Agricultural Conference 2024

Are you a smallholder? Or have you started farming recently? Now, you can participate in one of the largest and most prestigious agricultural events of the year, the Agricultural Conference 2024 in Siófok, between the 4th and the 5th of December, with a 50% discount.

Please fill out the following form, and Portfolio’s professional team will assess your claim so that you can redeem your discounted ticket.

If you have filled out the form, save it and send it to kistermeloikedvezmeny@portfolio.hu

The subject of the letter: Portfolio Agricultural Conference 2024 – smallholder application

You can access the form by clicking here.

The participation fee does not include the registration fee for the professional programme on the 3rd of December, nor the dinner on that day. You can register for the programmes on the 3rd of December on the second page of the application.

Conference Eve – 3rd of December

The section will explore how reliably weather patterns, which fundamentally affect agricultural production, can be forecasted for both the short and long term and what kind of weather can be predicted for 2025. It will also address the extreme weather conditions and new risks that accelerated climate change may bring to the agricultural sector in the coming period. In the discussion, renowned meteorological experts will analyse the factors influencing climate change, the likely trends, and their impacts or consequences on weather patterns in Hungary. The discussion will also cover which Hungarian regions may be the most at risk and where the largest temperature fluctuations or changes in precipitation distribution are expected in the coming years and decades.

What are the chances of another devastating drought next year?

Can we already say with certainty that heat warnings will be issued in 2025?

Will spring frost damage remain an occasional inconvenience, or is it set to become an unavoidable phenomenon?

What are El Niño and La Niña, and what do they have to do with us?

What are the chances of extreme weather events in Hungary in the future?

Can we expect more frequent and significant inland and river floods?

Could the risk of storm and hail damage increase, and is the national hail damage mitigation system functioning effectively?

Conference Eve – 3rd of December

Unconventionally, the Agricultural Conference will address the exciting economic policy and domestic political events that could significantly impact the daily operations of agricultural stakeholders in the coming months and years. The section not only reviews the anticipated key changes and economic and internal policy forecasts but also aims to illuminate and assess the most critical issues from the perspective of agricultural businesses, thus providing answers to how the likely economic and political trends may impact their actual operations. Participants will receive useful background information on the most significant conditions and pitfalls influencing macroeconomic factors, the expected developments in domestic political circumstances, and the opportunities for representing the interests of the agricultural sector within the context of the country's economic and political landscape.

What are the important economic policy developments that the domestic agricultural sector should pay attention to in the coming period?

What international events are most likely to affect domestic economic and political conditions?

How might the domestic political balance of power change between now and the 2026 elections?

How is the political representation and advocacy of agriculture today, and how can it evolve in the next period?

What economic and political processes could be disadvantageous or beneficial for the participants in the agricultural sector?

Conference Eve – 3rd of December

Twenty years after joining the European Union, what condition is the Hungarian agricultural economy in? This session reviews the situation of the agricultural sector with the participation of renowned experts. It will discuss how domestic agricultural enterprises can overcome emerging management and market difficulties, what the biggest challenges will be in the coming years, and the direction we are heading in or should be heading. The section also aims to provide answers regarding the most prominent breakthrough points for the sector and how market players can best leverage the available business opportunities. The comprehensive, interactive discussion will introduce and lay the groundwork for the substantive professional programmes of the Agriculture Conference over the next two days.
 
What position does the Hungarian agricultural economy hold in the EU agricultural sector?

Is the domestic sector a winner or a loser from joining the EU?

What trajectory is the Hungarian agricultural economy on, and is there a need for a change in direction?

What are the biggest breakthrough opportunities for the agricultural sector in the coming years?
 
How might the EU and domestic agricultural regulatory environment change?
 
What are the biggest challenges and threats that Hungarian agricultural stakeholders need to prepare for?

What strategy should agricultural enterprises follow in their business and investment decisions?

KIZÁRÓLAG REGISZTRÁLT RÉSZTVEVŐINK SZÁMÁRA ELÉRHETŐ!

A konferencia 1. és 2. napján (december 4-5.) ingyenes masszázs lehetőséget biztosítunk.

A részvétel regisztrációhoz között. Helyét kizárólag akkor tudja lefoglalni, ha már rendelkezik belépőjeggyel a rendezvényre. A jelentkezés elfogadásáról értesítést küldünk. Amennyiben az adott időpont betelt az a jelentkezés során már nem választható.

Időpontok:
1. nap - december 4. 14:00-18:00 között
2. nap - december 5. 9:00-13:00 között

Felhívjuk szíves figyelmüket, hogy vis maior esetén a programváltoztatás- vagy lemondás jogát fenntartjuk.

An unprecedented wave of farmer protests erupted at the beginning of the year in the European Union due to dissatisfaction with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Following the recent European Parliament elections, one of the most important questions today is how the CAP might change, whether the green ambitions viewed as excessive will ease, and how the regulatory environment that significantly influences the situation of agricultural stakeholders may develop in the coming period. The section also addresses whether EU expenditures that can be allocated to the CAP will increase or decrease, what the main budgetary priorities might be, and how, in line with these, the short- and long-term support positions of domestic farmers may change.

How might the results of the European Parliament elections affect the EU CAP?

Could the supposedly excessive "green pressure" within the Common Agricultural Policy ease?

What new directions might emerge in EU agricultural regulation?
 
Could the regulatory environment become more advantageous for farmers?

Will the EU budgetary resources affecting the CAP increase or decrease?

How might the support positions of domestic agricultural sector stakeholders change in the coming years?

Could the macroeconomic environment fundamentally affecting domestic agricultural enterprises become more favourable in the upcoming period, and what are the development prospects for the Hungarian economy? This section will explore these questions and analyse the key factors influencing access to credit and credit conditions. It will discuss how the financing opportunities for agricultural market players may evolve and what preferential loan programmes and support schemes they can access. Financial sector leaders will also share information on the new credit products that banks are offering to their agricultural clients.

How might the domestic macroeconomic environment change in the upcoming period?

How might the conditions for accessing credit and the terms of loans change in the domestic market?
 
From a financing perspective, how do financial institutions assess their agricultural clients?
 
What are the key banking requirements for agricultural lending?

How can agricultural sector stakeholders access cheap loans?
 
What discounted loan programmes and support schemes can agricultural enterprises access?

What loan products and structures have banks and financial institutions developed or are currently developing for the agricultural sector?

The conditions for feeding have significantly improved compared to the past, as evidenced by the increase in feed sales in the domestic market. However, it is essential to consider whether the more favourable trend can be maintained and in what direction the operational conditions of the feed industry may change. The section will explore how the factors influencing the feed market may evolve in 2025, what price trends livestock farmers can expect, what investment opportunities may arise from rural development resources for the feed industry, and what the latest technologies and formulations are that can help livestock producers improve their feed efficiency. The section also addresses the new challenges posed by artificial and lab-grown meats and the efforts aimed at their regulation, which may impact the market position of livestock farmers and feed manufacturers.

What key trends are likely to characterise the domestic feed market in 2025?

What feed prices can livestock farmers expect next year?

How can feed costs be reduced in the key livestock sectors?

What are the latest technologies and products that livestock farming enterprises can use to make their feeding more efficient?

What threat do lab-grown and artificial meats pose to livestock farming and, indirectly, to the feed industry?

When will lab-grown and artificial meats be banned in Hungary?

In Hungary, investments in machinery have stalled due to the profitability issues in arable crop production, as these clearly impact farmers' decisions regarding machinery purchases. As a result, there is a particularly important role today for the subsidies that encourage and facilitate agricultural machinery purchases. The session analyses the current machinery market situation, presents the details of the rural development grant that supports precision farming and outlines the new loan and leasing structures available for machinery purchases. Additionally, experts will discuss the agricultural economic applications of robotics and the profit-enhancing modern solutions that artificial intelligence and digitalisation techniques can offer to agricultural enterprises.
What price and distribution trends are expected in the domestic agricultural machinery market under the current situation?
 
How can farmers obtain support from the precision rural development grant?

What new leasing and loan structures can be accessed for agricultural machinery purchases?

In which areas of the agricultural economy can the latest robotic solutions be most effectively applied?

What advantages can the use of artificial intelligence provide to agricultural businesses?

What are the latest digitalisation development trends and opportunities in agriculture?

In today's uncertain and cost-increasing energy market, it is becoming increasingly important for agricultural businesses to improve the efficiency of their energy use. The section will review the expected energy market trends and explore the opportunities for industry players to enhance their energy efficiency. There will be a discussion on the available grants and funding opportunities for these purposes, as well as the renewable energy sources that agricultural businesses can rely on and the efficiency-enhancing renewable energy developments they can implement. The other topic of the section will focus on how producers can improve the efficiency of their fertiliser use. Experts will analyse the fertiliser market processes and provide a forecast of how fertiliser prices may develop in the domestic market in the coming period.

What supply and pricing conditions can be expected in the energy markets?

What funding opportunities are available for agricultural businesses to improve their energy use efficiency?

What could be the most effective renewable energy developments in agriculture?

What factors could influence the domestic fertiliser market in the upcoming period?

How might fertiliser prices evolve in 2025?

What new products and technologies can farmers use to enhance the efficiency of their fertiliser use?

The food industry plays a prominent role in Hungary and is now considered a distinguished sector from the perspectives of food security, sovereignty, and strategic importance. The session provides a detailed analysis of the investment opportunities for food industry enterprises, with a particular focus on grant support available through rural development programmes. Additionally, the experts will address the industry’s competitiveness strategy, the experiences regarding regulatory changes affecting food packaging, as well as future modification proposals and modern, innovative packaging solutions.

What are the key elements of the competitiveness strategy for the food industry?

Which businesses can become national champions, and what advantages can they enjoy?

How can businesses in the food industry successfully apply for rural development grants?

What are the most promising development directions for the domestic food industry?

What are the key experiences regarding regulatory changes related to food packaging, and what further modifications can be expected?

What innovative packaging solutions can food industry businesses implement?

Today, one of the biggest challenges for domestic horticulture is how to effectively utilise the support opportunities offered by newly available rural development grants. The main focus of the section is on the opportunities that may arise for the development of greenhouses, polytunnels, cold storage facilities, and plantations within the sector. It will highlight the most significant investment intentions and discuss which market players may successfully apply for grants based on previous experiences. The session will also address the sector's fight against climate change, which is also affecting horticulture, including issues such as varietal conversion and the use of modern technologies.

What are the most urgent development requirements of the domestic horticultural sector?

Who can successfully apply for the support of rural development grants?

Based on previous grant application experiences, what are the most popular development objectives in the Hungarian horticultural sector?

What tools can producers use to combat the adverse effects of climate change?

Which crops require varietal changes for modern vegetable and fruit production?

Which fruit plantations and vegetable crops should be prioritised for development in the future, and in which areas is it advisable to discontinue production?

After a series of crises in recent years, the pressure on domestic livestock farms has eased, and output has increased in the main livestock sectors. The session will outline what farming conditions will be like next year in the main product sectors, primarily cattle, pig, poultry and sheep, what profitability producers can expect, and what development and animal health challenges and support opportunities they should be prepared for. In this section, the Portfolio Group will host the Dairy Forum, which will focus on whether the domestic dairy sector is set for a more sustained recovery after the recent series of crises and what further support and stabilisation regulatory measures are needed.

What cost and profitability conditions can farmers expect next year in the key livestock sectors?

What new development and other support options can livestock farmers access?

How might the animal health requirements change, and what support can be utilised for prevention?

How might the profitability situation of the dairy sector develop in the coming years?

What developments are needed in milk production and the dairy industry to enhance competitiveness?

How might milk purchase prices and market processes affecting the dairy sector evolve in the coming years?

What measures can be taken to combat the increasing threat of imports in the domestic milk market?

The potential applications of drones in Hungarian agriculture are becoming increasingly promising; therefore, it is now essential for farmers to be aware of the legal regulations, technical requirements, and economic conditions surrounding drone use. The session will explore the latest regulatory requirements for the use of drones in agriculture, what types of drones are available to farmers, and the areas of farming where businesses can use drones effectively. The discussion will also cover when to decide to buy a drone and the cost and return/profitability ratios of drone investments.

What are the basic agricultural conditions for legal drone use?

How is the domestic drone pilot training system structured?

What new regulations, for example on crop protection, could facilitate the use of drones in agriculture?
 
Which agricultural activities are worth using drones for?
 
What cost structures and profitability indicators characterise the use of drones?

What types of drones are suitable for agriculture, and for what purposes should they be used? 

How to protect their crops in the face of increasingly extreme weather conditions has become one of the most important issues for domestic farms. The experts will focus on presenting new pesticides and their application technologies, as well as biological pest control solutions that enhance the effectiveness of pest management. They will also discuss the risks associated with the use of illegal or counterfeit pesticides. Another key topic of the section will be the reform proposals aimed at transforming seed multiplication and distribution within the European Union. Additionally, there will be discussions on what seed prices and variety availability farmers can expect in 2025.
 
How can farmers protect their crops amid increasingly extreme weather conditions?

What new plant protection products are available for effective crop protection?

What are the main directions of biological plant protection developments?

What risks are associated with the use of counterfeit and illegal plant protection products?

What regulatory reform is in store for EU seed propagation and distribution?

How can farmers mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on seed use?

What variety offerings and price conditions are expected next year in the domestic seed market?

Can domestic food consumption enter a sustained growth trajectory, and how are the sales opportunities in the food industry expected to evolve in the coming period? This section focuses on these topics, aiming to provide a forecast for industry enterprises to enhance their planning capabilities. The participants in the discussion will address the marketing tools and strategies that food industry businesses can employ to achieve success in both domestic and international markets. There will also be a discussion on the main ways to increase domestic agricultural exports and what financing and support solutions can be used by the industry to develop exports.

What consumption trends are likely to emerge in the domestic food market?

How can food industry businesses strengthen their positions in the domestic market?

What types of support and funding can be accessed in community agrarian marketing?

In which areas is there potential for increasing Hungarian agricultural exports?

What financing and support structures can assist in the development of food industry exports?

By the end of summer, agricultural producers had reported drought damage on nearly 400,000 hectares, further underscoring the urgent necessity for accelerated irrigation development in Hungary once again this year. The session will highlight where opportunities for irrigation investments may arise, the costs that producers may face, and the potential support they can obtain through new rural development grant opportunities. The session will also address how banks can complement the new grant support with various irrigation loans, as well as what administrative investment and other fee support measures agricultural enterprises can expect as additional facilitation.

Where is the necessary state infrastructure for irrigation development currently available or expected to be established in the near future?

What new irrigation development rural development grants can agricultural producers apply for?

What irrigation loan schemes are banks developing for investments?

What costs should farmers anticipate for irrigation developments?

Which crops should be irrigated, and when can the investments be expected to pay off?

What administrative simplifications and fee subsidies can farmers expect in irrigation development and water usage?

What are the most advanced irrigation solutions for various field crops?

The New Irrigation Rights: What Should Be Known About This Opportunity, and How Can It Benefit Investing Farmers?

Due to drastic declines in weather and market conditions, the profitability of arable crop production has worsened significantly. These negative trends appear to be so severe that they may necessitate a substantial change in the previously established sowing structure. The section explores what could be cultivated instead of the long-dominant crops, primarily wheat, corn, and sunflowers, and how farmers might partially replace these crops with alternative plants. Experts also analyse how competitive farm sizes are changing in Hungary due to economic, market, and weather impacts, as well as the opportunities and tools available to farmers to survive in the rapidly changing agricultural landscape with their cultivated areas.

How is climate change affecting the crop structure in Hungary?

In which regions can we expect further drastic climatic impacts to occur?

What crops can farmers plant instead of the traditionally cultivated, extensive arable crops?

How do changing agricultural conditions affect the competitive farm size in Hungary?

In the long term, what size of agricultural operations will be able to survive in the intensifying market competition?

This year, we recognise the most outstanding Hungarian performances in 9 categories!

Portfolio Group will acknowledge the most successful and remarkable agribusiness actors once again at one of the most important agricultural events of the year, the 2024 Agricultural Conference. The winners will be selected by a prestigious jury who will reward the following categories:

Woman Agripreneur of the Year,

Young Agripreneur of the Year,

Horticulturist of the Year,

Livestock Producer of the Year,

Crop Producer of the Year,

Agricultural Innovation of the Year,

the winner of the Award for Sustainable Agriculture,

Agricultural Investment of the Year,

the Portfolio Award for Agribusiness.

After the awards ceremony, everything will be given for our participants to discuss the most exciting professional issues and create new partnerships and business links or tend to the existing ones in a relaxed atmosphere.

We provide various programmes for your evening entertainment, as usual:

• Participate in a Casino Party with your colleagues

• Roll a ball in the hotel bowling alley

•This year, we also considered lovers of quality beers, wines, champagnes, brandies and gins.

• Stay with us until the end of the event for a stuffed cabbage to close the evening at midnight.

Sustainability expectations are becoming increasingly important in EU agriculture, making it essential for producers to understand how EU regulations regarding sustainability are evolving, what obligations they impose on farming practices, and how these regulations will impact agricultural businesses. The section reviews the legal framework surrounding agricultural sustainability, including the recently adopted EU Nature Restoration Law and expected changes to the requirements, and analyses whether further regulatory ambitions could have a production-reducing effect on Hungarian agriculture. Experts will present the advantages, criteria, and opportunities for regenerative soil management in Hungary and in this context, they will also discuss the long-term business opportunities that carbon credit trading may offer to agricultural producers. There will also be a discussion on which farmers can participate in the long-awaited new agri-environmental and organic farming programme starting next year and what level of funding they can expect from these grants from 2025 onwards.

How do the EU's sustainability efforts impact Hungarian agriculture?

What obligations might the recently adopted Nature Restoration Law impose on producers?

How might the EU regulations concerning sustainability change in the upcoming period?

Could the sustainability regulations lead to significant production reductions in Hungarian agriculture?

What are the criteria and advantages of regenerative soil management?

What soil-friendly technologies can farmers use in Hungary, and what input materials/products assist in sustainable soil management?

What long-term business advantages could the trading of carbon dioxide quotas provide for agricultural producers?

Who can benefit from the re-launched agri-environment and organic farming grants, and what amount of support can farmers expect to receive starting next year?

While the farming conditions for agricultural sector players are fundamentally shaped by the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), it is becoming increasingly important to pay attention to regulatory areas that are not part of the CAP but can significantly influence the operational scope and opportunities within the agricultural economy. The session will examine the potential impact of EU regulations outside the Common Agricultural Policy on agricultural production. It will also discuss the additional sources that domestic agricultural market participants can apply for beyond the CAP, as well as the purposes for which the awarded funding can be utilised. The discussion will focus on how agricultural businesses can access additional EU funding beyond the CAP and the most effective ways to utilise these funds to enhance their competitiveness.

What impact could EU regulation outside the CAP have on domestic agricultural production?

What support can Hungarian agricultural businesses apply for outside the Common Agricultural Policy?

How can farmers access additional funding beyond the amounts available through the CAP?

In which farming areas can funds from outside the CAP be used?

How can the available funding improve the competitiveness of Hungarian agriculture?

Domestic agricultural market participants must stay up-to-date with the latest agricultural innovations that can significantly enhance the effectiveness of their economic activities. Adopting and applying new products and farming management practices can guarantee that agricultural enterprises operate more efficiently and competitively in line with modern requirements. The session will feature ten-minute presentations on outstanding and exemplary agricultural innovation developments in Hungary.

What to expect in the cereals market remains a major puzzle for domestic farmers. It is not only extreme weather conditions that cause problems for farmers but also opaque and unpredictable market processes. The session will focus on providing producers with a forecast of the factors affecting the cereals market and the prices and outlets expected in 2025. There will also be a discussion on how farmers can protect themselves against risks in the cereals market and which varieties and technologies they should switch to in order to reduce their exposure to weather and market anomalies. The discussion will also cover the quality requirements of buyers in the cereals sector and the new market opportunities for the production and sales of premium wheat.

What factors could determine the trends in the cereals market in 2025?

How can buying prices develop in the cereals market?

What costs can farmers expect next year, and how will the profitability of the main crops such as wheat and maize change?

How long should producers store their cereal stocks and when should they enter the market?

How can the weather and market risks of cereal production be reduced?

How can we achieve better prices on the market and what varieties and cultivation technologies can be used to meet quality market demands?

What opportunities can premium quality wheat offer in today's market and farming conditions?

What are the main trends that are shaping innovation in the world of agribusiness today? This is the focus of this session, which aims to provide domestic agribusiness actors with a reference point on the technological innovations that could soon become part of everyday farming. Farm businesses must be aware of the potential of innovative products and how they can be introduced into their own farming practices as soon as possible. It may become an existential issue for the Hungarian agricultural sector to react quickly and flexibly to accelerating innovation trends, as this is the only way for the participants in the sector to maintain and improve their competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets.

What are the main innovation trends in agriculture worldwide?

What are the innovation trends in crop and livestock production?

What are the most significant recent innovation achievements that Hungarian farmers should pay attention to?

How can domestic agricultural enterprises learn about innovative products and technologies most quickly?

What do the actors in the agricultural sector need to do to successfully adopt international and domestic innovation results?

There has been a surge in tenders this year for new rural development support for agricultural operators. The session will summarise the experience of the new calls so far, who can win, and the most important aspects of evaluation, implementation, and grant payments. The experts also outline the Ministry of Agriculture's further plans for rural development funds and in which sectoral areas new tenders may appear in 2025 and beyond.

What are the main lessons from this year's rural development tenders?

What criteria are used to evaluate applications and who can win?

What are the main criteria for implementing and monitoring tenders?

When can operators in the sector access the aid they have been awarded?

What other rural development proposals could emerge in 2025?

This year, for the first time, the Agriculture Conference will take a detailed look at the most important aspects of oilseed production, in particular sunflower and rapeseed. The session will look at what farmers should consider concerning these crops and which varieties can reduce weather risks and are most in demand on the market. The experts analyse market trends and buying and selling opportunities for sunflower and rapeseed and also look at what prices farmers can expect in 2025. This will also include a discussion on the expected cost situation so that it can be seen what prices and average yields will make production profitable next year.

What aspects of sunflower and rapeseed production should producers consider?

Which varieties can reduce weather and plant health risks?

What is the importance of species selection in competitive sunflower and rapeseed production?

What sunflower and rapeseed prices can we expect in 2025?

What costs can producers expect to pay and what yield averages can they achieve with sunflower and rapeseed?

Earlier this year, Parliament adopted a package of producer protection legislation, many of whose provisions will enter into force from January 2025. The declared aim of the legislative changes is to give farmers faster access to the value of their goods and a better contractual position. The session summarises how farmers, buyers and traders will be affected by the new legislation, who may benefit from the package, and in which cases market players may face penalties. The discussion will also cover, among other things, payment deadlines, non-payment penalties, compulsory risk-sharing, contract grower cooperation, and cases of occupational disqualification.

What are the most important elements of the producer protection package?

What provisions will apply to market operators from 2025?

What payment deadlines do buyers have to meet and in which cases can they expect penalties?

How should the provisions on mandatory risk-sharing and contract grower cooperation be interpreted?

In what cases can an occupational disqualification be used as a sanction?

Overall, what benefits could the package bring to farmers?