The Ministry of Agriculture supports organic farming

By: STA Date: 2023. 04. 14. 10:00

The Ministry of Agriculture treats the preservation of biological diversity and, in this connection, the support of organic farming as a matter of utmost importance. Our future depends on whether we are able to adapt our needs to the amount of natural resources and whether we find the possibilities of their renewal, said Minister of Agriculture István Nagy at the XXXIII. Bioculture Science Day in Budapest.

(Photo: István Fekete)

The head of the ministry explained that in order to realize this vision, the tasks of the next period are organized along four main pillars in the Ministry of Agriculture. The purpose of the measures under the first pillar is to increase the competitiveness of agricultural and food industry enterprises and improve their access to the market, as well as to enhance their position in international competition. The goals formulated under the quality food pillar include guaranteeing the safety of food self-sufficiency and ensuring quality food supply. The third is the green future pillar, the goal of which is to create farming that is adaptable to climate change and protects the environment while preserving natural resources. Finally, the so-called renewable countryside pillar defines the development of rural settlements on the one hand, and generational renewal in farming on the other.

Organic farming is taking place in an increasingly large area

István Nagy also spoke about the fact that in recent years, like in other countries of the world, the size of the controlled area under organic cultivation and the number of farms engaged in organic farming have increased significantly in Hungary: in 2020, controlled organic farming was carried out on 301,430 hectares, two-thirds of which have already been converted. , and one third was an area undergoing transition. In 2020, organic farming accounted for more than 6 percent of domestic agricultural land, which is much higher than the previous ratio of 2.5-3 percent. With this, Hungary achieved the third largest development among the European Union member states.

Globally, we are the 10th most dynamically developing country in terms of the expansion of areas under organic farming

He added that it is a positive development from the point of view of the future of organic farming that, in addition to its beneficial effects on the environment and health, its economic benefits and importance are also coming to the fore, so it appears as a model and goal to be followed in the new Common Agricultural Policy. This also shows that the Hungarian government and the Ministry of Agriculture continue to stand by Hungarian farmers in all situations. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture supports the domestic promotion of organic farming in every possible way. One of our most important objectives is to double the size of the areas under organic cultivation by 2027, thereby reaching the 10 percent ecological area ratio, the minister emphasized.