XXI International Meeting of the Working Group on Tomatoes Eucarpia – science and business together

The XXI International Meeting of the Eucarpia Tomato Working Group, held in Plovdiv between 10 and 13 June 2025, is organized by the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute in cooperation with Geosemselect. This is an event at which experts in the field of tomato genetics and breeding gather to share experience and knowledge.

Building on the experience of previous conferences in the field, the meeting in Plovdiv, with delegates from 24 countries, includes presentations, discussions and a visit to the greenhouses of the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute and Geosemselect. The conference in the city under the hills creates a real opportunity for establishing contacts between science and business, aimed at improving the understanding of tomato genetics, breeding techniques, tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress and sustainable production practices.

Eucarpia Tomato was officially opened with a congratulatory address by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dr. Georgi Tahov. In the hall, the guests were personally greeted by the Regional Governor of Plovdiv Region, Prof. Dr. Hristina Yancheva, and by Prof. Dr. Elena Todorovska, Chief Scientific Secretary of the Agricultural Academy.

Film dedicated to Academician Hristo Daskalov, the creator of the world’s first hybrid tomato variety suitable for practical use

The organizers Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivanka Tringovska from the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute and Nikolay Georgiev from Geosemselect impressed the guests with a film dedicated to Academician Hristo Daskalov, who is the undisputed founder not only of horticultural science and vegetable crop breeding in Bulgaria, but is also the creator of the world’s first hybrid tomato variety suitable for practical use. Hristo Daskalov created 30 varieties of vegetable crops – tomatoes, melons, eggplants, watermelons and others, and worked mainly on the problems of heterosis phenomena and interspecific hybridization in tomatoes.

The choir “Detska Kitka” with conductor Yana Deliradeva succeeded in winning the ovations of those present with its rich repertoire ranging from Bulgarian folk songs to contemporary European music.