The Minister revealed why he stopped the publication of the tender, pointing to the former Minister

In early July 2026, the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture announced the cancellation of a public tender worth €3.5 million intended for the co-financing of research projects supporting agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food production. The decision was made by the current minister, Janez Cigler Kralj, who cited “activisms within its content” as the reason for halting the publication of the tender. This move has sparked controversy among former officials, researchers, and academic institutions, many of whom expressed concern over the abrupt reversal of a long-awaited funding opportunity.

The tender had been designed to support 20 specific research topics crucial to the development of Slovenia’s agricultural sector. It allocated €3.5 million in total, with €1 million coming from the Slovenian Research Agency (Aris) and €2.5 million from the Ministry of Agriculture itself. Researchers were given until June 30 to submit their proposals, but just two hours before the deadline, the tender was abruptly canceled. According to reports, the decision followed a request from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth, which acted on instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Former Agriculture Minister Mateja Čalušić criticized the move, calling it a significant setback for scientific research and the development of Slovenian agriculture. She noted that this was the first time in Slovenian history that such a publicly announced research program had been withdrawn after projects had already been prepared and funding secured. Čalušić described the action as a “slap in the face” to scientists and researchers working to strengthen scientific activity and support the growth of the country's agricultural and forestry sectors.

According to Cigler Kralj, the previous administration at the Ministry of Agriculture had handled the preparation of the tender carelessly and irresponsibly, both regarding this initiative and other matters critical to farmers. In response to criticism, he announced plans to issue a new tender aligned with the needs of the agricultural community and the broader farming sector. He emphasized that the new tender would reflect the priorities of the current government and ensure better alignment with national interests.

The cancellation of the tender surprised several universities, including those in Ljubljana and Maribor, which highlighted the strategic importance of researching areas related to food security, rural life, and natural resources. These institutions expressed hope that the government would quickly provide the necessary financial support and restart the tender process for these vital fields. They stressed that such research plays a crucial role in shaping national policies and ensuring sustainable development in rural areas.

The decision also raised questions about the transparency of the process. According to reports, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth received a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture informing them of the decision to cancel the tender. Officials at the Ministry of Education stated they followed standard procedures and informed Aris accordingly. However, there was no prior communication with the research institutions or universities that had prepared their applications, leaving many researchers confused and frustrated.

Researchers and institutions affected by the cancellation have voiced concerns over the lack of communication and the sudden nature of the decision. For example, Nike Kranjc, director of the Forestry Institute of Slovenia, confirmed that her team had submitted applications for all four forest-related topics included in the original tender. She expressed surprise at the cancellation, noting that such an event had not occurred in the past 30 years. She added that the institute had learned of the change only after checking the Aris website, as no official notification had been sent to the applicants.

The incident has placed pressure on the new Agriculture Ministry to address the concerns of the scientific community and ensure that future initiatives are transparently communicated and properly managed. With the new tender still under discussion, the focus now shifts to whether the revised proposal will adequately meet the needs of researchers and align with the government’s strategic goals for the agricultural sector.