Game meat: 13 thousand tons of domestic production, 8 billion forints in sales revenue

MTI/Kocsis Zoltán

István Nagy noted that out of the Hungarian game management sector’s total revenue of HUF 40 billion, game meat accounted for HUF 8 billion. He recalled that ten years ago, revenue from the sale of hunted game amounted to only HUF 3 billion.

The minister emphasized that hunted game generates a large amount of marketable products each year, 20 percent of which is sold domestically, while the majority – around 10,000 tons, either as raw material or processed products – is exported to foreign markets, mainly Germany, Austria, and Italy.

Game meat has excellent nutritional values, containing high-quality proteins, valuable vitamins, and minerals, while being free of antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and hormone residues. It fits perfectly into modern, health-conscious and environmentally friendly diets – stressed István Nagy, adding that annual Hungarian game meat consumption averages only 0.1–0.3 kilograms per person. Among consumption habits, wild boar is the most popular, followed by roe deer, pheasant, hare, venison, and wild duck.

The minister highlighted that regulating game populations goes far beyond hunting, as it is also about “caring for the animals’ natural habitat and sustainability.” He added that forestry is another key pillar of preserving game stocks, as suitable habitats must be provided for the animals.

Nagy also announced that the Ministry of Agriculture’s latest grant program supports the long-term renewal and protection of forests. The HUF 10 billion fund aims to help Hungarian forests adapt to climate change. He noted that applications can already be submitted, with the call for proposals open until the end of September.

László Jámbor, President of the Hungarian Hunters’ National Chamber, emphasized that the 22 state forestry companies manage excellent hunting grounds and in recent years have done everything possible to meet high expectations. With trained professionals and outstanding hunting infrastructure, they have become the flagships of Hungarian game management.

Zsolt György Papp, President of the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), expressed his delight that the NAK and the Hunters’ Chamber have been working together peacefully for many years. Their joint efforts serve both the gastronomic needs of the people and the achievement of climate protection goals, which form the foundation of the future.

Krisztián Molnár, President of the General Assembly of Fejér County, said that one of the festival’s goals is to promote game dishes, as Hungary’s game population is world-class, yet Hungarians consume very little game meat. Another goal is to help people understand hunters’ lives, because, as he put it, “hunting is not about killing animals, but about protecting nature.”