Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula: Innovation in agriculture is essential to ensure food security
Innovation in agriculture, scientific progress, shortening the food chain and reducing waste - this is the sustainable way to ensure quality and affordable food for the population. These topics were addressed by Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL) at today's international scientific conference on agri-food sustainability and innovation organised as part of the Czech EU Presidency. The conference will continue tomorrow.
Participants at the international conference in Prague are addressing topical issues such as modern agriculture, the security of European agricultural and food production, a safe and sustainable food sector and climate-smart agriculture.
"Food security in Europe is not directly threatened, but the current challenge is to ensure affordable food. The Russian aggression in Ukraine and the consequences of the pandemic continue to affect European agriculture and food production. We need to focus intensively on innovation in our sector, the use of modern technologies, the introduction of modern practices, as well as shortening supply chains and reducing waste," said Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL).
As part of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council, the Ministry of Agriculture considers one of the key priorities to be strengthening the sustainability of agriculture and food systems, the supply of agricultural products and food and supporting the introduction of innovative approaches.
As the world's population continues to grow, innovations are needed to increase agricultural production, improve global supply chains, reduce food loss and waste, and ensure access to nutritious food. It is important to use all available methods to develop breeding that will produce modern, more resilient varieties that can withstand adverse effects such as climate change and drought.
In today's session, experts will focus on the potential of new genomic techniques, innovations in resilience and sustainability, and scientific research in this area. In addition, speakers will touch on the topic of animal feed. Tomorrow's agenda will include food sustainability in the context of climate change, breeding and the use of biotechnology tools in practical agriculture.
The International Scientific Conference "European Agri-Food Sustainability & Innovation" is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture with the support of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The conference is attended by representatives of the European Parliament (Members of EU Parliament Martin Hlaváček a Michaela Šojdrová), the European Commission (European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides), EFSA (Bernhard Url), the US Department of Agriculture, Member States, NGOs and scientific experts from Czech universities.
Vojtěch Bílý
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture