The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Agricultural Academy presented Bulgaria's innovation and scientific potential in agriculture during the theme week entitled ‘Necessities for Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter’, which takes place from June 5 to June 16 at the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Japan. The focus is on sustainable agriculture, plant breeding and the development of foods with high added value, including space foods.
‘Innovations are a driving force and a key factor for sustainable growth and added value in the agricultural and food production sector. They are an opportunity to respond to global economic challenges and increase the competitiveness of our agricultural sector. Bulgaria is a small country, but it has significant achievements in priority areas such as plant breeding and space food production’, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Lozana Vasileva at the opening of the event in the Bulgarian pavilion.
She pointed out that the importance of agriculture is growing with its global contribution to environmental protection, employment generation, and rural development and ensuring food security.
‘Progressive science and modern technologies allow us to elevate food and nutrition to another level’, added the Deputy Minister and emphasized that in times of an increasingly globalized world, the transformation of the agricultural and food sectors is a key factor for strengthening inclusive and sustainable societies.
Within the framework of the participation of the Bulgarian delegation, the Chairman of the Agricultural Academy Prof. Violeta Bozhanova gave a presentation on the latest plant selections of the Institute of Vegetable Crops ‘Maritsa’ at the A. Among them are the varieties ‘Pink Heart’, ‘Scarlet Heart’ and ‘Pink Shine’, which are considered some of the tastiest in the world. They are also an example of preserving tradition in combination with opportunities for high productivity and resistance to plant diseases. This result is achieved through innovative selection methods - DNA genotyping, full phenotyping, metabolomic analyses.
The latest achievements related to accelerating the plant selection process through innovative remote sensing methodology and machine learning for field phenotyping were also demonstrated.
The Director of the AgrobioInstitute at the Agricultural Academy Prof. Ivan Atanasov, presented Bulgarian space foods with proven success in real Antarctic and other special missions. The new foods are the product of the union of the latest scientific achievements of the institute and the high-tech developments of the company ‘Antara’. They are also an expression of the long-term strategic intention to unite quality, safety, tradition and innovation in the creation of foods with high added value.
Bioactive products were also presented in the form of hygroscopic powder, extracted through modern technology for the utilization of biomass and waste from essential oil crops.
The Bulgarian pavilion at the International Exhibition EXPO 2025 - Osaka is located in a strategic location and has an area of 376 sq. m. The motto of our national pavilion is ‘Evolution with Nature’ and conveys the message that progress must move in harmony with nature. It is also in unison with the main theme of the exhibition: ‘Designing a future society for our lives’. EXPO Osaka will be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025.