Sustainability efforts can only be achieved through joint action

By: STA Date: 2023. 06. 15. 10:30

Sustainability is a horizontal issue, in connection with which all relevant actors must do their best to make effective progress – stressed Dr. Beáta Felkai, Deputy Secretary of State responsible for food chain supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, at the TÉT Breakfast round table event in Budapest.

(Photo: AM)

In her speech, Beáta Felkai emphasized that the goal of the Ministry of Agriculture is to make the field of substitute products transparent, thereby helping to provide consumers with authentic information, which is essential for an informed choice. On Wednesday, the TÉT Platform Association invited the representatives of several branches of industry – such as food production, trade, legislation, education, advertising industry – to a round table discussion under the title “Sustainable nutrition: in harmony with the environment and the soul”. At the event, Dr. Beáta Felkai, the deputy state secretary responsible for food chain supervision, said that one of the priority topics of next year’s EU presidency is sustainability, which is at the same time an extremely complex, horizontally extensive issue. In order to make progress and achieve effective results, it is necessary to cooperate with the many specialized fields involved.

Beáta Felkai emphasized that the priority goal of the Ministry of Agriculture is to sort out the topic of alternative foods

Imitation, analogue or substitute products all have their place in the range. At the same time, it is important that consumers understand exactly what purpose each product category serves, because without knowing this, they cannot make a conscious decision – underlined the deputy state secretary. In order to deal with the situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Nébih, with the involvement of interested professional organizations, are working on compiling a labeling guide, which will also help actors in the food industry to provide consumers with clear and consistent information. Among her closing thoughts, Beáta Felkai drew attention to the fact that food safety, which is an unavoidable basic principle, must also be guaranteed in addition to sustainability efforts. In addition, it is important that – instead of looking for those responsible for hindering progress – the stakeholders focus on their individual role and examine what they can do within their own competence for sustainability. This change in attitude can also significantly contribute to progress.