Minister of Agriculture István Nagy also discussed precision farming with the managers of a giant American company

(Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy)

In the interview given to MTI about his discussions with the leaders of the federal states, the minister stated that these negotiations specifically help economic cooperation. The minister met Governor Eric Holcomb in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana.

The state of Indiana is the leading federal state in terms of corn and grain production in the United States

It is the fifth most important corn-growing state in the country, and its size is almost the same as that of Hungary. István Nagy also held discussions on economic cooperation in Chicago. The minister highlighted his meeting with the managers of the agricultural machinery manufacturing company John Deere, which, according to him, can have an impact on innovation. He said the meeting was important from the point of view of the use of precision technologies. He noted that this production method is also a solution to reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture and improve animal welfare conditions. In other words, what sustainability means, precision agricultural technologies are extremely important, he added. The Minister of Agriculture said that the topics of the meeting with the leaders of the American agricultural giant included the broadening of the economic side of the cooperation, as well as what new opportunities there are in investments and developments in Hungary. We are at the forefront of the application of precision technologies, and we want to expand cooperation – said the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture.

On the first day of his visit to the United States, Monday, István Nagy participated in an international government-expert-business conference

The topic was the impact of climate change on agriculture. Competitiveness must be increased in order to provide more and more people living on Earth with food, so that in the meantime the quality of the “created world” can be preserved, said the minister. According to the statement of the Ministry of Agriculture (AM) on Thursday, the Minister of Agriculture István Nagy consulted with the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Indiana, leaders of farmers’ interest representatives and academics during the official visit of the Minister of Agriculture István Nagy to Indiana on Wednesday. István Nagy discussed with Don Lab, Indiana’s Minister of Agriculture, what challenges farmers have to deal with. He explained that, as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war, European agriculture is facing great difficulties, and the actors of the sector have to solve significant challenges in the field of sales. The issue of irrigation was also discussed at the meeting. The implementation of technological developments and investments is solved differently in different countries, but water is the basis of safe food production, he added. István Nagy explained that our country will modernize the entire agricultural sector by the end of the decade. And we rely on American experience in the renewal of technology. “Hungary is waiting for investors and innovations, and we also want to strengthen scientific and university relations. New technology is only useful if there is someone who knows how to use it properly, with the latest knowledge,” underlined the head of the ministry. István Nagy was also received in his office by Diego Morales, Secretary of State of Indiana. The two heads of ministries talked about the importance of cooperation and strengthening each other.

During the day, István Nagy held discussions with the leaders of the Indiana Farm Bureau

The fight against the drought caused by extreme weather and the issue of grain imports from Ukraine were also discussed at the meeting. The minister emphasized, “we pay a lot of attention to the generational change taking place in agriculture, and we are also interested in Indiana’s experience in this matter. We are interested in young people seeing a serious perspective in agriculture, where they can ensure our country’s food and a sustainable environment by producing with precision tools”. The minister also touched on the importance of pollination, informing his partners that there are 12 bee colonies per square kilometer in Hungary, which is the second highest number in Europe. After the negotiations, the head of the ministry visited Purdue University, among others, where he spoke with educators and academic experts about higher education and agricultural technology issues, the Ministry of Agriculture informed.

MTI