From 3 to 5 June 2025, partners, researchers, farmers, bakers, local authorities, and civil society actors gathered in Budapest for the Stakeholder Day and the 3rd Annual Meeting of the DIVINFOOD project. Three days full of exchange, field visits, and co-creation!

Engaging discussions on neglected crops

The first day, hosted at Europa Pont, highlighted the project’s main achievements over the past year. The day also featured a series of thematic workshops, addressing key questions such as:

• How can products made from neglected and underutilised crops (NUCs) be better marketed?

• Which information tools can support farmers and processors in their decision-making?

• How can public policy and local authorities help set up territorial networks for agrobiodiversity?

Immersion at Csoroszlya Farm

On the second day, participants travelled to Csoroszlya Farm near Szár for an immersion. The programme included:

• a tour of experimental plots (varieties of soft wheat, durum wheat, and buckwheat – including our NUCS),

• participatory field exercises, allowing participants to step into the shoes of plant breeders,

• a visit to the farm’s Astrié stone mill and processing facilities,

• roundtables on Hungarian Living Labs, with a special focus on cereal-legume combinations from production to cooking.

A highlight of the day was the shared lunch, featuring delicious sourdough breads provided by Orma Gerilla Pékség and Panelpék, a vivid example of how local artisanal bakeries connect biodiversity with food culture.

Workshops and perspectives ahead

The third day brought the consortium together for collaborative workshops on the different work packages: marketing, agronomy, social sciences, dissemination of results, and planning for the year ahead. Valuable insights from the Scientific Advisory Board further enriched the discussions.

The event was also supported by the City of Budapest, represented by Orsolya Barsi, who underlined the importance of local policies for climate protection and sustainable food.

We warmly thank our Hungarian partners – especially ÖMKi – Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Europa Pont for hosting us, and Pipacs Pékség and Urban Food for their excellent catering.

This edition confirmed the energy and commitment of the DIVINFOOD community towards agrobiodiversity and sustainable local food chains.

Next stop: Italy, for the 2026 edition of the Annual Meeting and Stakeholder Days!