Istria Gets a Food Bank: €2.1 Million Investment in Pazin
Istrian Prefect Boris Miletić signed the contract for the purchase of a facility that will become a distribution center for aid to the most vulnerable citizens.
Istrian Prefect Boris Miletić signed the contract for the purchase of a facility that will become a distribution center for aid to the most vulnerable citizens.
On Thursday, the Istrian County took a key step toward establishing its own food bank. Istrian Prefect Boris Miletić signed a contract in Pula with Milka Vale, a member of the Management Board of the company Advent, for the purchase of a property in Pazin, moving the €2.1 million project into the implementation phase.
The investment is fully financed by the Istrian County from its own budget funds, secured through a budget rebalance adopted by the County Assembly in April 2026. Purchasing an already-built facility, rather than constructing a new one, will significantly speed up the entire process.
"By buying the property, we avoid going through the whole process, from design and obtaining the necessary permits to public procurement and construction itself. This way, we've taken a big step forward and significantly shortened the path to the moment when the Food Bank becomes operational. That is in the interest of all citizens of Istria," said Prefect Miletić.
The Food Bank will operate as a distribution center for collecting, storing, and distributing donated food, connecting producers, retail chains, local government units, and humanitarian organizations into a unified aid system. Deputy Prefect Dr. Gordana Antić emphasized the project's dual benefit.
"We are aware that proper nutrition and access to quality food are important for people's health. At the same time, we witness large quantities of safe food ending up as waste. The Food Bank will ensure that this food reaches those who need it most, thereby strengthening social security, protecting public health, and fostering a more responsible attitude toward the resources we have," said Gordana Antić.
Prefect Miletić stressed that establishing the food bank is a strategic project that will have a long-term positive impact on all citizens of Istria. "Today, we are creating the conditions for a system that will combine solidarity, responsible resource management, and care for the most vulnerable. The Food Bank is a project that will bring tangible benefits to our citizens for years to come," he said.
From the company Advent, Management Board member Milka Vale expressed happiness that the facility will be given a new, useful purpose for society. Also present at the contract signing ceremony were Patricia Zagorc Licul, head of the general affairs department; Ezio Pinzan, head of the agriculture department; and Monica Derocchi, who currently serves as manager of the Foundation for Encouraging Partnership and Development of Civil Society.
