Moldovan authoritiers set to enhance potential of soy's cultivation

Chisinau, 21 October /MOLDPRES/ - The native sector of soy’s cultivation is set to enhance the potential. Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Viorel Gherciu today and a meeting with representatives of Donau Soja Moldova, in order to establish priorities from this sector for 2021-2023.    
„In the next years, we must join efforts to increase the production of soy in Moldova, as well as to get both ecological and economic benefits. We count on the initiative and enthusiasm of farmers to cultivate, process soy in Moldova and to development the value chain. We are determined to extend the partnerships and back the sustainable programmes,’’ the minister said.  
In the context, the director of the Austrian Representation Verein Donau Soja in Chisinau, Ela Malai, said the organization would focus on the development of the potential and perspectives of soy’s cultivation, through the implementation of two programmes: Proteinic Partnerships, Strategic Partnership Donau Soja with the Austrian Development Agency.
„We intend, through the Proteinic Partnerships, to stimulate the sustainable production of soy, by providing support to small- and medium-sized enterprises. We have the goal to facilitate the getting of a sustainable production of soy and without genetically modified organisms. Through the participation in this programme, local farmers will benefit from training and counseling. Besides, agricultural collectors will be certified for free, as the EU market has an increased interest in the ecologically certified soy,’’ Ela Malai said.
As for the programme, Strategic Partnership Donau Soja with the Austrian Development Agency, Malai noted that the latter would be implemented on five components: soy’s production and processing; developing the value chain; enhancement of the degree of awareness; certification and labeling; business environment and framework of policies. Thus, the programme is focused on the improvement of the quality and quantity of products, promotion of the best practices for the production of soy, development of the market for the products non-modified genetically, dissemination of information about the sound nutrition and food safety, creation of institutional framework with tasks of certification, setting technologies of testing, which will guarantee the products’ quality and facilitating the access of production of soy on market.    
Donau Soja is a project financed by the European Union and implemented by the Austrian Development Agency.
Photo: MAIA