The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives, Peace and Trust, as well as the International
Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, and Quantum Science and Technology. Although cooperative integration will perhaps be
the most prominent of the above at the 63rd International Agricultural and Food Fair AGRA, peace and trust, which are
promoted by international economic and professional cooperation, are of the utmost importance to all of us. And AGRA,
as the most important trade fair of its kind in the wider region, will surely once again be a celebration of international,
cross-sectoral and intergenerational networking, the transfer of knowledge and experience between different professions,
between governmental and non-governmental organisations, and a meeting point for the exchange of products, services
and advice between producers and consumers. Adaptation to climate change and new opportunities in food production
and processing, opened up by quantum science with artificial intelligence and new materials, are increasingly important for
the world, agriculture and food.
AGRA will showcase breakthrough technological achievements of the world’s leading producers and innovative young
companies. It will strive to strengthen the countryside, preserve the environment and biodiversity, improve crop yields
and secure supplies. It will shorten supply chains and encourage produce cultivation in the immediate vicinity. It will pay
homage to tried and tested traditional knowledge and skills. It will look to a sustainable future through the use of renewable
resources and the latest scientific findings.
An important part of the fair will once again be the international assessments of the quality of agricultural machinery and
equipment, meat and dairy products, soft drinks, honey, wine, and packaging that will herald the excellence of the AGRA
fair from the spring onwards. The medals of independent professional assessments carried out under its auspices, with
which manufacturers mark their products on store shelves, are proving time and again to be an excellent marketing tool
and an indispensable quality criterion for manufacturers and consumers.
Agra 2025 will traditionally be highlighted by international B2B events and current expert panels organized by the Ministry
of Economy, Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, the Chamber of Agriculture and the Slovenia Forest Service,
the Cooperative Union, the Chamber of Agricultural and Food Enterprises at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, the
Slovenian Forestry Institute and other important national and international institutions.
The special features of the fair continue to be the expert presentations on cattle breeding, horse breeding, small livestock
breeding, and indigenous breeds of domestic animals in both the arena and stables. The general public will also be attracted
by small animal exhibitions, fish in the fair’s pond as well as a variety of activities for the youngest visitors.
Practical tips will be offered by the central fair garden, the Pomurski sejem Permaculture Centre with a model apiary and a
small house made of straw bales, the Meeting point under the new fair hayrack, the forest park plantation, the Ecological
Polygon and Garden of the Rakičan Biotechnical School in cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
and a plantation of old varieties of apple trees and grapevines widely grown in Slovenia. The Wine Temple and the Bee
Pavilion will also attract visitors.
There will be a splendid accompanying program with the presentation of awards to the winners of the quality assessments,
the national wood chopping competition of forest owners and other competitions, rank organisation and social gatherings,
tastings of selected wines and varied cuisine.
Let’s celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives, Peace and Trust with shared business and professional success!