site.bta11th National Meeting of Agricultural Producers to Open in Kazanlak

The 11th National Meeting of Agricultural Producers will open at the Kings' Valley Medical & Spa Hotel in Kazanlak, Central Bulgaria, on Wednesday. The event, organized by the Association of Agricultural Producers in Bulgaria, will focus on pressing issues in the agricultural sector.

The two-day forum will be officially opened by Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov. Discussions will cover a range of topics, including advancements in agricultural technology, securing a skilled workforce, sustainability, innovations in direct payments, eco-schemes, and organic farming and agroecological interventions.

Invited to participate in the discussions are European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen, Mario Milushev from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Snezhana Blagoeva from Bulgaria’s Permanent Representation to the EU, and Bulgarian Deputy Ministers of Agriculture Lozana Vasileva and Yanislav Yanchev, among others. The event will once again bring together leading experts from Bulgaria and abroad to address the most pressing challenges facing agriculture, the organizers said.

This year’s highlights include the future of EU agricultural policy, new opportunities and challenges for farmers in 2025, investments and state aid, sustainable land use and renewable energy investments, the impact of new EU regulations on agribusiness, and trends in grain markets and climate adaptation.

The forum will be structured into several panel discussions. The first panel will explore the future of EU agricultural policy, with participants discussing the vision for the future of the EU’s agriculture and food sector, the new EU agenda, the European Green Deal, and Bulgaria’s stance on major issues within the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

The second panel will focus on developments in direct payments, eco-schemes, and interventions for organic farming and agroecology. Discussions will cover national regulations, the readiness of information systems, and recommendations to help farmers avoid common pitfalls, etc.

During a panel focused on investments, participants will be able to discuss opportunities for investment and state aid in 2025 aimed at supporting both the agri-food sector and non-agricultural activities. The panel will also provide an update on the progress and challenges in implementing the Rural Development Programme. Special attention will be given to the launch of the insurance premium co-financing intervention, designed to help farmers manage risks.

The forum will also explore opportunities for sustainable land use and investments in renewable energy as key drivers of rural development. An emphasis will be placed on Carbonsafe carbon credits and how they can generate real income through sustainable farming practices.

Another key discussion will centre on the impact of new European environmental and social regulations on agribusiness. Topics will include the preparedness of Bulgarian agribusiness for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations and the rules and potential sanctions under "social conditionality" in the Common Agricultural Policy.

The participants in the event will also examine current trends, prospects, and expectations in the grain markets, discussing how the agricultural sector can adapt to climate change and better manage risks.

The 10th National Meeting of Agricultural Producers, held in Kazanlak in March 2024, focused on the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Agricultural and Rural Development in Bulgaria (2023-2027), environmental sustainability, investment opportunities, land relations in this country, state aid, and the challenges ahead for farmers, among others.