Magazine: Innovation, digitalisation and generation change: The 79th OMÉK

The 79th National Agriculture and Food Exhibition (OMÉK) attracted 85,000 visitors from 15 countries in 4 days. There were 680 exhibitors showcasing their products and services on almost 40,000m². At the opening ceremony Minister of Agriculture Dr István Nagy underlined: OMÉK celebrates Hungarian farmers living in Hungary and outside the country’s borders. Morocco was the special guest of the 79th OMÉK, a country that has become one of the fastest developing agri-food countries in Africa by now. Péter Ondré, managing director of the Agricultural Marketing Centre (AMC) told that they and the ministry are working hard to help Hungarian products enter foreign markets.

For the first time the agri-food sector wasn’t only represented by small and medium-sized enterprises and family farms, but also those large businesses that lead the way in innovation and making value-added products.

One of the most important events after the trade fair was that exhibitors donated the leftover food to the Hungarian Food Bank Association, which distributed the 446kg of groceries among families, children and old people in need. OMÉK is part of the fight against food waste – in Hungary 1.8 million tons of food ends up in the bin every year.

Spar and the Agricultural Marketing Centre had organised the Hungaricool food innovation competition together. The results were ceremonially announced at OMÉK, and the winner products will be available in 34 Interspar stores in 2020. What is more, in 2021 they will participate in a European food trade show too, courtesy of AMC.

OMÉK awards were also presented at the trade fair: Kemence Sütőipari Kft. won the Tradition and Innovation Award, Corn Oil Press Kft.’s Grapoila mustard sauces won the Food Industry Grand Prize, the Food Waste Prevention Prize went to PEIBA Termelő és Kereskedő Kft.’s Pepo Papa pumpkin seed oil in the production category and to Tesco-Global Áruházak Zrt. in the FMCG retail category.

AMC was present at OMÉK with a spectacular stand that promoted fish consumption. Financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and AMC, the programme lasts until 2023 and it is being implemented because per capita fish consumption is only 6kg in Hungary, which is the lowest rate in Europe. Those who visited the stand had the chance to taste delicious fish dishes. A mobile app has also been developed within the framework of the campaign, raising awareness of the benefits of fish eating in a playful way.

Lajos Mikula, president of the Agricultural and Rural Youth Association (AGRYA) told that the values of rural life aren’t communicated well, and due to this agriculture has a worse reputation that it should.

Csaba Gyuricza
director general
NAIK

Csaba Gyuricza, director general of the National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre (NAIK) spoke about the importance of research work. He stressed that today basically all research results are the fruit of several fields of science cooperating.

NAIK-AKI head of department Katalin Rácz gave a presentation about the situation in the labour market, focusing on the role of young people. She revealed that SMEs in the agri-food sector are recruiting a growing number of people. //