“Hungary is a committed and consistent supporter of preserving GMO-free agriculture, including through reinforcing science and research cooperation”, Director-General of the National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre (NARIC) Dr. Csaba Gyuricza said in Peking in a speech at the China-Europe Soya Symposium.

Within the framework of the meeting, the Director-General highlighted the fact that this production method is built on centuries of tradition, and accordingly Hungary is committed to the production and consumption of healthy and traditional foods.

On the sidelines of the Symposium, the NARIC and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences are developing an agreement on closer relations based on the expanded exchange of scientific and research experience.

Dr. Gyuricza highlighted the fact that replacing the genetically manipulated soy currently used for feed is a major challenge, and accordingly cannot be realised without comprehensive cooperation on a European protein policy relating to agricultural production. It was in this spirit that Hungary was one of the first to join the Danube Soy Alliance in 2013.

The heightened Hungarian presence at the China-Europe Soya Symposium, which was jointly organised by the Danube Soy Alliance and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, is a continuation of efforts aimed at replacing imports of genetically manipulated soy from abroad. 14 EU countries recently joined the European Soy Declaration initiated by Minister of Agriculture Sándor Fazekas and his German counterpart, the signatories of which have undertaken to promote the cultivation of leguminous plants for food industry and feed purposes.

“The professional and scientific commitment shown by the NARIC in representation of Hungary, and by several other European countries, is also an excellent foundation for finding a suitable cooperation framework with Chinese partners. We have seen a most welcome development in Hungarian-Chinese agricultural diplomacy relations in recent years thanks to Hungary’s foreign policy and Eastern Opening Strategy, based on which we are justified in hoping that we will succeed in creating yet another link between the People’s Republic of China and Hungary within the field of scientific cooperation”, Dr. Gyuricza highlighted.

(Ministry of Agriculture Press Office)