Strengthening Agricultural Relations between Austria and Hungary
Hungary’s Minister of Agriculture, István Nagy, has highlighted the need to adopt Austrian consumer awareness and learn from Austria’s wine marketing strategies. This statement was made during a meeting with Austrian Federal Minister of Agriculture, Norbert Totschnig, in Vienna. Emphasizing the similarities in agricultural challenges faced by both countries, Nagy expressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in areas such as agricultural digitization, plant breeding, and agricultural mitigation practices.
The meeting also addressed forestry issues and the impact of climate change. Nagy called for a technical debate on implementing afforestation measures to mitigate the effects of climate change. He highlighted Hungary’s efforts in wheat cultivation and GMO-free production, expressing a willingness to share experiences with Austrian partners. Hungary’s gene banks were also mentioned, with Nagy stating that they play a significant role in addressing climate change by breeding traditional Hungarian varieties.
Nagy stressed the importance of learning from Austria’s agricultural compensation system and highlighted Hungary’s role as an ally in agricultural digitization. He also participated in a Hungarian-Austrian economic roundtable discussion, calling for the renewal of Hungarian agriculture through expertise, flexibility, and openness.
During his visit to Austria, Nagy held talks with Hans Peter Doskozil, head of the province of Burgenland, in Eisenstadt. These discussions further emphasized the potential for cooperation and the attractive opportunities that modern agriculture offers for both countries.
Overall, Hungary and Austria are looking to strengthen their collaboration in the agricultural sector, particularly in addressing common challenges and learning from each other’s experiences and expertise.
