On September 10-13, 2024, the NAS of Belarus hosted the Second Belarus-Italy Round Table in the field of milk processing and dairy production technologies.
The Round table was attended by scientists and specialists of scientific organizations of the NAS of Belarus, representatives of leading industrial enterprises of the dairy industry of the Republic of Belarus. A delegation of representatives of agricultural research centres, universities and companies from Italy arrived in Minsk to participate in the Round Table.
As Chairman of the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus Uladzimir Gusakow noted on the sidelines of the Forum, at the current stage, an urgent vector for Belarus in the European direction is the intensification of relations with Italy and the transfer of dialogue between scientists and specialists of the two countries into a stable and constructive channel. "The Italian delegation managed to appreciate the scientific research base and the level of development of agro-industrial technologies in Belarus. Compared to the previous visit, the interest has increased significantly, as has the participation of Italian guests. The number of participants – scientists and practitioners – from the Belarusian side has also increased," the Head of the Academy of Sciences stressed. "If we take into account the achieved successes of cooperation, it becomes obvious that at the current stage the relevant vector for Belarus in the European direction is the intensification of relations with Italy and the transfer of dialogue between scientists and specialists of the two countries into a stable and constructive channel," Uladzimir Gusakow stressed.
In turn, Chairman of the Italy-Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Angelo Ilardi noted that Belarusian producers have achieved great success in the production of soft cheeses and can share this with producers from Italy. Uladzimir Gusakow sees one of the most promising and significant aspects of mutually beneficial Belarus-Italy cooperation as contact in scientific and scientific-innovative fields with reference to specific sectors of the economy. The innovative nature of scientific and technical transformations in various sectors of the economy, according to him, is today the most important priority for many states. Angelo Ilardi acknowledged that Belarusian producers have achieved great success in the production of soft cheeses, our experience is interesting for Italian cheese makers. At the same time, Italian producers can share their experience with domestic enterprises in the production of hard cheeses.
During the round table, promising areas and mechanisms of joint scientific and technical activities in the field of milk processing and dairy production technologies were discussed. Following issues were considered: prospects for trade relations between Italy and Belarus; milk and dairy production in the Republic of Belarus; prospects for cooperation with Italian organizations; scientific support for the dairy industry in Belarus; scientific developments as the basis for innovative development of the dairy industry; secrets of cooling in the dairy industry, etc.
A business meeting was held within the framework of the Round Table at the Institute of Meat and Dairy Industry of the NAS of Belarus. The guests also visited the Nesvizh Baby Food Plant.
The first Belarus-Italy Round Table in the field of animal husbandry was held in the NAS of Belarus on February 28–29 this year. The range of issues raised at that time ranged from the current state and experience of precision animal husbandry, genomic breeding in animal husbandry under climate change and the development of DNA technologies for marker-mediated breeding of farm animals to the study and preservation of the genetic diversity of local breeds, new technologies in the field of agricultural equipment, the main developments and areas of scientific activity in the field of veterinary medicine.
