The conference, in the form of a webinar, was organised as part of the Poland's presidency in the Visegrad Group nearing completion . The conference was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the involvement of the BIOEAST Food Systems Thematic Working Group, whose work is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in cooperation with Polish scientific institutions (Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute and Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences).

- “Today’s conference is very important for us. This is the next step in a series of activities carried out by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to increase involvement and activity in international initiatives in the field of agricultural research and innovation,” these were the words used by Secretary of State Anna Gembicka at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to open the conference.

- “The ongoing transformation of food systems raises a number of challenges that require an appropriate, effective response, both at global, national and local level,” said Anna Gembicka

- “Research and innovation play an important role in the transformation of food systems. Indeed, there is an urgent need to develop and implement new technologies and innovative solutions or to strengthen already existing resources in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of food systems. Such an approach requires joint efforts of practice, science and public administration, but first and foremost identification of challenges and needs in the area of research and innovation,” emphasised the Deputy Minister.

- “In the framework of the cooperation of the BIOEAST Initiative represented by the Ministries of Agriculture of 11 Central and Eastern European countries, we are undertaking a joint debate focused on discussing the role of our macro-region in the development of research and innovation to accelerate the transformation into sustainable, healthy and socially inclusive food systems in Europe,” added Secretary of State Anna Gembicka.

The aim of the meeting was to present the initiatives and activities undertaken in the field of research and innovation for sustainable food systems at an international forum.

The conference was an opportunity to discuss together and talk about the potential and commitment of Central and Eastern European countries to develop research and innovation and to accelerate the transformation towards sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems in Europe.

The event was also an opportunity to present the work results of the BIOEAST Food Systems Thematic Working Group which is developing a thematic research agenda on food systems for the BIOEAST countries.

In the content-related part of the conference, presentations were given by EC representatives from the DG AGRI and DG RTD, a representative of the FAO and the INRAE institute – a coordinator of the work of the Food Systems Strategy Group of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Research at the EU, the BIOEAST Food Systems Thematic Working Group (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute and Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences and representatives of ministries, institutes and universities of the BIOEAST countries).

The conference in the form of a webinar was attended by more than 100 participants from 15 European countries, including representatives and experts in the field of research and innovation of food systems, representatives of interested ministries, institutions subordinate to and supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, academia, scientific units, units cooperating in the field of R&D&I, representatives of the BIOEAST countries, SCAR and the European Commission.

Furthermore, the conference was also attended by representatives of the BIOEAST Initiative Food Systems Thematic Working Group, including representatives of ministries responsible for agriculture, research institutes and higher education institutions of the BIOEAST Initiative countries, among others, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Croatia.