The European Agriculture Committee is discussing more efficient, sustainable production in Budapest

The two-day meeting will serve as a preparatory meeting for the 2026 European Regional Conference, the highest-level decision-making body of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the region. As in previous years, the Commission meeting will be hosted by Hungary and will be attended by 48 FAO member countries, as well as representatives of civil society and international institutions.

“Our region faces a unique combination of opportunities and challenges,”

– said Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, in his opening remarks. “We need to improve productivity to feed a growing population with healthy and nutritious food and to improve the situation in rural areas. At the same time, we have a shared responsibility to preserve the resilience and biodiversity of our soils, waters and farming communities. This is not a choice between productivity and sustainability – the two must go hand in hand.”

“It is in our common interest to transform our agri-food systems in a way that ensures both high productivity and long-term sustainability”

– emphasized Oszkár Ökrös, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, in his opening speech. “Hungary is implementing a comprehensive, long-term strategy for the sustainable and inclusive transformation of agriculture. Hungary is committed to expanding organic farming, reducing the environmental footprint of food production, promoting the circular economy and supporting local food chains.”

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Climate change, environmental issues, limited resources and political uncertainty are putting unprecedented pressure on food and agriculture across Europe and Central Asia. The region continues to rely heavily on resource-intensive production methods, which can damage the environment and weaken long-term resilience. Balancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture remains a challenge, but there is also significant potential in the region.

Given the complexity of the problem, improving efficiency and protecting natural resources calls for a coordinated response. This is particularly important in the three areas discussed in the session: targeted policies, digital solutions, and sustainable and inclusive finance.

FAO advocates a systems approach that addresses agriculture, the environment, water and energy use, and rural development together, ensuring that these areas are mutually supportive rather than generating potential conflicts.