'AGRA 2015 Innovation Competition'

Fifty products from 36 companies and scientific institutes competed in six categories.

A total of nine awards were given in the innovation competition held as part of AGRA 2015, with five of them going to institutes within the Agricultural Academy. Over 50 innovative agricultural products participated in 6 sections. 17 new plant varieties were created by its specialists last year.

Two of them are the winners in the "Varietal Seeds and Planting Material" category. These are the new red wine grape variety "Kailashki Rubin" from the Institute of Viticulture and Enology in Pleven and the pepper variety "Kaloyan" from the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Institute in Plovdiv.

Another award in the "Machinery, Equipment and Technologies for Crop Production" section was for the technology for mechanized cultivation and harvesting of sesame from large flat areas, developed by the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources in Sadovo.

In the "Scientific Activities and Developments" category, the Institute of Cryobiology and Food Technologies was selected for the creation of the original beverage "Medovina". It contains specially selected honey, yeast, herbs, and fruits. It is based on ancient experience and modern production technologies.

In the "Machinery, Installations and Technologies in Livestock Farming" section, the Institute of Mountain Livestock Farming in Troyan and the Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection "N. Pushkarov" were awarded for a modular technology for machine milking of goats.

Pepper variety "Kaloyan" - A pepper variety with compactly arranged fruits – single-pointed, hanging, short to relatively long, wide to very wide fruits. The color at technical maturity is light green, and at botanical maturity – red. Most fruits have a very smooth surface. It is characterized by high field resistance to Verticillium wilt. It is suitable for forced, early, and mid-early production. The yield of the Kaloyan variety is intended for consumption fresh and processed (for stuffing). It is distinguished by very good skin peelability after processing.

Grapevine "Kailashki Rubin" - is a medium to late-ripening red variety, suitable for the production of red dry wines, distinguished by a ruby-red color – full-bodied, harmonious, and suitable for aging. The vines have increased resistance to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and low winter temperatures.