A word of welcome from Dr. Franz Fischler, President of the Ifaj Congress 2008
I would like to invite you to the 52nd IFAJ Congress “From the mountains to the sea” to Austria and Slovenia from 10 – 14 September 2008.
These two neighbouring countries will present to you forms of farming in the Heart of Europe which have orientated themselves less by global markets than by quality and sustainment and by partnership with the consumers in the regions. The country and its inhabitants will be the central points of presentation - and we would like to demonstrate this with concrete examples.
I am looking forward to welcome you in Austria and Slovenia in September 2008.
Yours sincerely,
Franz Fischler
Welcome from David Markey, President of IFAJ
On behalf of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, I would like to encourage each and every member country to attend this years congress in Austria and Slovenia.
The theme of the congress is "from the Mountains to the Sea", and our hosts, have promised us the opportunity to experience the best of agriculture and food, in the heart of Europe.
May I wish the organising committee every success with your congress and I look forward to meeting you all in September.
A word of welcome from DI Josef Pröll, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Austria
Austrian farmers produce top quality food, maintain the landscape and operate a modern and livestock-friendly husbandry, support the variety of species, develop innovative concepts for tourism and create provisions for education and care. In addition there is a growing here trend for the sustainable use of agricultural land to produce much needed raw materials and energy.
The interests of consumers are the focus of attention in each of these activities. This is a concept our farmers have certainly taken to heart and cherish as successful programmes such as “Urlaub am Bauernhof” (farm holidays) impressively show. Early bookers for this international congress of agricultural journalists have the opportunity to win one of these fine recreational weekends.
Good luck and a warm welcome to the Ifaj-congress 2008!
A word of welcome from Iztok Jarc, Minister for agriculture, forestry and food of the Republic of Slovenia
Dear agricultural journalists and publicists!
I would like to invite you to take a journey “From the mountains to the sea” – through incredible variegation of regions of the neighbouring countries Slovenia and Austria. Due to natural circumstances both countries are aware of the necessity of putting into force a model of multi-purpose agriculture that assures production of safe and high quality food, maintains cultural landscape, protects the environment and natural sources as well as keeps the countryside populated and developing. Proper information, knowledge and education ensure that the multi-purpose agriculture in its broadest meaning is not only the academic or political flowery phrase.
Good and productive cooperation of government and nongovernmental organizations together with the agribusiness sphere and of course journalists has a very special meaning. Especially in the time, when there are new demands for the agriculture, on the field of strategic food supply and renewable energy sources. And finally, it is the information that widens partnership in agribusiness chain – from the farmer to the consumer.
Let this journey between the mountains and the plains to the sea be pleasant and useful at the same time!
Welcome!
A word of welcome from Gerhard Wlodkowski, President of the Austrian Chamber of agriculture and forestry
Farming and the hard work put in on our family farms gives our Austrian landscape its shape and character and this has been so for many centuries. In our country some 150,000 small and medium sized farms take good care of 80 percent of the land. We have a wonderfully varied agricultural and forestry landscape shared by our traditional high-Alpine farms and animal husbandry, dynamic cutting-edge forestry operations and vintners, cereal, fruit and vegetable growers whose products are in the international first rank. Our farmers have also long been in the vanguard in developing and growing vitally needed raw materials and energy products for a sustainable economy.
The farmers have organised the representation of agricultural interests in this country themselves for over a century: The Austrian Farmers’ Association provides powerful backing at all levels for the needs and interests of farmers. Advice plus the handling of farm subsidies are among the important Association activities.
Our goals are to keep farms on a sound economic footing and to preserve the landscape, the environment and the countryside of our regions in thoroughly good health for the benefit of everyone.
We would like to welcome you and invite you to see how we are dealing with this important task.
A word of welcome from Peter Vrisk, president of Chamber of agriculture and forestry of Slovenia
Slovene countryside is defined by Alpine, Mediterranean and Pannonian climatic conditions. Its very special characteristic is agitated relief and diverse cultural countryside. These are the reasons for extraordinary diversity of Slovene agriculture. Our agriculture can be compared in many ways with Austrian agriculture but with the addition of the influence of the sea. During the IFAJ 2008 congress we will host you mostly in the central and south-western part of Slovenia, where you will be able to feel the warmth of the Mediterranean and its people.
There are around 77 thousands of farms, each cultivates in average 6.3 ha of agriculture land in use. Due to high share of grasslands (more than 60 percent), the prevailing activity is animal breeding, while some of the surfaces are suitable for production of topmost wines as well as high-quality fruits and vegetables.
Slovene average farm size is way under the average of the EU, which is the reason for favouring the production of high quality products as well as healthy and safe food. Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry has important role in educating and encouraging farmers for such production. Despite our “young age” of only 8 years, our Chamber became indispensable for maintaining Slovene countryside and its development.
Come and see the beauties of Slovene countryside by your own eyes!
A word of greeting from Dr. Josef Siffert, President of the Association of Agricultural Journalists and Publicists in Austria – the VAÖ
In our dynamically growing information society where news values are dictated by viewer ratings, advertising turnover, sales figures and edition sizes there is an ever more pressing need for journalists who have got what it takes to report on what has become an increasingly blank area on the media map: the unfamiliar but so very important world of the farmer. If you belong to a minority group such as that of our farmers who make up less than four percent of the population, you can run the risk of being ignored and going unheard.
And this despite the fact that farmers are responsible for such vital tasks as food production, the provision of raw materials, taking good care of our landscape and seeing to it that all our land is well cultivated. Agricultural journalists are in this sense transformers; we pick up the powerful currents from the farming community and transmit them onwards. We are the people who hear and know about the worries, needs and wishes of farmers and we bring all of these issues in a strong and appealing form to a broad public.
The ways we set about providing a clear and interesting voice for agriculture plus an eyewitness visit to the scene down on the farm itself are the subjects of this congress.
May I welcome you all to the heart of Europe.