This year’s edition of the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, led by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food (HAPIH), which has been the campaign’s national ambassador for the third consecutive year, was launched with a pop-up event held ahead of the announcement of the Best Croatian Young Farmer. The event took place as part of the 7th International Congress on Rural Tourism on the island of Rab, bringing together the themes of agriculture, tourism, and plant health.
The campaign raises awareness of the risks to plant health posed by plants, fruit, seeds, and other plant materials that travellers may bring home from their journeys. Through the campaign’s key message that we should bring back memories and photos from our trips, rather than dangerous hitchhiking pests hidden in seemingly harmless souvenirs such as plants, seeds, and fruit, congress participants were encouraged to reflect on the importance of protecting plant health and the role of responsible behaviour when travelling. These pests can pose a serious threat to local ecosystems and have long-term negative impacts on the environment and food production.
Among the attendees who had the opportunity to hear the campaign’s key messages were Croatian Government Vice President and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries David Vlajčić, State Secretary Zdravko Tušek, as well as numerous other distinguished guests, congress participants, and finalists of the selection for the Best Croatian Young Farmer. The announcement of the winner of this year’s selection, initiated by Croatian Member of the European Parliament Sunčana Glavak, the Croatian ambassador of this project on behalf of the European People’s Party, and organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Jutarnji list, took place during the official opening .ceremony.
Croatia will be represented at the European selection for the Best Young Farmer, taking place in Brussels at the end of this year, by Željko Malnar, a 24-year-old milk producer from Tršće in Gorski kotar and the winner of the 11th edition of the selection for the Best Croatian Young Farmer.
The second place was awarded to Valentin Krtalić, an olive producer from Sv. Filip and Jakov, while the third place went to Krunoslav Zdunić from Divoševci a dairy farmer involved in milk production, cattle fattening, and crop farming to produce feed for his herd of 550 cattle.
A special award for sustainability in agriculture was received by Matija Kaštelan from Barbat on the island of Rab, a producer of honey, honey-based products, royal jelly, olive oil, olives in brine, fig and mandarin spreads, as well as island herbal cosmetics.
