The first workshop of Central and Eastern Sustainable Agriculture
Network (CEESA) and these proceedings are the result of work and joint
efforts of a number of people who have invested their enthusiasm and experience
to the successful launch of the Network.
Professor K. Hagedorn of Humboldt University deserves a special recognition
for having conceived this idea and for providing support throughout the
process of its realization together with his associates A. Luetteken, B.
Holthusen and R. Judis. Their work on development of the concept of the
Network, moderation and leadership throughout the workshop, as well as
review of country reports, was crucial contribution to the succesful launch
of CEESA.
Intellectual input to the workshop provided by the authors of country
reports and experiences shared by participants during discussions were
vital for the creation of a cross-section picture on the relationship between
the agriculture and the environment and the state of sustainability of
agricultural and farming systems in participating countries.
Particular appreciation goes to Z. S. Karnicki, the former FAO Subregional
representative, for his support to collaboration between SEUR and Humboldt
University in preparation and implementation of the first CEESA workshop,
as well as to his successor J. Suchman for his encouragement to the follow-up
activities of the Network.
L. Podmanicky and his associates from
Gödöll? University of Agricultural Sciences, have provided excellent
support in the organization and implementation of the first workshop.
Finaly, a note of appreciation goes to S. Tanic and D. Minoiu for final
revision and editorial work, needed to publish these proceedings.
This workshop has been an excellent example of growing cooperation
between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, who are faced with
the absolutely unique challenge of transforming their economies from centrally
planned to market oriented ones. This process by itself is not an easy
one, but is even more complex due to the additional task of accession to
the European Union. With closer integration into Western Europe where the
environment, food quality and animal welfare are already prominent in the
agenda of public concerns and are more and more included into agriculture
and rural policies, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will have
to pay far greater attention to these matters.
One fundamental issue very much related to the present changes taking
place in Central and Eastern Europe, but also important in the global context,
is the sustainability of agriculture. Many countries in Central and Eastern
Europe are producing, or have the potential to produce, a surplus of some
agricultural products which require sound long-term policies and strategies.
Those policies and strategies have to be founded firstly on a reliable
knowledge of intensive but sustainable production systems and secondly,
on human capacity and on institutions needed to develop sustainable agricultural
sectors of national economies. Therefore, sustainable agricultural development
remains a cornerstone of food security in a given region and has been recognized
as one of the priorities of FAO assistance in the Subregion.
One of the ways to assist in the area of sustainable agricultural development
and building on past FAO initiatives, is to support the networks on sustainable
agricultural development and sustainable intensification. I hope that the
Central and Eastern Sustainable Agriculture Network will facilitate collaboration
and help in both the collection of and the use of, knowledge concerning
the compatibility of transition strategies and the idea of sustainable
agricultural development in the participating countries.
This workshop was an example of excellent co-operation initiated by
Mr Stjepan Tanic, Farming Systems Development Officer, during the mandate
of my predecessor, Mr Zbigniew S. Karnicki, between the most prestigious
agricultural research institutes from the region and the FAO, in particular
the Subregional Office in Budapest. This is not only an good sign
and a serious commitment, but also implies a responsibility to find ways
in providing knowledge which could be transformed into strategies and policies
leading to sustainable agriculture in the Subregion.
Jaroslav Suchman
FAO Subregional Representative
for Central and Eastern Europe