What BAFS is
The Balkan Agro & Food Summit (BAFS 2026) will take place from 19 to 21 October 2026 in Patras, bringing together representatives of agriculture, the food industry, trade, the scientific community, the financial sector and public institutions from Greece, Serbia and other Balkan countries.
BAFS has been designed as a regional platform connecting the people, businesses and institutions that are shaping the future of agrifood and the food industry in the region.
Modern agriculture is no longer only about production. It is shaped by international markets, energy, technology, finance, logistics, trade, climate conditions and constantly changing market demands. That is why BAFS creates a shared space where production, technology, trade, capital and knowledge meet.
More than a conventional conference, BAFS combines a conference programme, presentations, an exhibition area and opportunities for direct business contact, creating the conditions for knowledge exchange, new partnerships and business opportunities.
The same venue will bring together farmers, food companies, traders and exporters, agricultural machinery and equipment companies, seed and crop protection companies, technology companies, logistics and financial services businesses, public and scientific institutions, and investors.
The aim of BAFS is for discussions not to remain theoretical, but to lead to new contacts, partnerships and concrete business initiatives.
The Balkans: a large market and a major opportunity
The Balkans are a region of diverse markets, production capacities and business cultures, and at the same time a region with enormous potential for connection.
Producers need new markets.
Companies need reliable partners.
Investors need new opportunities.
Science and technology need to be applied in real production.
The goal is simple: by connecting people and companies, to open the way to new business activities, investment, knowledge and partnerships.
The conference strand
The 1st Balkan Agro & Food Summit 2026 aims to be a space for substantive dialogue on the major changes affecting agricultural production, the food industry and the markets of the wider Balkan region today. With the connection of production, technology and markets as its central idea, the Conference brings different sides of the agrifood ecosystem into the same discussion and highlights the issues that will shape its development in the years ahead.
Agrifood now stands at the meeting point of a series of critical challenges: the need for greater competitiveness and resilience in production, the integration of new technologies, the adaptation of companies to changing market conditions, and the creation of stronger links between producers, processing, trade and consumers. The Conference approaches these challenges not in isolation but as elements of a single value chain, in which every change in production connects directly to entrepreneurship, technology, processing and market access. This direction is reflected throughout the themes of the indicative conference programme.
A distinctive feature of the conference strand is its Balkan dimension. The discussion is not limited to a single national market but examines the scope for greater cooperation between countries with significant agricultural production, shared challenges and complementary economic activities. Strengthening trade links, giving producers access to new markets and building more stable partnerships are the main axes of this approach. At the same time, Western Greece takes an active part in this dialogue as a producing region that can develop stronger ties with the markets of South East Europe.
The Conference also makes room for the discussion on the future of production: from precision agriculture, data and new business models to the renewal of the workforce, food quality and the sustainability of modern food systems. By bringing together representatives of government, the scientific community, production and business, it seeks the exchange of different experiences and the identification of areas where new synergies can develop.
The Balkan Agro & Food Summit therefore does not stop at recording trends. Its aim is to open a practical, cross-Balkan dialogue on how the agrifood economy can become more modern, more competitive, more outward-looking and better connected to the markets of the region.
Thematic areas
Six strands connecting production, technology and markets.
Agricultural Policy & Balkan Cooperation
How national and European policies shape production in South East Europe. Where the countries of the region can cooperate instead of competing.
Competitiveness & New Business Models
How agrifood companies become more resilient to changing market conditions. Which models work today and which do not.
Innovation, Technology & Smart Farming
Precision agriculture, data and automation in the field and in processing. What adoption costs and what it returns.
Agrifood Value Chain & International Outreach
From the producer to processing, trade and export. How new markets open up for the region’s products.
New Generation, Skills & Entrepreneurship
Renewing the workforce in the sector. Which skills are in demand and how young entrepreneurs are supported.
Quality, Nutrition & Sustainable Food Systems
Food quality and safety as a competitive advantage. How sustainability connects to profitability.
Take part in BAFS 2026
Visitor attendance is free of charge, with registration. Exhibitor and sponsorship packages are available for companies.