The future of Hungarian seeds – professional discussion at Törökszentmiklós Agricultural Zrt.
A professional discussion entitled “The future of Hungarian seeds” was held at TM. Ltd. The event was attended by Imre Hubai, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sándor F. Kovács, Member of Parliament, Zsolt Herczeg, Member of Parliament, László Horváth, owner of TM. Zrt., and Péter Miskucza, CEO of TM. Zrt. As part of the program, participants toured the company’s modern seed processing plant and Knowledge Center, where they discussed the future of domestic seed breeding, production, and processing.
The development of the Hungarian seed sector is a matter of national strategic interest
In recent years, the size of corn seed production areas in Hungary has steadily declined, resulting in a decrease in seed exports. Meanwhile, a significant portion of the capacity of domestically owned seed processing plants remains unused, which is why increasing the competitiveness of Hungarian seed breeding is a priority.
TM. Zrt.’s arable land and seed plant are suitable for both raw material and F1 seed production and for the processing of hybrid seeds, and can therefore play a key role in the renewal of the domestic seed industry.
Seed production in irrigated areas – the key to the future
The participants of the professional forum agreed that seed production should become a national priority. It is worth focusing on seed production in irrigated areas, as this ensures the production of high-quality, exportable Hungarian seeds and the long-term sustainability of agricultural innovation.
Export opportunities: Central Asia and the post-war Russian market
The future of the Hungarian seed industry cannot be based solely on the domestic market. Central Asian countries, especially Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the Russian market, which is reopening after the war, offer significant export potential. Hungarian seed exports to these regions could strengthen the position of the national agricultural economy in the long term.
Knowledge transfer and scholarship program to support breeding
To ensure long-term success, participants proposed launching a seed breeding scholarship program and expanding agricultural knowledge transfer to the former CIS countries. Linking research and development, innovation, and practical production is essential to maintaining the international competitiveness of the Hungarian seed sector.
Cooperation between three ministries to achieve the objectives
The implementation of the initiative requires the coordinated work of three ministries:
- the Ministry of Agriculture,
- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and
- the Ministry of Innovation and Technology. Their cooperation is essential for strengthening the Hungarian seed sector and expanding its international position.
The aim of the event
The aim of the meeting was to review the current situation and future prospects of the Hungarian seed sector. Key players in the sector – breeders, producers, processors, and distributors – must be brought together in order to restore the Hungarian seed industry to its leading international position with varieties adapted to changing climatic conditions. The participants are committed to increasing the share of domestically bred seeds in Hungary and to ensuring that the country remains a key player in the European and global seed market in the future.
