(PHOTO) Food security and resilience of agriculture at the forefront of the opening of the Agree

The 64th International Agricultural and Food Exhibition Agra opened in Gornji Radgon on August 22, 2026, with a focus on food security, agricultural resilience against climate change, and the future of young farmers. President of the Republic Nataša Pirc Musar emphasized that food production in times of increasingly frequent weather extremes is not self-evident, underscoring the need for Slovenia to ensure conditions for more stable domestic food production. She highlighted that access to food is closely linked to national security, economy, and quality of life. According to her, if Slovenia wants to be less vulnerable to external shocks, it must more effectively connect its potentials and strengthen domestic food supply chains. Pirc Musar noted that food sovereignty cannot be achieved through a single measure. It requires more productive agriculture, greater domestic production in areas where the country has the most potential, stronger food supply chains, and a more strategic approach to developing domestic processing. She also pointed to the urgency of changes, citing this year’s severe drought, which once again heavily impacted Slovenian agriculture. The full consequences of these effects remain unknown, and agriculture will have to adapt to climate change and increase its resilience. Special attention was given to young farmers taking over family farms. According to Pirc Musar, such transitions today do not merely mean continuing tradition, but rather connecting the experiences of older generations with new knowledge, technologies, and business opportunities. The state's role is to create an environment in which farming becomes a modern profession that allows for dignified living and a sustainable future. Minister of Agriculture Janez Cigler Kralj described Agra as a space for reflection on what kind of agriculture Slovenia should have in the coming decades. He outlined a vision of agriculture that ensures food security, dignified livelihoods for farmers and their families, and more balanced rural development while respecting nature and utilizing new technologies. At this year’s Agra, 1690 exhibitors and participants from 36 countries presented products on 70,800 square meters of exhibition space. Cigler Kralj also warned of the consequences of weather extremes, particularly droughts. Such events, he stated, are no longer exceptions but part of a new reality, making increasing the resilience of Slovenian agriculture one of the ministry’s key tasks. He announced 8.1 million euros in extraordinary financial aid for agricultural businesses due to higher energy costs. The European Union would contribute 2.7 million euros, with the remaining 5.4 million euros coming from the national budget. As three pillars of his strategy, he emphasized local food, youth, and digitalization. He also called on consumers to buy Slovenian food, stating that it is one of the most direct ways to support domestic producers and ensure domestic food availability in the future. General Director of the Pomurje Fair Janez Erjavec highlighted during the opening ceremony that Agra, in its 64 years, has solidified its connection with agriculture and agro-food sectors, becoming an important link between rural and urban environments. He drew attention to long-term changes in Slovenian agriculture, noting that the number of farms and agricultural land has been halved in this period, and the share of rural population has dropped to less than five percent of all residents. Despite these changes, Slovenian agriculture and the profession still retain a lot of knowledge and traditions, evident in the quality of traditional and new products and in Slovenian cuisine.