How NEGYOSZ celebrated its 2nd birthday
On Friday 31 January, 30 of us gathered to celebrate the 2nd birthday of NEGYOSZ. Among colleagues, members and supporters, we spent 3 meaningful hours of professional and informal discussions, fun storytelling and a summary of the past years and future goals.
We made an impact in 2024
The programme was opened by Ervin Nagy, President of NÉGYOSZ, followed by a short presentation by István Miskolczi, Managing Director, who summarised the organisation’s activities and achievements in 2024, from the launch of the public catering cookery training to the NÉGYOSZ stands at exhibitions and independently organised NÉGYOSZ events. Of course, the launch of the NAK Free From Working Group and the Okosfehérje.hu website could not be missed.
We have many plans for 2025
As the year 2025 opens, István told us what projects will be highlighted this year:
- scientific research: health effects of plant-based diets
- promoting policy and legislative changes
- Awareness raising and education
- partnerships and networking
- consumer awareness raising and education: eco-protein, communication
- public catering: education projects
“By making plant-based, climate-friendly food available, we are transforming Hungary’s food system”, said the opening slide of the presentation, as we continue to keep this goal in mind.
Inspiration: generation Z and a plant-based future
Our work is inspired by the fact that our Generation Z research and research on the acceptance and uptake of all plant-based foods shows that 20% of young people overall are already following some form of meat-free (flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan) diet. It is reasonable to conclude from the data that plant-based foods may be entering a period of almost unimaginable popularity today.
100% plant based brunch
Of course, our birthday party was not without its plant-based delicacies. We had a buffet brunch with two kinds of soups, party sandwiches, vegetable dips, hummus, puliska, cups of dessert and many more goodies thanks to Anita Árvai, owner and chef of Veganeeta Life Ltd. And the two kinds of birthday cake were ordered from Vegan Love fast food restaurant.
To mark the occasion, we toasted, most of us with non-alcoholic champagne, given the middle of the working day and the car approach. Then the fun-filled storytelling began. Beáta Várkonyi, Director of Corporate Relations at Danone, told us how quick and clear the decision was for her company to join the NÉGYOSZ.
Mónika Néderné Patus from the Váci Prison Institute shared interesting facts about the first time Ervin Nagy visited a prison, and it was particularly interesting for him to visit the Kalocsa Prison and Penitentiary, where women prisoners are serving sentences of up to several decades or life.
It’s perhaps not an exaggeration to say that we spent a day together in a friendly family atmosphere with great conversations, lots of laughter and delicious treats.
Thank you to all participants for celebrating with us! We also thank all our members, subcontractors, sponsors and partners for supporting the work of NEGYOSZ!