Hungarian honey and mangalica introduced in Osaka

(Photo: AM)

The Minister drew attention to the fact that the pig sector is one of the most competitive areas of agriculture in Hungary. In addition to supplying the domestic market, farmers produce a significant export base. The sector’s production in 2024 was almost 600 thousand tons, which represented an 8 percent increase compared to 2023. He explained that mangalica is our national treasure, which has deservedly earned its place at the forefront of international gastronomy. Once this breed was present in every village yard, but today it is an exclusive food and premium product in the offer of the world’s most famous restaurants. Mangalica meat and Mangalica products are also present in the Far East, for example, they are available in the markets of Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan – he added. Thanks to dedicated farmers, a professional breeding program, and government subsidies aimed at preserving native and endangered agricultural animal breeds, our country can boast a herd of almost 10,000 Mangalica sows. We believe that we can only build the gastronomy and food culture of the future successfully and authentically if we draw from our roots and traditions – the minister emphasized.

István Nagy also participated in the conference entitled “Sustainability in the Beekeeping Sector” within the framework of the Osaka Expo

Here he spoke about the fact that cheap honey can be imported, but not pollination. He highlighted that Hungary has one of the highest bee densities in Europe: there are about 13 bee colonies per square kilometer. There are almost 1.2 million bee colonies and 20,000 beekeepers in our country. In Hungary, beekeeping is considered a national asset from both a cultural and ecological perspective and we are among the largest honey producers in the European Union. We produce between 25 and 30 thousand tons of honey annually, 60 percent of which is exported. Outside the European Union, Japan is the largest market for Hungarian honey, with an annual volume of 1,600 tons. 90% of the exported honey is acacia and almost all of it arrives here in glass packaging, he added. Beekeeping activity goes beyond itself, and our country therefore provides special support to the players in the sector. With the annual support of 30 euros per bee colony, we also recognize that beekeepers not only produce honey (royal jelly, pollen), but also create value through pollination activities, which greatly contributes to the safe operation and sustainability of agriculture – underlined the head of the Ministry of Agriculture.

AM