Food production cannot be separated from the land

By: STA Date: 2025. 03. 19. 10:30

Cultural meat is a fabrication, and we insist that food production be linked to the land, because this represents our traditions and culture – said István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture. The debate on the legislation banning the domestic production and distribution of laboratory meat has begun in the Parliament.

(Photo: AM/István Fekete)

The Minister spoke in the Parliament about the fact that numerous concerns can be expressed regarding meat produced in the laboratory. The questions raised can only be answered on the basis of a comprehensive impact assessment. However, the previously presumed negative effects are of such magnitude that it is already justified to provide for a ban on the production and marketing of laboratory meat by law. According to István Nagy, we must take the most decisive action against it, insisting that all food be produced in a way that is linked to the land. Culture began when man began to cultivate the land and continues as long as he cultivates it. If we separate food production from the land, we will distance ourselves from all our traditions, all our cultures, we will lose our identity, which can lead to rootlessness. The European way of life will be endangered if we accept the distribution of artificially produced meat, he added.

The minister also mentioned that food is constantly entering, and a significant proportion of it is even incorporated into the human body

Consequently, everything must be done to exclude or reduce possible negative effects. This is why the strictest possible rules must be adopted regarding the production and distribution of artificial meat. The bill submitted to the Parliament would only allow its use for medical and veterinary purposes, and would strictly prohibit the production and distribution of artificial meat in our country in all other cases. István Nagy emphasized that normality, traditions and the work of farmers who stand with both feet on the ground must be appreciated. Some people have become distant from nature, and a false romanticism is developing regarding the living world. The majority of society must understand that without farmers there is no food and no future. That is why we are working on how we can restore social recognition for the farming community. The Hungarian government is committed to preserving and strengthening the traditional rural way of life – the head of the agricultural ministry underlined.