Knowledge and innovations in the food system – introduction of RIS3 Guidebook in Slovenia

Through the panel discussion about the RIS3 Guidebook and its importance and implementation on the regional and national level, the speakers Sabina Žakelj Pediček, M.A., Undersecretary for Entrepreneurship and Technology Promotion Department, SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency, Andreja Marinčič, M.Sc. Undersecretary for NOO/RRI project, SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency, Dr. Tatjana Zagorc, director, Chamber of Agricultural and Food Enterprises, The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, Dr. Aleš Kuhar, associated professor, Head of EIT Food HUB Slovenia, Ilija Gasan Osojnik Črnivec, assistant professor, Chair of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Technology, Tatjana Buzeti, MBA, State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Tanja Gorišek, EU Investment Measures and Generational Renewal Section, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Matej Zlatnar, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia and Lea Mlekuš, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, discussed the problems of current relations between relevant stakeholders, with the focus on lack of academic involvement in decisionmaking processes and lack of funding - the programme is mostly based on voluntary participation. They have also talked about the promotion of interdisciplinarity in the Agriculture sectors, about the shift from food industry to farming that would help to more optimal collaborations, the importance of greater involvement of entrepreneurship was emphasized as well as the importance of R&D and innovation. Mrs. Zagorc from Chamber of Agricultural and Food Companies have said that the agriculture without agribusiness is just a producer of raw materials.

It has been mentioned that the government has started to emphasize the importance of nutrition, which means that the steps into the right direction are possible; all the speakers have agreed on the importance of collaboration - the question to be asked was: what does the business side need and how best to build cooperation between knowledge, business and policy. 

At the end of the panel discussion it was emphasized, how important it would be that all the stakeholders would collaborate and perform as one – so the projects would all be going through the same process and the same institutions. They have all agreed that they miss a one, common denominator.