EXPERT MEETING ORGANIZED BY THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CED) AND THE EMBASSY OF HUNGARY IN BELGRADE - Development of modern and sustainable agriculture

The constant struggle for survival due to climate and market changes is the reason for holding the Hungarian-Serbian Expert Day entitled "Where to go next in agriculture – real modernization", organized by the Central European Network for Economic Development (CED) and the Hungarian Embassy in Belgrade. Experts spoke at the meeting, but also people who have the opportunity to implement ideas in the field that create more favorable working conditions, as well as yields, so the 93rd International Agricultural Fair once again showed that it is an important point of meeting and exchange of knowledge and experience.

– Today, agriculture is facing challenges such as climate change, rising production costs, the need for greater productivity and food security, while the preservation of natural resources requires new solutions and a different approach to agricultural development. Modernization is no longer a question of the future, it is a need of the present – said State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Atila Juhas. – However, it is especially important to talk about solutions available to our producers, which can specifically support production and increase the competitiveness of domestic agriculture. Digitalization, precision agriculture, process automation, modern mechanization and the application of artificial intelligence are already changing the way we produce food. Artificial intelligence enables more precise production planning, better cost control, more efficient use of resources, timely response to diseases and climate risks, as well as better management of the entire food production chain. Serbia recognizes the importance of technological development in agriculture, and our ministry is continuously working on creating conditions for the modernization of this sector, with investment support programs, development of the eAgrarian system, through support to young farmers, scientific institutions...
That is why experts from Hungary and Serbia, two countries that have a similar geographical and climatic environment, but also a common goal - strengthening regional cooperation and the development of modern competitive and sustainable agriculture, spoke at the meeting.
The Republic of Hungary, together with its Embassy in Belgrade, is a regular participant of the Agricultural Fair and thus presents its agrarian policy, which is a good example of the practice of implementing modern technologies in the food industry. In addition to the exchange of knowledge and experience, this type of cooperation further strengthens the trade exchange between Hungary and Serbia, which has reached more than EUR 5 billion in the past year, said Ambassador Jozef Hungary.
– Hungary is the fourth most important country for Serbia in the foreign trade partnership and we want to preserve that position, and in order to succeed in that, it is important for the Novi Sad Fair to once again show how valuable the organizer of such professional gatherings is. Competitiveness is of great importance, and the European Union wants to change the next seven-year financial framework and it is essential that the countries that represent Central Europe fight to preserve all the achievements made so far. We have reached an important milestone, and after the recent elections in Hungary, we expect to preserve everything that has been created as a value in our relations with Serbia – emphasized Ambassador Hungary.
The head of the CED office in Subotica, István Dobo, noted that Hungarian agriculture, thanks to the fact that it is already in the European Union, has significantly greater resources for testing, analysis and research, which is why they are already more developed in this topic.
– We are open to cooperation, and the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad is very professional and will be able to apply ideas and suggestions in the best possible direction in Vojvodina. Every year, as well as this year, CED provides Hungarian companies to appear at the fair, so now we have 20 companies that are here to provide financial support, present the best agricultural technology and everything that is needed for the best possible protection and nutrition of plants – said Dobo.