Smart and environmentally friendly horticulture

Research aim - development of production and research in the field of horticulture with environmentally friendly, climate-smart and intelligent methods

Priority research topics:

• Introduction of technologies that reduce environmental pollution in horticultural practice, including reducing the negative impact of fertilizers, growth regulators and plant protection products on the environment;
• Development and improvement of technologies that reduce the impact of climate change (irrigation, mulches, coverings), carbon and nitrogen sequestration, and reduction of their emissions;
• Growing systems for productive and sustainable use and maintenance of natural resources (including use of solar energy, efficient and productive photosynthesis, and maintenance of soil fertility);
• Precision horticulture (fertilisation, irrigation, plant protection, processing), development of non-destructive analytical methods;
• Development of pathogen and disease early recognition systems;
• Biological catalysts and technologies for the expanded use of agricultural (including growing and processing) by-products;
• Using compounds produced by microorganisms in the development of biopolymers for the creation of “green” packaging materials;
• Development and implementation of environmentally friendly analytical methods for the determination of chemical compounds.

Performance indicators: publications, technologies, datasets, protocols, methods, recommendations

Participating units of Institute of Horticulture:

• Unit of Agronomic Research and Variety Testing
• Unit of Genetics and Breeding
• Unit of Plant Pathology and Entomology
• Unit of Processing and Biochemistry