Among Small Farm Holders trainings were more than just an educational event—it was a strategic opportunity to expand its expertise and influence. By engaging with emerging trends and skill demands in agriculture, IMPETUS diversified its knowledge base beyond its traditional focus on Internet Privacy Governance. This learning experience enabled the organization to understand the intersections between digitalization and agri-food systems, positioning it as a forward-thinking leader in digital transformation across sectors.
Additionally, collaborating with CREDI, Public Policy Research Centre (Re-People) and other partners fostered valuable networks, opening doors for future cross-sectoral partnerships and initiatives in the Western Balkans. By staying ahead of industry trends, IMPETUS strengthened its strategic planning capabilities, ensuring its continued relevance and impact in a rapidly changing digital landscape. This adaptability not only enhanced IMPETUS’ organizational capacity but also solidified its role as an innovative driver of knowledge and skills development.
Building Resilience for IMPETUS in the new era – Result oriented
This journey into digital skills for agriculture and labor was more than just a training initiative—it was a strategic leap that redefined IMPETUS’ role in the digital ecosystem. As the organization continues to explore new avenues of growth and collaboration, its story stands as a testament to the power of adaptability, learning, and innovation.
Reflecting on this transformative experience, IMPETUS realized that stepping into new domains not only diversified its impact but also enriched its organizational capacity. By embracing new methodologies and forming strategic alliances, IMPETUS evolved into a more resilient and forward-thinking organization, ready to tackle the complex challenges of the digital age.
From the online training “Digital Skills in Agriculture in the Era of AI” held on December 9, 2024, IMPETUS gained valuable knowledge from partners operating in the agrifood and labor sectors, fields previously unexplored by the organization. Collaborating with agritech companies, sustainable farming NGOs, and digital labor experts exposed IMPETUS to innovative methodologies and practical frameworks that are revolutionizing agricultural practices and workforce dynamics. This experience revealed significant potential in leveraging AI for precision farming, resource optimization, and digital platforms for labor management. However, it also highlighted a crucial gap in the digital literacy of small-scale farmers and the need for localized, user-friendly technological solutions. Recognizing this, IMPETUS sees an opportunity to focus its future efforts on developing tailored digital training programs that empower underserved communities, fostering inclusive growth and sustainable agricultural development.
Reflecting on this journey, IMPETUS acknowledges that stepping into new domains has not only enriched its knowledge base but has also built organizational resilience. By embracing innovative methodologies and forming strategic partnerships, IMPETUS has evolved into a more versatile and influential player in the digital landscape. As it continues to explore new avenues for growth and collaboration, IMPETUS is poised to lead impactful digital transformation initiatives, ensuring long-term sustainability and capacity building in the new era.
Read more on how the trainings benefitted our partners:
Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research – CREDI, Bosnia and Herzegovina, here:
Centre for Public Policy Research/Re:People, here:
Strengthened Organizations through Capacity Building: Empowering the Agri-Food Sector with Digital Skills in the SMARTLABOR Project
CREDI’s Ongoing Commitment to Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer
As part of the SMARTLABOR project, CREDI Centre continues to foster organizational growth and build capacity within the agri-food sector, particularly in digital skills. Through its involvement in two key online training sessions, CREDI has gained valuable insights into how digital tools, AI, and other technological advancements can transform agricultural practices. These initiatives have played a pivotal role in enhancing CREDI’s ability to support local agricultural organizations and small farmers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring they are well-prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
Digital Skills for Small Farmers in Serbia – Centre/Re-People Serbia (28 November 2024)
The first online training, hosted by Centre/Re-People Serbia, focused on the digital skills necessary for small farmers to thrive in the digital age. The session emphasized the use of digital tools that help small-scale farmers overcome challenges such as resource management, crop monitoring, and improving overall farm productivity. This training provided CREDI with practical knowledge on how tailored digital solutions can help small farmers become more efficient and sustainable in their operations.
Impact for CREDI:
- Targeted Solutions for Small Farmers: The knowledge gained from this training allows CREDI to further tailor its initiatives to the specific needs of small farmers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring that they benefit from practical, accessible, and effective digital tools.
- Enhanced Cross-Border Knowledge Exchange: The online format of the training facilitated seamless exchanges of best practices between organizations and farmers from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, fostering stronger regional cooperation within the SMARTLABOR project. This collaboration has helped CREDI understand the unique challenges faced by small farmers and how digital tools can address them.
- Capacity for Long-Term Transformation: The lessons learned from this training have equipped CREDI to provide long-term support to small farmers, helping them develop the digital skills necessary to increase their productivity, reduce costs, and build more resilient farming practices.
Digital Skills in Agriculture in the Era of AI – Impetus North Macedonia (09 December 2024)
The second online training, organized by Impetus North Macedonia, focused on equipping participants with essential digital skills to effectively use AI in agriculture. The session introduced AI applications that can be integrated into farming practices, including AI-driven precision farming, crop, soil, and livestock monitoring, and predictive analytics. CREDI’s participation in this training provided the organization with critical knowledge on how AI can help optimize agricultural resources, improve decision-making, and enhance the sustainability of farming operations.
Impact for CREDI:
- Knowledge Transfer: CREDI staff gained a comprehensive understanding of AI tools and their practical applications in agriculture. This knowledge is crucial for assisting farmers in Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt new technologies that improve farm productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
- Refined Program Development: The insights from this training have enabled CREDI to refine its capacity-building programs within the SMARTLABOR project, ensuring that local agricultural organizations and farmers receive the most relevant and up-to-date digital skills training.
- Regional Collaboration: CREDI expanded its network with regional partners by participating in this event, opening opportunities for cross-border collaborations that aim to advance digital skills in agriculture across the Western Balkans. This collaboration has fostered valuable exchanges of knowledge and best practices, strengthening regional partnerships.
Strengthened Organizations and Future Impact through SMARTLABOR
Through their participation in these online trainings within the SMARTLABOR project, CREDI has significantly enhanced its ability to support and strengthen organizations across the agri-food sector. The skills acquired during these sessions are now being channelled into the development of targeted digital skills training programs for agricultural stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As a direct result of attending these SMARTLABOR training sessions, CREDI is better equipped to:
- Promote digital transformation within local agricultural organizations, ensuring they remain competitive and sustainable in a rapidly evolving sector.
- Support small farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to adapt to digital advancements and improve their practices.
- Foster stronger collaboration and knowledge exchange among regional stakeholders, contributing to a more resilient and innovative agri-food sector.
Looking forward, CREDI is committed to continuing its efforts within the SMARTLABOR project to help shape a digitally empowered agri-food sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By strengthening the digital skills of local farmers and organizations, CREDI is playing a key role in driving innovation and growth in the sector, ensuring that all stakeholders, regardless of size, can benefit from the opportunities presented by new technologies.
Read more on how the trainings benefitted our partners:
Centre for Public Policy Research/Re:People
IMPETUS, North Macedonia
Collaboration through experience and knowledge transfer
Sharing knowledge and experiences among partners on any project, and so on SMARTLABOR “Strengthening Alliance for Policy Development and Testing in the domain of Innovation, Digitalization, and the Labor Market in the Western Balkans” is of paramount importance for several reasons. Firstly, it fosters a culture of collaboration and collective problem-solving. When partners share their insights and expertise, it leads to a more informed decision-making process, as diverse perspectives are considered. Additionally, sharing knowledge helps to clarify issues and bridge gaps in understanding, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Secondly, knowledge sharing promotes continuous learning and professional growth. As partners exchange experiences and lessons learned, they gain new skills and insights that can be applied to current and future projects.
The three online trainings organized by partners on the SMARTLABOR PROJECT: CREDI, IMPETUS and Centre/Re:People provided an overview of the current situation in the agri-food sector in three Western Balkan countries, the level of use of digital tools by the farmers and digital processes they avail themselves of, foresight, and digital skills required for modern food production.
While long focusing on policy changes towards the development of a sustainable and just society in the digital age, the series of online trainings carried out by its partners on the SMARTLABOR project, provided valuable information to the Centre for Public Policy Research/Re:People about small food producers in the region, their mastery of digital tools in daily activities and the ways to enhance them so as to expedite the processes to their own benefit and that of their societies. The foresight of skills needed is crucial for informed planning of future trainings in local communities throughout the region of Western Balkans. During the presentations and ensuing discussions, we learned that we share many problems – inter alia, that not a single of our countries is an “exclusive owner” of challenges related to a low level of mastery of digital skills among the farmers and the resistance to their usage. While being a reason for concern, it is a relief to know that we will invest joint forces in changing this situation across the region, with the strong support of the members of the Smart Labor Network.
Read more on how the trainings benefitted our partners:
Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research – CREDI, Bosnia and Herzegovina
IMPETUS, North Macedonia
EXPANDING THE SMARTLABOR NETWORK IN THE WESTERN BALKANS
The SMARTLABOR project, aimed at strengthening alliances for policy development and testing in the fields of innovation, digitalization, and labor market transformation, is driving progress in the agri-food sector across the Western Balkans. As part of this initiative, the SMARTLABOR Network (SLN) has further expanded its membership by establishing new collaborations in the Republic of Serbia.
Through its role in the network, the Centre for Public Policy Research/Re:People (Centre) has hitherto signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the four organizations:
- Privredna komora Srbije/Serbian Chamber of Commerce
- Mali proizvođači hrane u Srbiji/Small Food Producers in Serbia
- SMS Vaga
- Optical doo
To date, the Centre and its partners have signed the memoranda on understanding with twelve organizations in the three countries implementing the project: In BiH with the Foundation “Mozaik”, Organization for Research, Rural Development, and the Natural Environment (ERRDO), Association for Local Development Initiatives (ALDI) and the Citizens’ Association “Nešto više”.
In North Macedonia with the Association for Social Development – Institute Demokratika Valandovo, the Association ECO Justice, Association of South Eastern Rural Youth, the Agriculture Cooperative “First Organic Cooperative” Valandovo, and the regional organization WeEffect.
Commenting on the successful process, Branka Anđelković, Programme Director of the Centre said “While working to strengthen the established alliances with the new SLN members, the SMARTLABOR Network is keeping an open invitation to all the organizations from Western Balkans interested in advancing innovation, digitalization, and sustainability in the agri-food sector to join this collaborative initiative.”
About the project
The project ‘SMARTLABOR – Strengthening Alliances for Policy Development and Testing in the domain of Innovation, Digitalization, and the Labour Market in the Western Balkans“ aims to enable efficient adoption of technological advancements and drive progress in the agri-food sector in the region by supporting evidence-based policymaking and leveraging CSO capacities. The lead partner for this project is Public Policy Research Center (CENTER)/RE-PEOPLE from Serbia while the project partners are Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research (CREDI), Bosnia and Herzegovina and IMPETUS from North Macedonia.
About the funding
The organization of this event is supported through the “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans” regional project implemented by the Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).The content of event is the sole responsibility of the project implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) or SMART Balkans consortium.
