The domestic food industry must be made self-sufficient

By: STA Date: 2022. 10. 14. 09:21

The Hungarian countryside has reserves that provide stability even in this rapidly changing, challenging period. That is why we must do everything to strengthen agriculture and the countryside, stated István Nagy in the video message of the Rural Conference 2022.

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The head of the department reminded that the government provided the maximum amount of national additional funding provided by EU law, 80 percent, in addition to the EU development fund. From the beginning of last year, support decisions were made in the amount of HUF 2,250 billion, which were spent on the development of agriculture and food production, which provide the backbone of the rural economy. In the period 2023-2027, 3,400 billion forints will be allocated to agricultural policy purposes within the framework of one pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy, and another 4,265 billion forints will be spent on the second pillar. In his video message, István Nagy also talked about the fact that Hungarian agriculture can only be successful by using the most modern technologies, which is why digitization plays an increasing role in agriculture and food processing. This overall increases competitiveness and makes a higher level of income available, he added.

In Hungary, agriculture and the food industry are strategic sectors

At the conference, Márton Nobilis, the State Secretary responsible for the food industry and trade policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, gave a presentation entitled “Food safety, current challenges of food supply”. The state secretary said that in Hungary, agriculture and the food industry are treated as strategic sectors, and they are given the appropriate level and degree of government attention and support. Food supply is a national strategic issue. The goal is to make the Hungarian food industry self-sufficient. He added that it is important that safe, high-quality Hungarian food is put on the table of Hungarian families, and that Hungary will have enough food in the coming years. Márton Nobilis also drew attention to the fact that due to the war, the energy crisis caused by Brussels sanctions and the drought, food security challenges unseen for decades are occurring in many parts of the world. In Hungary, the crisis resistance of the sector is proven by the fact that Hungarian agriculture has ensured the supply of high-quality, safe food to the population in the past two years, while output and agricultural exports have increased. The domestic food supply and safety system is one of the most stable in Europe, he emphasized.