Debrecen4U
August 29, 2025
The 34th Farmer Expo has started in Debrecen
Animal husbandry and agriculture are both facing serious challenges, the Minister of Agriculture stated at the opening of the 34th Farmer Expo on Thursday. István Nagy said that this year agriculture had to face a multitude of epidemics. In addition, drought could also cause serious damage.
Despite the epidemics, drought, and economic pressure, the 34th Farmer Expo in Debrecen started with a strong professional presence. At the opening of the event, which will last until Saturday, Minister of Agriculture István Nagy emphasized that agriculture struggles in several arenas every day with the forces of nature and the challenges of the digital space, and it must also stand its ground in market competition. Not only domestic but also foreign professional players arrived at the fair, which this year featured 215 exhibitors, while the event increasingly relies on family-friendly, experience-oriented programs.
The atmosphere of the event was determined by direct professional meetings and local flavors on the first day. János Kotán, one of the visitors to the fair, for example, highlighted a special coffee roasted in Debrecen, which he tasted on site.
“We drank a very delicious, acid-free coffee, which was roasted locally, in Debrecen. A real specialty,” adding the event is not only a professional but also a gastronomic experience.
This year’s 34th Farmer Expo attracted not only domestic agricultural producers and livestock farmers, but also foreign professionals, including those from Poland.
“We could say that the entire Hungarian agriculture is here in Debrecen. Exhibitors also arrived from beyond our borders, which clearly shows that the event has grown to be international,” said László Vaszkó, the fair director of Farmer Expo.
On the opening day of Farmer Expo, István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, gave a presentation, emphasizing that agriculture struggles in four different fields every day: in reality, in the virtual world, and on the domestic and international stage.
“I met with the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, with whom we agreed that Hungary’s borders will remain closed to twenty-two types of Ukrainian agricultural products,” the minister stated, pointing out that the decision aims to protect domestic producers.
The minister also spoke about this year’s challenges. As he said, “Frost in the spring, later bird flu, and then foot-and-mouth disease caused huge problems in domestic agriculture.”
Tibor Szólláth, county president of the National Chamber of Agriculture, also spoke about the challenges facing Hungarian farmers. According to him, cooperation is needed to overcome the problems.
“I believe that the Hungarian countryside is not only production but also culture, and this culture is held together by the community that Hungarian peasants form. They must preserve the sanity that is still capable of holding this country together in some way,” underlined Tibor Szólláth, the county president of the National Chamber of Agriculture.
At the opening, Mayor László Papp emphasized that surface water management is a great challenge not only for agriculture but also for urban management.
“The actors of economic life, the decision-makers of agriculture, the government, and the local governments need a particularly strong, coordinated strategy. The government has been working on this for a long time, and Debrecen is clearly at the forefront of this process, with a stable and forward-looking strategy,” emphasized Mayor László Papp.
The city leader added that the first phase of the Civaqua Program, which brought the Tisza water to Debrecen, was successfully completed three years ago, while the second phase is planned to be launched in 2026. Professional awards were also presented at the expo to the county’s prominent economic actors. The family business of Anett Sósné Erdelics has received several awards.
“We are very happy that we received the special award of the Hungarian Farmers’ Association, as well as the award for the most beautiful stand,” said Anett Sósné Erdelics, owner of Léta-Tészta Kft.
A company based in Monostorpály, which produces only gluten-free foods, also became an award winner at this year’s trade fair.
“It was a particularly great honor to receive the MAGOSZ special award this year, which was awarded to the most innovative exhibitor,” added Gábor Vaszkó, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Civita Group Nyrt.
The Farmer Expo awaits visitors with a spectacular exhibition space and family-friendly programs on the university’s Böszörményi út campus until Saturday.
Source and photo credit:dehir.hu
