246 Original Paper Agricultural Economics – Czech, 69, 2023 (6): 246–254 https://doi.org/10.17221/119/2023-AGRICECON Supported by the Slovak Association of Primary Milk Producers (Project No. NI/1-629/2019/SPU) and Qualitative factors infuencing the production and consumption of milk and cheese (Project No. APVV-16-0244). © Te authors. Tis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Challenges and innovative approaches in the agricultural and food industry and changing consumer behaviour in the milk and milk products market: Case of Slovakia Zuzana Kapsdorferová*, Matej Čereš, Petronela Švikruhová, Veronika Zábojníková, Radka Kataniková Institute of Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic *Corresponding author: zuzana.kapsdorferova@uniag.sk Citation: Kapsdorferová Z., Čereš M., Švikruhová P., Zábojníková V., Kataniková R. (2023): Challenges and innovative app- roaches in the agricultural and food industry and changing consumer behaviour in the milk and milk products market: Case of Slovakia. Agric. Econ. – Czech, 69: 246–254. Abstract: Te negative consequences faced by the entire planet, the intensifcation of natural disasters, global warming, lowering the level of groundwater, deforestation, deterioration of corals and the underwater world, soil degradation, and the change of species diversity, testify to the necessity of introducing reforms in the agricultural-food complex. Fulflling such a goal and creating added value of innovation potential can only be created in the conditions of functioning struc- tures strengthened by system support, which requires reviewing and introducing change in food systems. Te recent fnancial crisis, later the pandemic, and the current going military confict in Ukraine, caused problems in supplier- customer relations, and made humanity feel how the issue of food security and self-sufciency can be easily and quickly disrupted. If farmers and food producers are to be able to respond to challenges and at the same time ensure the EU’s strategic goals, it is necessary to have support in research and innovation. Agricultural research and innovation in the EU is characterised by a long-term strategic approach that focuses on creating value from the land through sustainable primary production and strengthening rural innovation. It is an important tool in the fght against challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. In view of the above, it is necessary to transform food systems, apply regenerative agriculture, introduce alternative land-saving farming systems, observe the principles of sowing procedures and greater diversifcation of crops in the sowing procedure, reduce the consumption of agro- chemicals, naturally integrate plant and animal production into agricultural business entities in relation to the circular economy, use farm waste for bioenergy production, protect agricultural land, implement measures to retain water in the country and support regions. Keywords: consumer patterns; dairy industry; ecosystem management; food system resilience; new agrifood systems In terms of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is necessary to place great emphasis on innovation (Yakovleva et al. 2017). Research and in- novation play an important role in stimulating smart and sustainable growth and are essential in creating new jobs. Research brings new knowledge, it is deci- sive in the development of new or innovative prod- ucts, processes, and services, which allow increasing