Добroudja Agricultural Institute solemnly celebrated the 70th anniversary of its establishment

“70 Years with a View to the Future!“ – under this motto the celebration on the occasion of the anniversary of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute took place. It was an expression of respect and appreciation towards the staff of the Institute who have worked devotedly for its establishment, development and consolidation as a research center and have left a lasting mark in the history of agricultural science in Dobrudzha. It was also an expression of gratitude to their descendants – today’s scientists who, despite the difficulties, manage not only to preserve but also to build upon and further develop the rich scientific heritage.

The celebration brought together scientists, former employees of the Institute, farmers and business partners from the country and abroad. Guests of the ceremony were Prof. DScEng Martin Banov, President of the Agricultural Academy, H. E. Izbastin Temirtai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Bulgaria, Vasil Karapanchev, Regional Governor of Dobrich Region, Valentin Dimitrov, Mayor of General Toshevo, Eng. Desislava Ivanova, Director of the Regional Directorate “Agriculture” in Dobrich, representatives of the companies „Dobrudzha Tohumculuk“ and „Çamlıca Tohumculuk“ – business partners of the Institute from the Republic of Türkiye, and others.

The ceremony was opened with an address by the Director of the Institute Assoc. Prof. Iliya Iliev to all attendees and with a rich folklore programme presented by the Professional Folklore Ensemble „Dobrudzha“.

The introduction to the anniversary celebration was the traditional Open Day, which took the guests to the demonstration fields of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute. Scientists from the Institute presented over 30 varieties of cereal crops, for which the Institute will be offering seed for the autumn sowing campaign in 2021. Among them are common wheat Enola, Dragana, Lazarka, Merilin, Kristalina, Fani and Nikodim; durum wheat Severina; triticale Akord, Respect, Dobrudzhanets, Doni-52, Blagovest and Borislav; barley Akhat and Tangra. Varieties from the newest breeding of the Institute were presented – common wheat Shibil, Tsveta and Chudomira; triticale Avitohol and barley Heliodor. Those interested in dry bean examined the varieties Eliksir, Skitia, Blyan and Ustrem, of which the last three are suitable for direct mechanized harvesting. More than 20 sunflower hybrids were also presented, among them Deveda, Dalena, Krasela, the imidazolinone-tolerant Enigma, the sulfonylurea-tolerant Dara, and others. Experts from the Institute provided information on the main advantages and the cultivation technology of the offered varieties and hybrids.

The official celebration began with an anniversary report by Assoc. Prof. Iliya Iliev on the history of the Institute, which revived the memory of the most significant achievements in its 70-year history. Assoc. Prof. Iliev expressed gratitude and congratulations to all former and current scientists, specialists, workers and employees of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute on the occasion of the anniversary and wished all of them good health, personal happiness, great strength to overcome the challenges along their chosen path, vitality and creative energy, and new scientific achievements.

Dozens of congratulatory addresses followed – from Prof. Hristo Bozukov, PhD, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; Prof. DScEng Martin Banov, President of the Agricultural Academy; Mr. Vasil Karapanchev, Regional Governor of Dobrich Region; Mr. Valentin Dimitrov, Mayor of General Toshevo; Mr. Kemal Yüztürk, representative of the company „Dobrudzha Tohumculuk“, Republic of Türkiye; from related institutes within the system of the Agricultural Academy, educational institutions and others.

The Mayor of the Municipality of General Toshevo presented to Assoc. Prof. Iliev an honorary diploma and the distinction Honorary Sign „Golden Dobrudzha“ for the merits of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute in the field of agriculture and its outstanding contribution to the development of agricultural science and practice in Bulgaria.

Mr. Kemal Yüztürk presented plaques to: Prof. Miho Mihov, PhD, main author and breeder of pea variety Kristal, for the registration of the variety in the National List of the Republic of Türkiye; Assoc. Prof. Galina Mihova, PhD – breeder of the barley varieties Akhat and Tangra, for their registration in the National List of the Republic of Türkiye; Assoc. Prof. Eng. Iliya Iliev, PhD – for the assistance provided in the registration of the barley varieties Akhat and Tangra and pea variety Kristal in the National List of the Republic of Türkiye.

A particularly moving moment of the anniversary celebration was the awarding of plaques and certificates for contribution to the development of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute to veteran scientists whose entire conscious life and creative path have passed at the Institute and who, with all their dedication, have devoted themselves to agricultural science and to raising the authority of the Institute at national and international level: Prof. Ivan Panayotov, DSc – wheat breeder; Assoc. Prof. Ivan Todorov, DSc, wheat breeder; Prof. Valentin Baychev, PhD, triticale breeder; Prof. Miho Mihov, PhD, breeder of grain legumes; Prof. Dimitar Genchev, DSc, bean breeder; Assoc. Prof. Fota Tsvetkova, PhD – sunflower breeder; Prof. Petar Ivanov, DSc, expert in the field of sunflower biotechnology;  Prof. Mihail Hristov, PhD, sunflower breeder; Prof. Margarita Nankova, PhD – expert in the agrotechnics of field crops.

Particularly high recognition for the achievements of the Institute in agricultural science and practice was conferred by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Radev, who sent his congratulatory address on the occasion of the anniversary and awarded the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute with the Plaque „St. St. Cyril and Methodius“ – an exceptionally valuable distinction, an expression of the highest recognition for the creative efforts and scientific achievements of the generations of scientists who have passed through the ranks of the Institute, and of all current scientists, specialists, workers and employees of the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute.

With an open-air cocktail, an anniversary cake and fireworks, this festive day, filled with emotions, at the Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute came to an end!