The Institute of Agricultural Economics (AKI) organised a Cross-County Visit on 11–12 September 2025. In the heart of the two-day programme was ta free-flowing discussion on the present and the future of alternative food networks (AFNs) and the Farmer-Miller-Baker network as an alternative grain value chain. The event gathered significant attention, with participants coming from Scotland, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Hungary.

On the first day, researchers from the HUN-REN Agricultural Research Centre in Martonvásár presented their findings on quality-oriented grain breeding and research into the characteristics of different grain varieties. To gain a deeper insight into practice-oriented research, participants toured the laboratories. This was followed by a discussion in Szár with the manager of Csoroszlya Farm and the owner of Pipacs Bakery on the current state and future prospects of sustainable grain value chains and the artisan bakeries in Hungary. The session not only introduced participants to Hungarian experiences but also fostered a lively exchange of ideas, as international guests shared insights and trends from their own countries.

The second day continued in a workshop format at AKI’s headquarters. Using the Future Triangle method, participants jointly explored the future pathways of alternative food initiatives, drawing on current challenges as well as past experiences.

The shared consensus after two days was that organizing such events is highly beneficial, as they offer a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange among stakeholders who might not otherwise have had the chance to connect.

Colleagues from AKI extend their sincere thanks to the staff of ATK – HUN-REN, Péter Mikó and Mariann Rakszegi, along with Ágoston Nobilis and Ádám Fülöp, who represented the Farmer-Miller-Baker network, for their invaluable contributions to the success of the event.