MINISTRSTVO ZA KMETIJSTVO GOZDARSTVO IN PREHRANO

Their core work

Slovenia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food is the national government body responsible for agricultural policy, food safety, forestry management, and rural development. In H2020, it participated in ERA-NET cofund actions and coordination support projects focused on aligning national research funding with EU priorities in sustainable animal production, organic farming, and circular bioeconomy. Its role is primarily as a policy actor and national funding body — bringing regulatory perspective, co-funding commitments, and policy alignment to transnational research coordination networks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 involvement (2016) centered on coordinating transnational research in sustainable animal production and knowledge exchange across disciplines — a broad, sector-spanning approach. By 2019, their focus sharpened toward circular bioeconomy, agroecology, and the BIOEAST initiative, reflecting a shift from general agricultural research coordination to regionally targeted bioeconomy policy. The progression shows a ministry moving from broad ERA-NET participation toward strategic positioning within the Central and Eastern European bioeconomy agenda.

Moving toward circular bioeconomy and agroecology policy coordination within the BIOEAST macro-regional framework — future partners should expect alignment with CEE bioeconomy strategies.

How they like to work

Exclusively a participant, never a coordinator — consistent with their role as a national ministry contributing policy authority and co-funding rather than leading research. They operate in large consortia (74 unique partners across 28 countries from just 3 projects), which is typical for ERA-NET actions that bring together national funding agencies. Working with them means engaging a government body that can open doors to national funding streams and policy alignment, not a technical research partner.

Despite only 3 projects, they have touched 74 unique partners across 28 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by the nature of ERA-NET cofund actions that aggregate many national ministries and funding agencies. Their geographic reach is pan-European with a particular connection to Central and Eastern European countries through the BIOEAST initiative.

What sets them apart

As a national ministry rather than a research institute, they bring something most consortium partners cannot: direct access to national agricultural policy-making and research funding allocation in Slovenia. Their involvement in the BIOEAST initiative positions them as a bridge between Western European research networks and the Central/Eastern European agricultural sector. For consortium builders, they offer policy credibility, co-funding potential, and a pathway to Slovenian agricultural priorities.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BIOEASTsUP
  Their largest funded project (EUR 107k) and most recent, advancing circular bioeconomy across 11 Central and Eastern European countries — signals their strategic direction.
• CORE Organic Cofund
  One of the longest-running ERA-NET cofund actions in organic farming, coordinating transnational research calls across 20+ countries in organic agriculture and food systems.