A New Chapter in Agricultural Education: Climate Change Enters the Classrooms in Serbia This Fall

Climate change has a great impact on agricultural production and population in Serbia. Rising temperatures and changes in the precipitation regime pose risks to food quality and make farmers' incomes more uncertain. Addressing these challenges requires knowledge and practical skills on the potential impacts of climate change on agriculture, which will enable new generations of farmers to apply more sustainable practices, make the sector more resilient and inspire others in their communities.

Starting this September, students of the third and fourth grade of agricultural high schools in Serbia will have the opportunity to attend the new elective course "Climate change in agriculture". This course is designed to train young farmers on the increasing impact of climate change on different agricultural areas and provide them with knowledge and skills necessary to understand the complexity of food systems, from production to consumption. The subject encompasses many agriculture areas, such as animal husbandry, fruit growing and farming, all in the context of climate change, that in Serbia, is happening faster than the global average.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Education and the Institute for the Advancement of Education and Upbringing, with the technical support of the "Young Researchers of Serbia" Association, have jointly invested efforts in the development of teaching materials, while in the coming period trainings for teachers will be organized, to ensure quality education in this area.

In order to gain relevant and factual insights into these challenges, the handbook for this course will provide students with a broader picture and a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector through practical tasks, examples, and fun facts. Students will be introduced to key concepts of climate change, the impact of rising temperatures on agriculture, as well as the possibilities of adapting agricultural systems to changing conditions by implementing disaster risk reduction management and climate smart agriculture practices and measures.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to engage in interactive discussions, workshops and field visits to demonstration plots that will enable them to have practical experience and apply the acquired knowledge. In this way, they will be able to identify the needs of plants and animals in different conditions, as well as apply appropriate breeding techniques, in order to preserve biodiversity, protect soil and better manage water resources in climate change conditions.

So far, two interactive workshops were organized with students of agricultural high schools in Kraljevo and Zrenjanin. The Association “Young Researchers of Serbia” presented the new subject, but also gained insights about students’ expectations.

Students believe that this course should equip them with the skills to participate more in mitigating the effects of climate change, as well as provide them with knowledge on how to preserve the planet and the environment, to live better and safer lives and learn more about climate change. The continuation of workshops with students is planned for the beginning of the upcoming school year in agricultural high schools throughout Serbia.

It is expected that the subject "Climate change in agriculture" will contribute to the creating a new generation of farmers, empowered to face the challenges of climate change and adapt their agricultural practices in order to strengthen the resilience of the sector, and contribute to a more sustainable rural and economic development of Serbia.

The introduction of this subject in the curriculum of agricultural schools is part of a wider initiative to strengthen the capacities of young farmers within the project "Strengthening disaster resilience in agriculture", implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia, and funded by the European Union.