Informal consultation of FAO European and Central Asian member countries in Hungary

Between May 15 and 16, 2025, Budapest will host the Informal Regional Consultation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the largest specialized organization of the United Nations, which will be attended by representatives of the countries of Europe and Central Asia, as well as business and civil society actors.

In his opening speech, the Minister of Agriculture explained that the overlapping crises affecting our region make our regions vulnerable, endanger food security and slow down the recovery of the sector. FAO’s 80-year history has proven that expertise, technical assistance and institutional capacity building are necessary to transform food systems and respond with unified action to hunger, malnutrition and challenges related to the functioning of agriculture.

The Minister underlined that we are proud that Hungary has been home to the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and the Common Service Centre for more than 15 years. As an active and committed partner, our country continues to contribute to achieving common goals such as developing sustainable, resilient agri-food systems, supporting smallholder farmers, family farms and the younger generation, reducing food waste, water management and the sustainable use of natural resources. The government will continue to provide financial and professional support to FAO projects in developing countries.

Let this consultation be the soil where we sow new ideas and reap partnerships – where dialogue becomes action and common challenges become common solutions, said Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, adding that they face many problems, so many solutions are needed, for which cooperation is essential.