The Day of Quality Schemes started at the Beekeepers' Association of Slovenia with an expert panel debate, followed by a press conference at which the Consortium of European Protected Slovenian Products was presented. The consortium comprises 24 Slovenian food products which are distinguished by higher quality, known origin, special method of production or rich culinary tradition. The purpose of the consortium is to act together in providing promotional funds, conducting promotional campaigns, submitting legislative proposals and informing and warning each other about illegal practices or abuses.

And it was precisely the promotion of European protected products and quality schemes that the Minister touched on in his address at the press conference. He said that the Ministry is striving to continuously promote quality schemes and protected products, as the protection of local agricultural products and foodstuffs at the European Union level is a priority due to strong competitive pressures. Minister Podgoršek announced that in 2022 quality schemes and European protected products will be evenly included in promotional activities, as well as other programmes important for Slovenian agriculture. "In 2022, we intend to promote all quality schemes. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the main features of individual schemes and the visual appearance of labels so that it is easier to identify and distinguish the schemes from each other. We will allocate EUR 300,000 for this purpose." In addition to promotional campaigns, the Ministry also includes protected products in domestic and international fairs and other events in which it participates. 

Minister Podgoršek also spoke about the Slovenian Food Day and the Traditional Slovenian Breakfast project as exceptional opportunities to raise awareness of the importance of local food supply and short supply chains. "Food of Slovenian origin is trustworthy, of high quality, healthy and safe," said the Minister as he cited the arguments that should encourage consumers to consume seasonal food to a greater extent, thus helping to increase self-sufficiency.

The president of the Beekeepers' Association of Slovenia, Boštjan Noč, noted that years ago, when the idea of the Traditional Slovenian Breakfast was born, to say that Slovenian food is the best was not a claim generally made. He is thus happy with the shift in awareness in society about the importance of quality Slovenian food, as this is beneficial for the whole of society. He thanked Minister Podgoršek for the state support for the beekeeping sector in this difficult year in which beekeepers have been severely affected. He also thanked the Minister for making good on the promise that the Ministry will dedicate more attention and funds for promotional activities related to European protected products next year.

The Beekeepers' Association of Slovenia, which is the initiator of numerous projects in the field of beekeeping, also presented the All-Slovenian Campaign for Planting Honey Plants project and the Construction of Nesting Boxes for Solitary Bees project. The goal of the honey plant project is to plant two million honey plants in ten years. This is the first project in the European Union to contribute to the Union's goal to plant three billion trees by 2030, including fifteen million in Slovenia.

After the press conference, Minister Podgoršek planted a linden tree in support of the honey plant project.