Ecological approaches in plant protection

The Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv celebrated its traditional feast on 12 May – the International Day of Plant Health.

On 12 May in Auditorium 7 from 10:00 a.m. a ceremony will be held on the occasion of the feast of the Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv. Under the motto “Ecological Approaches in Plant Protection” thematic presentations and discussions on the topic will take place.

In the results of the 2024 Ranking System* of Higher Education Institutions in Bulgaria, the Agricultural University once again ranked first in 2 professional fields in which it trains students – “Crop Science“ and “Plant Protection“.

The transformation of the Higher Institute of Agriculture (HIA) into a university at the beginning of the new millennium coincides with the harmonisation of the European higher education systems. This necessitates the creation of new courses, modules and degree programmes that meet the European requirements for quality and transfer of knowledge. Since 2016 the degree programme “Plant Protection” has held first place in the ranking system of universities in Bulgaria.

The recognition and first place in the professional field “Plant Protection” is a logical result of excellent work at many levels. Building on the good traditions inherited from the first outstanding lecturers of the Faculty, a high level of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes in plant protection has now been established, in close cooperation with leading foreign universities under programmes such as Tempus, Erasmus, Horizon and others.

The Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology offers modern training of specialists in two fields – plant protection and ecology. Thus, the graduates of the FPPA acquire knowledge in two mutually complementary areas, which completely change the understanding of the role of plant protection in modern agriculture.

Plant protection is already a component of the broader concept of plant health, which includes care for the soil, the complex of microorganisms, nutrients, the characteristics of the seed, including resistance to economically important diseases and pests, and the application of new agricultural practices in crop cultivation.