Resolution on the Strategic Guidelines for the Development of Slovenian Agriculture and Food Industry until 2020 - “Ensuring Food for Tomorrow”.

This Resolution provides for Strategic Guidelines for the Development of Slovenian Agriculture and Food Industry until 2020 - “Ensuring Food for Tomorrow”. Agriculture is an economic activity of special social importance. The fundamental task of agriculture is to ensure a sufficient supply of safe food and thereby satisfy one of the basic needs of humanity. At the same time, farming also has other socially important functions and provides non-commodity goods. The environmental function of agriculture is defined by its decisive contribution to the quality of water, soil, air and biodiversity. Agriculture also has a significant impact on the image of the cultural landscape and its aesthetic and natural values. The role of food and production processes in ensuring human health is indisputable. With its economic and social role, agriculture also contributes significantly to the vitality and population of rural areas. This broad role of agriculture is best summed up by the concept of sustainable agriculture. The European and Slovenian public accepts this multifunctional role of agriculture. Agriculture faces ever-new challenges arising from the globalization of the world economy, growing population and the impact of climate change. The multi-purpose role of agriculture cannot be guaranteed and global and local challenges cannot be answered simply by enforcing market laws. In the European Union and in Slovenia, the need for a new definition of a clear and effective agricultural policy is therefore growing. The resolution on strategic directions for the development of Slovenian agriculture and food industry until 2020 - "We will ensure food for tomorrow" defines the vision and goals of the development of agriculture in Slovenia in the next medium-term period until 2020. It represents a response to the challenges, with facing agriculture in the 21st century. In its directions, the resolution derives from the aforementioned Strategy for the Development of Slovenian Agriculture and other strategic and legal documents that outlined the creation of agricultural policy after independence. The resolution also contains those measures that will contribute to the realization of the objectives of the Communication of the Commission - EUROPE 2020 - Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (European Commission, Brussels, 3/3/2010, COM(2010) 2020 end). At the forefront of the resolution is the consideration of the multifunctional role of agriculture and the definition of the development of agriculture through the goals of sustainable development. This is based on taking into account the economic, environmental and social role of agriculture. The goals are defined through the presentation of the state of agriculture, the global and European framework, as well as development advantages and possibilities. On the basis of the objectives, priority directions and mechanisms for their achievement are defined. Agriculture is understood in its broadest sense, together with related economic industries and with its impact on the environment, space and rural resources.