I was quoted in Daily News Hungary regarding my recently published paper on the needed reforms in Hungarian agricultural policy, which you can read here.

Here are the quotes in Daily News Hungary:

The study identifies adapting to drought as one of the most pressing issues facing Hungarian farmers. The record drought of 2022 alone caused more than HUF 1 trillion in damage to the country’s agricultural sector.

Wirtz recommends reforming Hungary’s water-use system, removing barriers that make irrigation investments more difficult and speeding up the adoption of drought-resistant crop varieties.

The report also highlights the potential of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). It argues that Hungary could follow Denmark’s example and position itself as one of Europe’s leading centres for developing crop varieties that are more resistant to drought while requiring fewer resources.

The report also rejects the idea of introducing tariffs or further import restrictions on the grain market. Instead, it recommends helping farms on the Great Hungarian Plain adjust to changing market conditions, including by moving towards livestock farming and horticultural production.

According to Wirtz, restricting imports would ultimately push up food prices for consumers rather than solving the underlying problems facing Hungarian agriculture.

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