Holiday in Sadovo

The Institute of Plant Genetic Resources “K. Malkov” marked two anniversaries – 140 years of agricultural science in Sadovo and 45 years since the establishment of the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. As part of this remarkable jubilee of IPGR in Sadovo, an international scientific conference was also held, covering the following thematic areas: plant biodiversity, genetic resources and bioinformatics; breeding, biotechnologies and smart crop production; ecology, plant protection, agrotechnologies and innovations.

The occasion that brought together the leading representatives of the Bulgarian agrarian academic community in one place is emblematic and highly significant – 140 years of agricultural science in Sadovo and 45 years since the establishment of the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources.

From a historical perspective, agricultural science in Bulgaria started among the first in the world. One hundred and forty years ago – in 1882, alongside the newly opened agricultural school in Sadovo, the first experimental field was established, marking the beginning of agricultural science in Bulgaria. On 27 August 1901, by order of the then Ministry of Trade and Agriculture, the experimental field was transformed into an experimental station. Konstantin Malkov, a remarkable scientist – phytopathologist, founder of domestic wheat breeding, was appointed as director. In 1977 the station was transformed into an Institute of Introduction and Plant Resources, which was renamed in 2001 as the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. The National Plant Gene Bank, the largest on the Balkan Peninsula, built under an FAO project and opened in 1984, is based here.

Today IPGR is a structure-defining scientific complex, part of the Agricultural Academy. This complex is in a process of sustainable development, transforming into a contemporary, modern intensive format, integrating high energy potential for the conservation of the plant gene pool, a segment of the national security of the country, for modern and successful breeding of key agricultural crops – wheat, rye, oats, triticale, rice, peanuts, sesame.

The Institute of Plant Genetic Resources is an active partner in numerous national and international projects, an indication of the collaboration of our agrarian science with European agricultural academic structures.

As part of this remarkable jubilee of IPGR in Sadovo, an international scientific conference was also held, whose agenda included fundamental, basic topics – plant biodiversity, genetic resources and bioinformatics of strategic importance for the future of breeding, biotechnologies and smart crop production.

In the House of Science and Technology, Assoc. Prof. Katya Uzundzhalieva, PhD, opened the ceremonial part of the major celebration and received congratulations from Prof. Martin Banov, DSc, President of the Agricultural Academy, from colleagues from other agrarian institutes, and from guests from Germany, Turkey, Hungary, Italy. Among the official guests was also the Higher School of Agribusiness and Regional Development.

The conference provided an opportunity to establish new professional contacts and partnerships with a focus on the latest agricultural research and innovative developments.