Bilateral meeting with H.E. David Vlajčić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Republic of Croatia

Zagreb - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met today with H.E. David Vlajčić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Republic of Croatia, during the Director-General’s official visit to Croatia. 

The Director-General congratulated the Minister on Croatia’s remarkable development over recent years and commended the country's rich agricultural, food and environmental diversity. The two sides discussed Croatia's varied landscapes, from the Adriatic coast to the fertile agricultural regions of Slavonia, and the importance of preserving this diversity as a basis for sustainable agrifood systems and healthy diets. They also exchanged views on the importance of fisheries and aquaculture for food security, livelihoods and rural development.

The Director-General highlighted the significance of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 and presented the Minister with the commemorative medal marking the Year. The two sides discussed the vital role of women in agriculture and rural communities, as well as the need to support future generations of farmers and strengthen the resilience of rural areas.

The discussion also focused on sustainable agrifood systems transformation, rural development and opportunities for enhanced technical cooperation between Croatia and FAO. The Director-General noted Croatia's considerable expertise in crop and livestock production, aquaculture, biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management, and discussed the potential for FAO to facilitate broader technical exchanges between Croatia and countries seeking to learn from Croatia’s experience.

The Director-General further noted that Croatia's strong culture of high-quality and diverse food production, supported by stable institutions and governance, positions the country as an important example in promoting healthy diets and sustainable agrifood systems, and in sharing the country's experience internationally. The Director-General also referred to the upcoming Seeds to Foods exhibition, to be held in Rome in October prior to the World Food Forum, as an opportunity for countries to showcase their food heritage, diversity and innovation to a global audience.