Final Report Summary - PROFICIENCY (Strengthen IUNG’s proficiency on “Managing the Production of Food and feedstuff, their safety and quality under global Climatic Change”)
Executive Summary:
The main idea of the PROFICIENCY project was to generate an increase of knowledge, visibility and intensity of collaboration of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Pulawy, Poland with existing and new partners within Europe. The project was composed of the following seven work packages:
Work package 1 (WP1) consisted in an upgrade of IUNG’s equipment, thus increasing its attractiveness for researchers. 24 pieces of scientific equipment and computer programmes have been purchased to reach the higher modernity in the Institute. To provide appropriate conditions for scientist to perform their research and enable them to fully use all the equipment, the new laboratory premises are being built. The Innovation and Science Centre for Agricultural Research (INCBR) in Pulawy has been granted with the co-financing from Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland (European Regional Development Fund) Priority I.3 and should be ready by the end of the year 2014.
Work package 2 (WP2) consisted in improving the internal human capacities and the management organisation. Four experienced researchers have been hired in the Institute, but one of them resigned. Also, the continuation of employment of three young promising scientists was possible within this work package.
Work package 3 (WP3) focused on the exchange of know-how through mobility trainings. Researchers from IUNG have been actively participating in 172 outgoing visits (64 of young scientists and 108 of experienced researchers). They visited number of countries all over the world. Those visits lasted from one week to few months. Mobility trainings and the knowledge increase were also related to the participation of IUNG’s scientists in training courses, international conferences and workshops, where they delivered oral and poster presentations, followed the modern trends in science and promoted the Proficiency project as well as the scientific potential of the Institute. 57 incoming visits from partner institutions were organized.
Work package 4 (WP4) consisted in partnership creations with other actors within Europe. Collaboration with other excellent research centers was pursued (attendance to 5 international conferences), as well as a ‘Soil and Land Use Platform’ launched.
Work package 5 (WP5) covers project and results dissemination. Activities were organised on different scales: international (3 international conferences, 3 international workshops and an international meeting), national (3 conferences, 6 workshops, 3 trainings, 3 Open- and farmers’ days). The dissemination activities covered also press release, radio, tv and internet information. They reached audience at different national (local, regional, country) and international levels (internet). Website promoting the results of the Proficiency and supplying all current information on project execution was created and maintained during all project period.
Work package 6 (WP6) corresponded to management activities. . Day to day management has been realized by the management team, i.e. project coordinator and WP leaders and co-leaders and by financial managers that are responsible for all matters related to the financial side of the project, and project assistant dealing with the administrative matters. For advisory and cooperation purposes an Advisory Board has been involved in the project. It was composed of 18 representatives of foreign research institutions, 2 representatives of Polish Ministries and one from Polish university. During the project realization four Advisory Board meetings were organized.
Work package 7 (WP7) corresponded to an Expert Panel Review, which assessed the excellence of IUNG. Three external evaluators suggested by the EC came twice to Pulawy to meet with work package leaders and collect information about the project realization and the Institute (structure, publications, plans for future). After discussions and collecting all the comments they prepared their report - project realization was positively assessed.
Project Context and Objectives:
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Pulawy (IUNG) was a coordinator and only beneficiary of the Proficiency project (FP7-REGPOT-2009-1-245751). The main objective of this project was to strengthen IUNG’s excellence, through technological, human and partnership capacities fostering, but most of all through a complete reshaping of its internal organization. IUNG ambition was to adopt a totally integrated interdisciplinary approach around four interdisciplinary research areas, defined as priorities by the Institute, in order to converge towards excellence on a crucial topic: “Managing the Production of Food and feedstuff, their safety and quality under global Climatic Change”.
The main objectives of Proficiency project were to:
• update and improve the research equipment and organization in the Institute;
• scientifically enhance knowledge on soil, food and feed safety and quality in the face of climate change;
• become an Institute of prior importance for Polish end-users and fully integrated with the European Research Area.
More specifically, the Proficiency project aimed to achieve the following scientific and technical objectives:
• to improve Poland’s competence in the production of food and feedstuff of high quality and safety;
• to improve risk assessment methodologies on soil and food safety issues, and provide public authorities with timely, objective, and unbiased information;
• to successfully implement an entirely new approach to conducting interdisciplinary research through fostering a close and constant working relationship between the Institute’s departments; one that focuses on specified priority research areas;
• to develop national and international cooperation with high quality research institutions;
• to run courses, training days, seminars, and events for agricultural producers, governmental officials, researchers, and politicians that will enable IUNG-PIB to become a reputable centre for professional traineeships and lifelong learning;
• to increase IUNG’s participation in EU collaborative research projects.
Project Results:
Proficiency project was divided into seven work packages. Each of them was dedicated for different activities all leading to the scientific and technical improvement of IUNG.
The main aim of work package 1 was to establish higher modernity within the research laboratories. To reach this goal following equipment has been purchased:
- Five database servers for DSS and GIS analysis
- Seven automatic agrometeorological weather stations
- Computer tools from iSpace.onEnergy programme (ASECO)
- PC computer program (standalone version) designed to Polish condition in Polish language (DSS Software)
- PCR with equipment
- Table centrifuge
- TOC/TN Analyzer
- ACE Automated Soil CO2 Exchange System
- Preparative LC system
- Freeze-drying chamber
- HPLC–MS
- Print and finishing equipment (Collator, Colour Printer and Copier, Automatic Paper Folding Machine, QuarkXpress 8, Puzzle Flow Organizer)
- Statistical Data Miner
- Portable photosynthesis and transpiration system
- Microtox® system
- Particle size laser analyzer
- CHNS/0 Elemental Analyzer
- GC-MS system
- Vacuum rotary evaporator 20 L
- Portable gas chromatograph with a FID detector
There were some differences between equipment planned in Annex I and the equipment purchased:
- instead of simple PCR, a PCR with additional equipment for microorganisms identification was purchased – it was possible to purchase PCR with additional equipment in the amount of money planned for PCR only. This change allow the better use of PCR;
- instead of planned analytical X-Ray spectrometer, a table centrifuge and TOC/TN analyzer were purchased
- instead of Micro-HPLC-DAD, a HPLC-MS was purchased
- from the printing and finishing equipment instead of software QuarkXpress 7 the latter version was purchased (QuarkXpress 8) and as Quark Print Collection is not compatible with QuarkXpress 8, a Puzzle Flow Organizer software was purchased instead.
- as after all planned purchases there was still some money left in the budget of WP 1, EU Officer agreed to purchase additional equipment, that was Vacume rotary evaporator and Portable gas chromatograph with FID detector.
As a part of creating effective laboratories, a reorganization of existing structure was needed. At the beginning of the project a meeting with Department’s Representatives was organized to discuss the possible changes in IUNG’s laboratory organization, in order to prepare the recommendations for the Institute. Agreed recommendations have been presented in deliverable D1.1.
Since this meeting, and thanks to knowledge and experience gained during the trainings, the policy of the Institute in the subject of laboratory reorganization changed. To provide appropriate conditions for scientist to perform their research and enable them to fully use all the equipment purchased within Task 1.1 new premises nearby the actual headquarters of the Institute will be built. Departments that main scope of activity is laboratory work will be transferred there. Thank to that the collaboration between departments would be easier to manage. Scientists working on the similar equipment will be able to exchange their knowledge and solve research problems together. Therefore the modernization of the place in the laboratory purposes will not be needed.
The new laboratory will be built with co-financing from Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland (European Regional Development Fund) and Institute’s own resources. When making the amendment of Proficiency project in December 2012, one activity within task 1.2 has been added, i.e. preparing executive projects for the building. The contractor to prepare those projects has been chosen through Public Procurement and projects have been prepared.
This action is a great example for the effect of synergy between the use of resources from Framework Programmes and from Structural Funds.
Work package 2 consisted in improving the internal human capacities and the management organisation. At the beginning of the project, five profiles of research experience and skills of the expected candidates for new research positions at IUNG were defined by the departments interested in the recruitment. Information including an offer of employment for the duration of the project with a possibility of permanent employment at IUNG after its completion, has been sent to over 30 research institutions including: Foundation of Polish Science, Polish Academy of Sciences, numerous universities and scientific institutes in Poland. Information on new vacancies at IUNG was also spread through contact with researchers from other countries who collaborated with us during other projects in the past.
Our recruitment efforts resulted in hiring 4 experienced researchers at IUNG:
1. Dr. Alina Syp - Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics - Implementation of system of decision support in agriculture - Agriculture economist with informatics skills and experience with data bases, modelling of agricultural systems, questionnaire analysis.
2. Dr. Mariusz Kowalczyk - Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality - Analysis of plant material with advanced chromatographic techniques - Phytochemist, biologist with phytochemistry skills, molecular biologist with phytochemistry skills with experience in analytical methods.
3. Dr. Grażyna Korbecka - Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology -Molecular aspects of plant pathogen interaction, natural resistance, induced resistance - Plant pathologist, microbiologist, biologist with phytochemistry and plant pathology experience.
4. Dr. Michael Link - Department of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Protection - Toxicological studies of trace elements and persistent pollutants - Toxicologist, trained in analysis of trace elements, persistent pollutants, eco-toxicological methods, risk assessment methods.
It is important to emphasize that two of the researchers hired within the project (dr Grażyna Korbecka and dr Mariusz Kowalczyk) came back to Poland after training and working abroad and both of them are as well as other researchers interested in working in the Institute after completion of the project .
All hired researchers fulfilled the requirements formulated in the expected profiles of the candidates. Brief information about hired scientists:
Dr Alina Syp
Alina Syp obtained her diploma in horticulture (1985) from the University of Life Sciences in Lublin and her Ph.D. in farms organizations (2009) from the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Pulawy. She was employed in Lublin Agricultural Advisory Services in Konskowola (LODR in Konskowola) and she was tasked as the Head of the Economy Department from 1999 to 2010. In her previous job she was involved in organization of Polish FADN. From 2009 her role was concerned with team leading in the Project “Technical Assistance for Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in Republic of Macedonia”. In 2008-2009, she worked as an expert in the “Twinning Light Project: Support to Consolidate the Romanian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN)”. In 1995-1998, Ms. Syp worked as a Manager of Market Information Unit in the Foundation of Agricultural University in Lublin, in the framework of the project “Establishing Marketing Systems for Agricultural and Horticultural Products in Lublin province”.
Dr Alina Syp was employed in the Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics in July 2010. Since then she performed the following tasks:
• Participation in the research project “Merging of the land” under the Programme "Restructuring and modernization of food sector and rural development”. Within this project dr Syp was responsible for coordination of work related to conducting surveys, development of questionnaire to research the effect of cropland expanse on income from agricultural holdings, selection of sample 300 farms from Lublin Region basis of the FADN database in collaboration with Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics- National Research Institiute (IAFE-NRI) and sample criteria. The project was executed.
• Participation in the expertise „Assessment of GHG emissions in equivalent of CO2 for cultivation of wheat, triticale, corn and rye for production of bioethanol, and cultivation of rapeseed for production of biodiesel. Within this project dr Syp was responsible for preparing contracts which were signed with 16 Agricultural Extension Services, coordination of work related to conducting surveys, development of questionnaire to research, selection and analyses of sample of 300 farms from all voivodships in Poland based on the FADN database in collaboration with Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics- National Research Institute (IAFE-NRI). This work has been awarded by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Participation in research projects:
- FP7-KBBE-2011-5 „Catch–C” – Compatibility of Agricultural Management Practices and Types of Farming in the EU to enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Health. Dr Alina Syp participated in preparation of project proposal and now she is the coordinator within IUNG-PIB. She was responsible for organization and conducting surveys among farmers (300 questionnaires) based on the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen theory) in 3 farm type zones. The aim of these survey was to identify the main barriers and drivers of farmers towards adoption of sustainable practices.
- FP-KBBE.2011.1.4-06 “CANTOGETHER” - Crops and ANimals TOGETHER".
- FACCE JP/03/2012 “MACSUR - Modelling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Security”.
Dr Alina Syp participated also in the work of the statutory task "Assessment of rural agricultural environment under the influence of selected measures of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union” and in the work in the long-term program "Evaluation of the use of renewable energy from agricultural sources and their impact on the environment and food security in Poland”.
She participated in 20 international conferences, seminars, meetings, workshops and in 10 national meetings, workshops and courses presenting papers and posters. She was reviewer in two International Journals. The scope of work in which she would like to work is related to impact of climate change on agriculture taking into account socio-economic scenarios.
Publications
1. Syp, A., Faber, A., Kozyra, J., Borek, R., Pudełko, R., Borzecka-Walker, M. and Jarosz, Z. 2011. Modelling impact of climate changes and management practices on greenhouse gas emissions from arable soils. Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 20(6):1593-1902.
2. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Pudełko, R., Kozyra, J., Syp, A. and Borek, R. 2011. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of crops for energy production. JFAE 9(3&4):698-700.
3. Borzęcka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Mizak, K., Pudelko, R. and Syp, A. 2011. Soil carbon sequestration under bioenergy crops in Poland. In Principles, Application and Assessment in Soil Science. In Tech, Croatia, pp. 151-166.Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/soil-carbon-sequestration-under-bioenergy-cropsin-poland.
4. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Syp, A., Pudełko, R. and Mizak, K. 2012. Simulation of greenhouse gasses from miscanthus in Poland using the DNDC model. JFAE 10(2):1187-1190.
5. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Kozyra, J., Pudełko, R., Mizak, K. and Syp, A. 2012. Modelling the impact of climate change on miscanthus and willow for their potential productivity in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4): 1437 – 1440.
6. Faber, A., Pudełko, R., Borek, R., Borzecka-Walker, M., Syp, A., Krasuska, E. and Mathiou, P., 2012. Economic potential of perennial energy crops in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4):1178 – 1182.
7. Faber, A., Łopatka, A., Kaczyński, R., Pudełko, R., Kozyra, J., Borzęcka-Walker, M., and Syp, A. 2012. Assessment of existing soil organic carbon stocks and changes at a national and regional level in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4):1210 – 1213.
8. Pudełko, R., Borzęcka-Walker, M., Faber, A, Borek, R., Jarosz, Z. and Syp, A. 2012. The technical potential of perennial energy crops in Poland. JFAE 10 (2): 781-784.
9. Syp, A., Jarosz, Z., Faber, A., Borzecka-Walker, M. and Pudełko, R. 2012. Greenhouse gas emissions from winter wheat cultivation for bioethanol production in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4):1169 – 1172.
10. Syp, A., Faber, A. and Borzęcka Walker, M. 2012. Simulation of soil organic carbon in long-term experiments in Poland using the DNDC model. JFAE 10(3&4):1224 - 1229.
11. Syp, A., and Faber, A. 2012. The DNDC model application in simulating crop yield and tillage systems, effects on greenhouse gas emissions under the various production systems. SERIA, 14 (5):183-187.
12. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Jarosz, Z., Syp, A. and Pudełko, R. 2013. Greenhouse gas emissions from rape seed cultivation for FAME production in Poland. JFAE 11(1): 1064-1068.
She plans to publish next articles: „Assessment farmers intention to adopt sustainable management practices” and “Effects of climate change on wheat production potential in Poland”, where they will be presented results obtained under the projects.
Dr Mariusz Kowalczyk
Dr Mariusz Kowalczyk obtained his diploma in biology (1995) from the Copernicus University in Toruń and his Ph.D. in plant cell biology (2002) from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå, Sweden. Following one year post-doc period at the Department of Horticulture, University of Minnesota, he worked at the Umeå Plant Science Centre, where he researched the metabolism of and interactions between plant hormones.
Dr Kowalczyk was employed in the Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality in April 2010. He brought to the Institute knowledge and skills in the following topics:
• Technical experience in trace LC-MS/MS analysis.
• Knowledge of secondary metabolism pathways leading to plant hormones.
• Mass spectra interpretation skills useful for structural characterization of unknown compounds.
His current research interests include identification and characterization of novel, defense-related plant secondary metabolites and chemotaxonomy. Specifically, his current research concentrates on:
1. Evaluation of anti-nutritional substances in plant-derived animal feedstuffs. Development and validation of quantitative UHPLC-MS methods to analyze saponins:
• in feed additives containing Yucca schidigera extracts – steroidal saponins from Y. schidigera are potentially hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic but their contents in feed additives was never evaluated.
• in feed additives containing Saponaria officinalis – feed supplements containing Saponaria affect ruminal fermentation and help to control the emission of methane. Nevertheless, they are potentially toxic to animals and their content of saponins has to be closely monitored. No quantitation method for Saponaria saponins was ever published before.
• in protein concentrates from Medicago sativa (alfalfa) – protein concentrates have to be controlled for their saponin contents, which should not exceed 1.5-2.5%. To aid the concentrate production process, a quantitation method was developed and several concentrates as well as production intermediates were tested for their saponins concentration (industry requested analyses)
2. Novel analytical method in fertilizers analysis, development of:
• a novel method for quantitation of 5-aminolevulinic acid – a UHPLC-MS/MS method based on HILIC separation of analytes (Pentakeep V® fertilizer, industry requested analyses).
• a novel UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of folcystein (Foltron® fertilizer, industry requested analyses).
• a quantitation method for nitrophenols and guaiacol in fertilizers – adaptation of the standard HPLC quantitation method to UHPLC-MS/MS (industry requested analyses)
3. New natural products from rare and medicinal plants
• Phytochemical contents of Eryngium species – three new triterpene saponins were isolated, characterized structurally and quantified. An in vitro protocol for propagation of rare and protected species: Eryngium maritimum was established and in vitro cultures were evaluated for production of phenolic acids and saponins
• Saponins from Argania spinosa – HPLC-MS/MS characterization of glucuronide-type saponins from this important for cosmetic industry plant. Complete identification and structural characterization of one new saponin.
4. Additional uses for cover crops: phytochemical analyses of legumes.
• Analyses of flavones, isoflavones and saponins in several legume species proposed as new cover crops, in search for their additional/alternative uses in the agriculture and/or industry
• Saponins from different Trifolium species: isolation and characterization of several new triterpene saponins from T. medium and T. hybridum
5. Phytochemistry of cereals: UHPLC-MS/MS quantitation of hydroxamic acids and their glucosides in different varieties of rye, searching for biological markers associated with the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting as well as diseases.
Dr Kowalczyk has also participated in following research projects:
- FP7- KBBE-2011-5-289277 “OSCAR” - Optimizing Subsidiary Crops Applications in Rotations.
- Polish National Science Centre (NCN) project N N311 2010-2016/76339 - Methane production and protein metabolism in the rumen of cows fed with a dose of triterpene saponins Saponaria officinalis L.
- NCN project 2013/11/D/NZ9/02771 - Secondary metabolites of Pulmonaria officinalis L. and their biological activity.
- Polish National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) project PBS1/A8/0/2012 “GENSEC” - Biological markers associated with the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting of rye (Secale cereale L.)
Publications
1. Pawelec, S., D. Jędrejek, M. Kowalczyk, Ł. Pecio, M. Masullo, S. Piacente, Francisco A. Macías, et al. "Triterpene saponins from the aerial parts of Trifolium medium L. var. sarosiense." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 61/2013: 9789-96
2. Pérez, A. J., M. Kowalczyk, A. M. Simonet, F. A. Macías, W. Oleszek, and A. Stochmal. "Isolation and structural determination of triterpenoid glycosides from the aerial parts of alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.)." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 61/2013: 2631-37
3. M. Henry, M. Kowalczyk, M. Maldini, S. Piacente, A. Stochmal, and W. Oleszek. "Saponin inventory from Argania spinosa kernel cakes by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry." Phytochemical Analysis 2013 24:616-622
4. Mounet, F., A. Moing, M. Kowalczyk, J. Rohrmann, J. Petit, V. Garcia, M. Maucourt, et al. "Down-regulation of a single auxin efflux transport protein in tomato induces precocious fruit development." Journal of Experimental Botany 63/2012: 4901-17
5. Novák, O., E. Hényková, I. Sairanen, M. Kowalczyk, T. Pospíšil, and K. Ljung. "Tissue-specific profiling of the Arabidopsis thaliana auxin metabolome." Plant Journal 72/2012: 523-36
6. Gutierrez, L., G. Mongelard, K. Floková, D. I. Pǎcurar, O. Novák, P. Staswick, M. Kowalczyk, et al. "Auxin controls Arabidopsis adventitious root initiation by regulating jasmonic acid homeostasis." Plant Cell 24/2012: 2515-27
7. Kowalczyk, M., Ł. Pecio, A. Stochmal, and W. Oleszek. "Qualitative and quantitative analysis of steroidal saponins in crude extract and bark powder of Yucca schidigera Roezl." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59/2011: 8058-64
8. Kowalczyk M, Masullo M, Thiem B, Piacente S, Stochmal A, Oleszek W (2014) Three new triterpene saponins from roots of Eryngium planum. Natural Product Research 28: 653-660
9. Moniuszko-Szajwaj B, Pecio Ł, Kowalczyk M, Simonet AM, Macias FA, Szumacher-Strabel M, Cieslak A, Oleszek W, Stochmal A (2013) New triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Saponaria officinalis. Natural Product Communications 8: 1687-1690
10. Szczechowiak J, Szumacher-Strabel M, Stochmal A, Nadolna M, Pers-Kamczyc E, Nowak A, Kowalczyk M, Cieślak A (2013) Effect of Saponaria officinalis L. or Panax ginseng C.A Meyer triterpenoid saponins on ruminal fermentation in vitro. In Annals of Animal Science, Vol 13, p 815
Dr Grażyna Korbecka
Dr Grażyna Korbecka obtained her diploma in biology (1998) from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland and her PhD in plant ecology (2004) from Leiden University in Leiden, the Netherlands. In 2004-2007, she worked as a postdoctoral within EU funded project “Intrabiodiv” at the Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow (Poland). Then she received a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship to carry out a project on sexual system and genetic diversity of annual plants in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Oxford where she worked as a postdoctoral researcher until July 2010. During these years of training and work experience, dr Korbecka became a specialist in an interdisciplinary field of molecular ecology. In most research projects carried out before, she used to apply the tools of molecular ecology (molecular markers) to answer ecological research questions in studies of wild plant species.
Dr Korbecka was hired for the position at the Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (in August 2010) because of her molecular skills in methods such as: DNA isolation, AFLP, RAPD, microsatellite genotyping, sequencing, transformation, cloning and computer analysis of molecular data. She is currently leading a sequencing laboratory established in the Department. The major task of this laboratory is performing analysis of genetic polymorphism and sequencing within research projects carried out in the Institute. So far, these projects focused on topics like: genetic diversity of hop cultivars, breeding for pathogen resistance in tobacco and genetic differentiation of Azotobacter sp. In the nearest future, dr Korbecka will implement new sequencing methods (using Ilumina sequencing platform) in this laboratory.
She has participated in following research projects:
- NCN; project number: 2011/03/B/NZ9/04746 - Genetic basis of resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY) in tobacco – as a principal investigator. The major aim of this project is to examine PVY resistance of a tobacco line carrying introgression from a wild species Nicotiana africana. So far, this project resulted in acquiring a segregating mapping population (F2) and testing its PVY resistance, comparing its effectiveness to other resistance sources and characterizing ten PVY isolates. Currently, microsatellite markers tested on the segregating mapping population in order to find markers linked to introgressed PVY resistance.
- NCBR project PBS 1/A8/2/2012 - Improvement of production technology of hop planting material free from viruses and Hop latent viroid using in vitro methods.
Moreover, dr Korbecka has been a participant of statutory research (internally funded) project entitled: „Characterization of Tobacco mosaic virus, influence of virus infection for chemical composition and identification useful sources of resistance”.
She continues to develop new research projects and apply for funding. Projects’ proposals under review at the moment include:
• Genetic differentiation of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) isolates and their ability to infect different plant species. Dr Korbecka in collaboration with two other researchers from the Institute (dr hab. Beata Szewczyk and dr Marcin Przybyś) carried out a preliminary research required for this proposed project. She collected over 600 samples of crops and weeds in many regions in Poland and tested them for the presence of various plant viruses using ELISA tests. Samples containing viruses are stored in temp. -800C; they will become an excellent basis for further genetic analysis of TSWV and other viruses. Moreover, a publication on the results of serological tests is being prepared at the moment.
• Improving quality of tobacco breeding lines carrying resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Chalara elegans.
• Molecular adaptation in range expansions: predicting fitness of future plant communities (Acronym: MolAdapt) - dr Korbecka developed a collaboration with researchers from ten research institutes in Europe and Asia in order to prepare an ERA-CAPS project proposal on annual plant Mercurialis annua. The pre-proposal has been positively evaluated and the full proposal for this project will be submitted in July 2014.
Publications
1. Pfeiffer T., Roschanski A.M. Pannell J.R. Korbecka G., Schnittler M. (2011) Characterisation of microsatellite loci and reliable genotyping in the highly polyploid plant Mercurialis perennis (Euphorbiaceae). Journal of Heredity 102 (4): 479-488.
2. Korbecka G., Hamilton A., Pannell J.R. (2011) Mixed mating in androdioecious Mercurialis annua inferred using progeny arrays and diploid-acting microsatellite loci in a hexaploid background. Annals of Botany 107: 1057-1061.
3. Taberlet P., Zimmermann N.E. Englisch T., Tribsch A., Holderegger R., Alvarez N., Niklfeld H., Mirek Z., Moilanen A., Ahlmer W., Marsan P.A. Bona E., Bovio M., Choler P., Cieślak E., Coldea G., Colli L., Cristea V., Dalmas J.P. Frajman B., Garraud L., Gaudeul M., Gielly L., Gutermann W., Jogan N., Kagalo A.A. Korbecka G., et al. – 56 authors and IntraBioDiv Consortium. (2012) Genetic diversity in widespread species is not congruent with species richness in alpine plant communites. Ecology Letters 15 (12): 1439-1448.
4. Depta A., Olszak-Przybyś H., Korbecka G. Infection intensity with Potato virus Y (PVY) depending on the inoculation method and the assessment of the virus spread depending on the type of plant resistance - submitted to Polish Journal of Agronomy.
Presentations during conferences and seminars:
1. Korbecka G. (2011) Selfing rate and reproductive system of Mercurialis annua. Internal departmental seminar in Polish. 13 January 2011, IUNG, Puławy (Poland).
2. Korbecka G., Pannell J.R. (2011) Spatial and temporal variation of mating system in Mercurialis annua. Oral presentation at Basic and Applied Plant Population Biology Conference, 2-4 June 2011, Oxford (UK).
3. Korbecka G. (2012) Genetic basis of resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY) in tobacco – a project synopsis. Internal departmental seminar in Polish. 30 August 2012, IUNG, Puławy (Poland).
4. Korbecka G., Agacka M., Skomra U. (2012) Marker-assisted sex determination in hop breeding. International Conference “Biotechnology and Plant Breeding: Perspectives Towards Food Security and Sustainability” 10-12 September 2012, Radzików (Poland).
5. Korbecka G. (2013) Report from a scientific visits in Germany and Belgium. Internal departmental seminar in Polish. 18 April 2013, IUNG, Puławy (Poland).
6. Depta A., Olszak-Przybyś H., Korbecka G. (2013) Infection intensity with Potato virus Y (PVY) depending on the inoculation method and the assessment of the virus spread depending on the type of plant resistance. Symposium “Classical and molecular approaches in plant pathogen taxonomy” 10 – 11 September, 2013, SGGW, Warszawa (Poland) .
7. Korbecka G., Czubacka A., Depta A., Olszak-Przybyś H., Doroszewska T. (2013) Mapping introgression determining Potato virus Y (PVY) resistance transferred to cultivated tobacco from Nicotiana africana. CORESTA Joint Study Groups Meeting, 13-17 October 2013, Brufa di Torgiano (Italy).
Dr Michael Link
Dr M. Link obtained his diploma in agriculture at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen (1995) and his Ph.D. (2002) at the same University. In the years 1995-2008 he was employed at this University as a scientific worker. His research work concentrated on the sustainable protection of biodiversity on agricultural areas and were granted by the German science-supporting organizations like Stiftung Hessischer Naturschutz and DAAD. In the years 2008-2010 he was a visiting professor at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences at the Institute of Landscape Architecture dealing with the problems of the effect of climate changes on the agricultural soil quality and land use, which is also a subject of his current research interest in the IUNG-PIB.
Dr Michael Link was employed in the Department of Soil Science and Land Protection in September 2010 and worked till October 2011. His activities in IUNG included:
- ”Multifunctional landscape analysis as a basis for recourse, environment and nature conservation as well as sustainable development of agricultural landscapes in eastern Central Europe under global climate change conditions” - comparison of Polish and German soil textural system as well as soil evaluation system, analysis and evaluation of the biotope and landscape structure as a basis for the assessment and evaluation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, generation of a multifunctional concept for a sustainable development of agricultural landscapes in eastern Central Europe.
- Participation in the EU project URBAN SMS.
Publications:
1. Link, M., Th. Vorderbrügge, Z. Dajdok, A. Wuczyński, A. Michalski, & A. Niewiadomski (2010): Multifunktionale Interpretation von Bodenschätzungsdaten als Basis für ein länderübergreifendes Konzept zum nachhaltigen Ressourcen- und Landschaftsschutz am Beispiel Polens und Deutschlands. Ber. DBG, http://www.dbges.de.
2. Kowalkowski, A., J. Jonczak & M. Link (2010): Veränderung der Nutzungseignung der Jungmoränenlandschaft Nordpommerns am Beispiel des Einzugsgebietes der Struga Leśna (Waldbach). Ber. DBG, http://www.dbges.de.
3. Link, M., Th. Vorderbrügge, A. Kowalkowski & T. Harrach (2011): Interpretation of German and Polish soil appraisal data in order to deduce and value soil parameters and functions – Part I: Methodical basis and database. Submitted in: “Die Bodenkultur”.
Additional employment related to realization of WP2
As problems with finding proper person for the fifth position occurred, with the agreement of EC Officer from 24.10.2011 the salaries of three promising young employees have been covered from the budget of WP2 – MSc. Sylwia Pawelec, MSc. Radosław Kaczyński and MSc. Ewa Decka-Cywińska. It was the only opportunity to keep them in the Institute, as at that time their work contracts were coming to end and IUNG was unable to finance their further employment from any other source.
MSc. Sylwia Pawelec
In 2002-2007 she attended full-time studies at the Technical University of Radom, majoring in chemical technology. She graduated with the title of Master of Science with specialization in polymers chemistry and technology. Since June 2009 she took half-year internship at the Biochemistry and Crop Quality Department of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute. Since December 2009 she has been employed in IUNG as a technician and since December 2011 as a specialist within the project Proficiency. Between August 2012 and April 2013 she was on the maternity leave.
MSc. Pawelec has been working on the isolation of secondary metabolites in plants especially saponins from the genus Fabaceae and cereals, and profiling of plants of the genus Oronachaceae.
From 7.05.2012 to 6.06.2012 she visited the Department of Crop Chemistry and Biochemistry at Fodder and Dairy Productions Research Centre – Lodi, Italy. During this visit she gained experience about sample preparation to GC-MS measurement and determination of sapogenins using GC-MS. She was also working on HPLC preparative instrument to became acquainted about different method for saponins isolation and purification.
Publications:
1. Arafa I. Hamed, Milena Masullo, Łukasz Pecio, Dario Gallotta, Usama A. Mahalel, Sylwia Pawelec, Anna Stochmal, and Sonia Piacente, (2014). Unusual Fernane and Gammacerane Glycosides from the Aerial Parts of Spergula fallax, J. Nat. Prod.,DOI: 10.1021/np4008415;
2. Sylwia Pawelec, Dariusz Jędrejek, Mariusz Kowalczyk, Łukasz Pecio, Milena Masullo, Sonia Piacente, Francisco A. Macías, Ana M. Simonet, Wiesław Oleszek, and Anna Stochmal, (2013). Triterpene Saponins from the Aerial Parts of Trifolium medium L. var. sarosiense, J. Agric. Food Chem., 61 (41), 9789–9796;
Conference abstracts:
1. Sylwia Pawelec, Iwona Kowalska, Krzysztof Domaradzki, Mariusz Kucharski, Anna Stochmal (2013) Comparision of the content and antioxidant activity of phenolics from two solidago species (s. canadensis l., s. gigantea aiton)
2. Sylwia Pawelec, Renata Piwowarczyk, Mariusz Kowalczyk (2013) Metabolic profile of the genus Orobanche s. l. (Orobanchaceae) in taxonomic and hosts relation.
MSc. Radosław Kaczyński
During his employment at the institute funded by Proficiency, he carried the tasks EU projects, the long term PIB program and Drought monitoring for Ministry of Agriculture. He participated in two projects funded by the European Union:
• FP7: CANTOGETHER - Crops and Animals TOGETHER - responsible for Subtask 3.3.3: Land sharing between productive and ecological areas and between livestock farms and arable farms, Case Study Poland: Evaluation of SOC at the regional scale-Dolnoslaskie region.
• Poland-Czech Republic Cross-Border Operational Programme 2007-2013: Risk and benefits of application of exogenous organic matter to soil - responsible for task : Assessment of the current content of SOM in the CZ-PL borderland. The objective of this task was to evaluate status and trends in soil organic carbon in agricultural soils of Polish – Czech Republic borderland.
His work also included:
• Participation in the task 1.5 “Assessment of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture by its sequestration in soils” in the multi-annual program conducted at the Institute funded by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Supervising monitoring of soil moisture in reference 20 farms across the country for the project: "Agricultural Drought Monitoring System in Poland (ADMS)"
• Participation in the international conference “SOIL CARBON sequestration, for climate, food security and ecosystem services” Iceland on 26-29 May 2013, presenting the results of the work on the temporary changes of the organic matter in Polish soils, in the form of a poster: “Monitoring of long-term changes of SOC content in Poland”.
MSc. Ewa Decka – Cywińska
She has been employed as a specialist in the Department of Extension and Information of Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy. This Department deals with issues such as: documentation of publications of the Institute, implementation of the results of studies and dissemination of the progress in agriculture, cooperation with Agricultural Advisory Centers, Agricultural Schools subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chambers of Agriculture and agricultural practice, selling the scientific and popular scientific publications of IUNG-PIB. Scope of her duties/responsibilities:
- preparation of promotional materials of the Institute,
- preparation of conference materials
- proofreading of documents and articles prepared for print,
- edition and adjustment of texts,
- technical editing the scientific, implementation and extensional works of the Institute for publication.
Work package 3 was established to enable different groups of IUNG’s scientists the improvement of their knowledge and practical skills within training visits in leading research centers around the Europe. All of planned activities were organized to bring together all of IUNG’s departments and share the acquired knowledge, in order to create new working teams across the department lines. The mobility of researchers was dedicated to the four interdisciplinary research areas: Soil Quality, Land Use, Production Systems and Techniques, Plant Production Quality and Safety with special attention to following research problems:
Soil Quality: soil organic matter transformation, safe and efficient use of fertilizers, sustainable nutrient management, nitrate content in arable soils, nondestructive methods of soil fertility evaluation, ecological risk assessment, progress in microbial identification, protection of the quality of agricultural ecosystems;
Land Use: economic and environmental aspects of biomass production, optimizations of decision making in bioelectricity assisted by GIS, geoinformatics, bioelectricity assisted by GIS, application of selected energy programmes e.g. iSpace.on use of weather databases;
Production Systems and Techniques: comparison of different farming systems, photosynthesis and respiration of fodder crops under stress, current research on different farming systems, environmental aspects of biomass production;
Plant Products Quality and Safety: methods of plant analysis, biotechnological methods in agriculture, spectral methods of phytochemical analysis, allergens in grain crops, in vitro cultures development, legumes breeding and their quality, health promoting phytochemical analysis.
The activity of the work package included two categories of training visits dedicated for IUNG’s researchers and collaborating scientists: short visits lasting from few days up to 1 month and long stays over 1 month. IUNG’s researchers had also possibility to participate in conferences, workshops and training courses.
Financial support of the project gave opportunity for successful knowledge transfer which in short term should be beneficial improving the quality and scope of the research undertaken in the Institute. Scientists from IUNG have paid short visits to research institutions across Europe to get consultations with professional experts working on problems included in four working areas and to participate in meetings to become part of international projects’ working teams. Such activities resulted in creation of new projects and initiatives. IUNG pays particular attention to young scientists who strengthen existing working teams and in perspective will set new directions of research areas. Strong emphasis has been put on their long lasting training to increase their motivation and creativity as well as to maximize their potential. They also took part in training courses to increase their experience in using modern laboratory equipment and techniques. IUNG’s researchers actively participated in international conferences and workshops to promote the Proficiency project and scientific potential of the Institute abroad. Collaborating scientists and technicians hosted by the Institute had beneficial influence on the work performed and strengthen IUNG’s ongoing researches. Their temporary employment was an important goal from the Proficiency project’s perspective.
Outgoing of IUNG’s researchers to partners: activities planned in WP3 have included 56 training visits of IUNG’s researchers in partner institutions.
Totally there were 172 outgoings among them: 77 of short visits and 41 of long stays. In conferences, workshops and training courses have participated: 37, 9 and 8 researchers, respectively. Long training visits lasting from 1 month up to 6 months were more common for young scientists while short ones for experienced researchers. The most active within the mobility training were researchers from the Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics (45 training visits), Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (34 training visits), Department of Soil Science Erosion and Land Protection (33 training visits) and Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality (23 training visits). The most effective cooperation was established with the research institutions from Germany (University in Gettingen), Italy (University of Salerno), Belgium (Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research ILVO), Greece (University of Athens, University of Chania), the Netherlands (Wageningen University) and Finland (University of Helsinki).
Incoming of experienced researchers from partners to IUNG: 27 exchange visits of experienced scientists and 3 technicians in IUNG were planned within the WP3 activity.
Totally there were 53 incomings of researchers and 4 technical workers from international research institutions as well as national universities and institutes. Almost a half of the incomings constituted long visits (> 1 month). Six researches have been working in IUNG for over one year, eight for the period of 4-6 months and ten for 2-3 months. Visits of collaborating researchers were strongly related to the activity and knowledge exchange in the Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (7 researchers and 2 technicians), Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics (9 researchers and 1 technician), Department of Soil Science Erosion and Land Protection (8 researchers) and Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality (9 researchers). The majority of cooperating partners were from Greece (Agricultural University of Athens), Italy (University of Piza) and Germany (Leibniz University of Hannower, University of Hohenheim).
The results of WP3 implementation were presented during the seminar “Summary of the Proficiency project realization – scientific experience sharing within IUNG” which was hold on 29th October 2013. The scope of the meeting was focused on the presentation of the knowledge increase through the mobility trainings and the strengthening of IUNGs’ position in the European research community. Ninety five employees representing research departments have participated in the meeting. Sixteen oral presentations were delivered and thirty five posters presented by IUNG’s researchers on international conferences and workshops were shown. Benefits of project implementation were presented by the leaders of work packages - session I and young researchers representing individual scientific departments involved in scientific trainings within WP 3 - session II.
Following outputs of the mobility trainings have been considered as the most important: possibility of cooperation with experts from various leading research institutions across Europe, participation in new international projects carried out within the 7th Framework Programme, increase the amount of IF publications as well as the number of collaborating research institutions. Particular attention on laboratory training and international team work skills has been shown. The abridged versions of presentations and results of knowledge increase within mobility trainings have been posted below.
Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics intensified scientific exchange and collaboration with research institutions from Greece (Agricultural University in Athens and University of Chania), Austria (iSPACE Studio) and Switzerland (Reckenholz-Taenikon Research Station ART in Zurich). Thanks to the mobility trainings and cooperation with partner institutions, researchers from this department became partners in three research projects carried out within EC 7th Framework Programme:
BioBoost: Biomass based energy intermediates boosting biofuel production (contract No. 282873; http://bioboost.eu/home.php)
S2Biom: Delivery of sustainable supply of non-food biomass to support a “resource-efficient” Bioeconomy in Europe (contract No. 608622; http://www.s2biom.eu)
Catch-C: Compatibility of Agricultural Management Practices and Types of Farming in the EU to enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Health (contract No. 289782, http://www.catch-c.eu). The scientific representative of IUNG in this project is dr Alina Syp, who has been employed within the WP2 of the Proficiency project and will get the permanent position in the Institute after the project ends. The results of international collaboration were presented in four publications in journals with IF 0,517-2,975 and delivered as oral and poster presentations in international conferences and workshops.
Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality - young researchers involved in scientific exchange have visited University of Salerno (Italy) and University of Cadiz (Spain) to practice NMR spectroscopy with special attention to spectra identification and interpretation. In 2012 IUNG received subsidy from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and purchased NMR spectrometer therefore the mobility trainings enabled researchers fast adaptation of the equipment to laboratory conditions.
Collaboration with scientists from international and national research institutions was focused on the isolation and identification of plant-derived compounds and application of TLC method for the determination of activity of compounds by using DPPH Rapid Test. The results of research conducted in cooperation with international and national partners were described in 17 scientific papers published in international journals with IF 0.955-3.633. Researchers from this department have also actively participated in international conferences and workshops delivering posters.
Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology - researchers actively participated in the mobility trainings that were focused on the implementation of new techniques for the laboratory practice e.g. cytometric techniques for biosystematics studies of vascular plants and GC-MS technique for hop oils and tobacco analysis. They hosted international experts and technical workers from Italy (CRA-FSO, Sanremo and University of Genova) and Germany (University of Hohenhein). Scientists have also participated in several conferences and workshops presenting the results of collaboration with partners and promoting the scientific potential of the Institute on international forum.
Department of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Conservation - the mobility trainings were related to the cooperation and consultations with experts from national and European research centers. The exchange was focused on the increase of knowledge on application of modern field and laboratory techniques, training in ecological risk assessment procedures and c sequestration in soils. Researchers have participated in several international conferences and workshops, where they have presented sixteen posters and delivered seven oral presentations. Thanks to the cooperation with foreign research centers, researchers from this department became partners in two research projects carried out within EC 7th Framework Programme:
Greenland: Sustainable management and gentle remediation of trace element contaminated land (contract No. 266124; http://www.greenland-project.eu)
Cantogether: Crops and Animals Together (contract No. 289328; http://www.fp7cantogether.eu).
Department of Forage Crop Production has established the strong and fruitful collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Plant Science Unit, Genetic and Breeding, Belgium. Scientific exchange covered several training visits to practice molecular biology and cytogenetic techniques, and making new interspecific crosses between two species of grasses: Festuca and Lolium. Scientific exchange of young researcher from this department was focused on problems related to drought tolerance in Festulolium hybrids and their physiological and (cyto)genetic characterization. The results of international scientific collaboration will be included in the PhD thesis of A. Fariaszewska.
Scientists from this department have also participated in international conferences and presented number of posters.
Department of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization - researchers from this department have actively cooperated with the University of Helsinki, Finland. Two scientists have visited the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry working on plant physiology and biochemical aspects of drought response. Experts hosted in IUNG represented research centers from Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Scientists from this department have been involved in the project Catch-C: Compatibility of Agricultural Management Practices and Types of Farming in the EU to enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Health (contract No. 289782, http://www.catch-c.eu) carried out within EC 7th Framework Programme.
Department of Cereal Crop Production participated in WP3 activity through the collaboration with the Lithuanian University of Agriculture where young scientist has practiced the implementation of new technologies in greenhouse experiments and participation in the training course on mycotoxins determination in plant samples with application of HPLC/UV-VIS techniques. Researchers from this department actively participated in international conferences delivering oral presentations and posters.
Department of Systems and Economics of Plant Production has cooperated with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Young scientist has practiced modern techniques of greenhouse gasses measurement using the robotized incubation system and other methods in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Researchers also collaborated with two centers from Lithuania: Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Center for Agriculture and Forestry, Kedainiai and Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Kaunas exchanging knowledge and experiences on: greenhouse gases emission, production of raw material for energy utilization (biomass, biogas, bioethanol, analysis of availability and usefulness of soils for cultivation of energy plants, environmental aspects of cultivation of energy crops, agrotechnique and yielding of energy crops, economic analysis of energy crops cultivation).
The activity of work package 4 was focused on scientific networking. It was based on two tasks: 4.1 – “Scientific partnership and networking” and task 4.2 – “Partnership with end users: platform for soil and land use”.
Realization of the first task has resulted in participation of researchers from IUNG-PIB in five international conferences to show IUNG’s scientific achievements in various fields of soil and plant research, and to introduce the Proficiency project to scientists all over the world. The following conferences were attended:
• 44th Tobacco Workers’ Conference and CORETA meeting took place in January 18-21, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The subject matter of the conference included different aspects of worldwide breeding and cultivation of tobacco. Nearly 100 oral reports and over 200 posters were presented within 20 sessions concerning tobacco field production and industry under conditions of global climate change. The problems of plant diseases and pesticides application were also discussed. Almost 300 researchers from different countries, including four researchers from IUNG-PIB: prof. Apoloniusz Berbec, prof. Teresa Doroszewska, dr. Anna Trojak-Goluch and dr. Anna Czubacka (Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology) participated in the conference. The following posters were presented by Polish researchers:
- A. Czubacka, T. Doroszewska: “Obtaining resistant to PVY tobacco double haploids containing different sources of resistance”,
- A. Trojak–Goluch and A. Berbeć “Agronomic performance of tobacco breeding lines carrying black root rot resistance”.
Moreover prof. Doroszewska participated in Scientific Commission Meeting of CORESTA (Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research relative to Tobacco). Prof. Doroszewska as a Coordinator & Liaison of Sub-Group Collaborative Study on Virus Diseases presented results of “Potato virus Y project” and “Survey of impact of other viruses” based on the experiment 2009.
• 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, May 3-7, 2010, Lyon, France. More than 1500 researchers from 72 countries participated to the Conference. IUNG-PIB was represented by four scientists from Department of Agro-meteorology and Applied Informatics: dr. Andrzej Doroszewski, dr. Katarzyna Mizak, dr. Magdalena Borzecka-Walker and dr. Rafal Pudelko.
Dr. Borzecka-Walker with dr. Katarzyna Mizak and dr.Pudelko as co-authors gave the oral presentation on “Modeling Impact of Climate Change on Willow Potential Productivity in Poland” at “Agro-environmental assessments” session. Other IUNG’s researchers presented four posters:
- “Miscanthus Cultivation Potential for Energy Purposes in Poland”,
- “Willow Cultivation Potential for Energy Purposes in Poland”,
- “Competition between Power Stations for Biomass in Poland”,
- “Geographic Information System of Biomass Resource in Poland”.
Dr A. Doroszewski presented also a poster “Strengthen IUNG’s Proficiency on – Managing the Production of Food and Feedstuff, their Safety and Quality under Global Climatic Change” which introduced the Proficiency Project to the international audience.
• World Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition, May 25-27, 2010, was held at the Jonkoping Elmia Conference Center in Sweden. The conference was organized by The Swedish Bioenergy Association (SVEBIO) from Stockholm and Elmia from Jonkoping. IUNG-PIB was represented by four researchers from Department of Agro-meteorology and Applied Informatics: dr. Jerzy Kozyra, dr. Rafał Pudełko, dr. Magdalena Borzęcka–Walker and dr. Katarzyna Mizak. Two oral presentations were given by IUNG-PIB representatives:
- J. Kozyra: “Modelling Impact of Climate Change on Willow Potential Productivity in Poland”
- M. Borzęcka–Walker: “Competition between Power Stations for Biomass in Poland”.
- The following posters were also presented:
- “Willow Cultivation Potential for Energy Purposes in Poland”
- “Strengthen IUNG’s Proficiency on – Managing the Production of Food and Feedstuff, their Safety and Quality under Global Climatic Change”.
All participants were invited to take part in daily study visits, which were integral part of the conference programme.
• 8th International Wheat Conference (IWC), June 1-4, 2010, Petersburg, Russia. About 650 participants from 83 countries, including 18 researchers from Poland participated in the conference. The scientific program of the conference covered a wide range of problems related to global wheat research and production, such as: genetics and breeding for stress, yield potential and quality purposes, biotechnological and genomics tools in wheat improvements. Four researchers from IUNG-PIB: prof. Wieslaw Oleszek and prof. Anna Stochmal (Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality) and prof. Grażyna Podolska and dr. Alicja Sułek (Department of Cereal Crop Production) attended this conference. Each of them presented one poster:
- W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal: “Proficiency –The New EC program for developing research potential”
- J. Zuchowski, A. Stochmal, W. Oleszek: “Phenolic acid content in grains of Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and spelt (Triticum spelta)”
- G. Podolska: “Grain quality of winter wheat cultivars depending on the production technology”
- A. Sulek: “Grain quality of spring wheat cultivars depending on the production technology”.
• International PSE Symposium ‘Phytochemicals in Nutrition and Health’ in Giovinazzo (Bari), Italy, September 27-30, 2011. Four researchers from IUNG-PIB: prof. Wieslaw Oleszek, prof. Anna Stochmal, dr Iwona Kowalska and MSc. Barbara Szajwaj participated in this Symposium. They presented the following posters:
- I. Kowalska, D. Jedrejek, Ł. Ciesla, S. Piacente, M. Mosullo, W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal: “Phenolic composition of Trifolium scabrum L. aerial parts.”
- B. Szajwaj, L. Pecio, M. Szumacher-Strabel, A. Cieslak, W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal: “Isolation of bioactive compounds from Saponaria officinalis L.”
- M. Maldini, P. Montoro, A.I. Hamed, U.A. Mahalel, W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal, S. Piacente: “Strong free radical scavenging phenolics from Acacia nilotica pods.”
Moreover, prof. Oleszek was a member of scientific committee of the conference and chaired one session.
To build long-term partnerships not only with scientific bodies but also with research end-users IUNG wanted to create a Platform. At the beginning the subject of the platform was to be “agriculture cultivation system: conventional, sustainable and organic”. A meeting was organized in Klementowice Agrobusiness School on 11th April, 2011 to establish the platform. During this meeting various aspects of crop cultivation according to conventional, sustainable and organic systems were discussed, based on the following lectures presented by researchers from Department of Systems and Economics of Crop Production:
- Dr Jarosław Stalenga: “Systems of agricultural production in IUNG-PIB research”,
- Dr Beata Feledyn Szewczyk: “Agri–environmental program as a tool of biological environment protection on rural areas”,
- Dr Krzysztof Jonczyk: “Ecological agriculture, functioning, current status and development perspectives in Poland”.
While working on this platform it was noticed, that it would be more efficient if the subject of the platform would be different. “Soil and Land Use” platform would reflect new trends in understanding the function of soil. In September 2011 as a part of Polish presidency to UE, IUNG together with Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized the European conference in Brussels on soil organic matter. The conference shown that in many European countries there is a problem of decreasing content of organic matter. Also in September 2011 under Proficiency program, project Coordinator attended a meeting in Berlin (German Academy of Sciences) to develop bases for organization of European network on “Soil and Land Use”. Poland would like to participate actively in this initiative, but first a national platform for that purpose should be organized. That is why with the agreement of EU Officer, the subject of the platform was changed for “Soil and Land Use” platform.
The second, international meeting was held on 26th - 27th September, 2013 in Pulawy. This important meeting was dedicated to IUNG’s initiative formulated within the Proficiency project which aimed at the establishment of Soil and Land Use Platform, also at the international level. The objective of the Platform is to bring end-users, decision makers, agencies and soil scientists together in order to make the soil related information that is being, or can be, generated more useful for protection of soil resources and the environment.
The following problems were discussed during 3 sessions of this meeting:
• Research needs, challenges and soil management approaches,
• European soil protection projects for end users,
• Soil monitoring programs and tools.
Forty one representatives of research institutions from 15 European countries (Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Poland) including representatives of Polish Ministry of Agriculture and local public administration from Poland, Slovenia and Germany, joined this Platform initiative meeting, which was very well perceived and appreciated by the all participating parties.
Recent activities undertaken within this Platform by dr G. Siebielec (Dept. of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Conservation, IUNG-PIB) include discussions and preliminary work on the following projects at the country level and EU:
- Biochar project for Horizon 2020,
- Spatial Planning – Poznan Voivodship (Poland),
- Chemometric methods for the environment assessment in Poland and Ireland.
- Soil organic matter (IUNG, Wageningen, Agroscope)
The objective of the work package 5 was to organize various dissemination activities spreading information about Proficiency project and its main achievements to as wide audience as possible. Activities were planned on different levels to gain and improve international, national and virtual visibility and reach various target groups like scientific community, students, administration bodies, policy makers, industry representatives, agricultural services and farmers. Societal implications were assured trough dissemination of the project information to civil society.
On the international level one of the main aims was to strengthen the links between IUNG and ERA. This was done very successfully through organisation of international conferences and workshops. Seven international meetings (3 conferences, 3 workshops and one international meeting) were organised during 4 years of the project. They gather 450 participants representing almost all European as well as some overseas countries. The most effective international activities within Proficiency concentrated in the area of soil protection. This was in line with the recent concentration of the EU and many international organisations on the problems of soil security in the light of the increased threats (e.g. climate change) to its main functions, which regulate all aspects of the life. The reflection of this concern was EU document “Towards Soil Thematic strategy”. Nomination the coming year 2015 as “Soil Year” followed the great international interest in this issue.
Of particular importance was the International Standardisation Organisation Technical Committee 180 “Soil Quality” Meeting organised in Puławy in 2010 to celebrate 25th Anniversary of the Committee. The members of the ISO Committee – involved concurrently in the CEN 345 “Soil Quality” activities - formed wide audience deriving not only from scientific community but also from the industry and EU administration. Information about IUNG and Proficiency project was disseminated not only through the representatives of the European community but reached countries like South Korea, Japan and Australia.
The other examples of very successful contacts of IUNG with ERA were two international conferences organised in years 2011 (“Protection of agricultural soils against joint stress of natural and anthropogenic factors”) and 2013 (“Protection of soil functions – challenges for the future”) regarding the very vital and current problems of soil protection. From one hand lectures presented by high quality experts from the leading scientific units in the EU made possible for Polish participants from all over the country to become acquainted with newest scientific achievements. From another – foreign guests from all over the Europe had an opportunity to become familiar with problems regarding soil protection and management in Poland and the methods of their solutions. Soil protection issue needs multidirectional approach (scientific, agricultural, administrative, special planning, etc.) and soil management problems are covered by different regulations on the EU and national levels. Application of all those regulations may have strong economic effects for agriculture, industry and landowners. The conferences, besides scientific aspects, created a platform for the exchange of the opinions of policy makers and administrative bodies from different countries providing an incentive for the improvements of the current documents and their better adjustment to the EU directives. These opinions were disseminated - through media – to civil society.
Although direct contacts of scientists – as it is possible during conferences and meetings - are usually the best platform for creating and strengthening the cooperation, the other forms of dissemination are not negligible. Thus, the participants of the international conferences and workshop were supplied with leaflets including information about IUNG and Proficiency project accompanied by other promotional materials with Proficiency logo like ball pens, notes, t-shirts, cups, chocolates, etc. to maintain the emotional links with IUNG.
Increased contacts between IUNGs researchers and the scientists from international community had a great impact on the activity of IUNG as regards participation in the EU programmes. While at the beginning of the Proficiency IUNG participated in 2 EU projects, in year 2013 the scientists from the Institute participated in 12 projects within the FP7. This strengthen significantly the position of IUNG in the regional research area and improved visibly the position of Lublin region on the map of EU scientific activities in Poland.
On the national level the dissemination activities were highly diversified and focused at different addressees.
The conferences and workshops were aimed mainly at scientific community, but their topics were wide enough to attract representatives of administration bodies, industry and policy makers. The conferences “Microorganisms - plant – environment under changing climate” (2013) and “Bioactive Plant Compounds - Structural and Applicative Aspects” (2013), which gathered nearly 500 researchers from all leading universities and institutes in Poland, were of particular scientific interest, while the conference “Future trends in the agricultural land use as affected by climatic changes” (2010) and the workshops “Plant diseases and pests appearing in Poland as a result of climatic change and methods of their elimination” (2011), “Dispersing nutrients from agriculture into environment” (2012) and “The role of science and advisory services in support of innovation of Polish agriculture” (2013) had pronounced practical aspects and involved administration bodies on the country and regional levels, policy makers and agricultural advisers. Very positive aspect was high participation of young researchers and students in the workshops and conferences. This was possible due to low costs of those meetings supported from Proficiency founds. Investing in the young audience is the most progressive dissemination activity, assure wider future impacts and long-term effects in the establishing IUNG positions as the leading institution in the agricultural sciences. The high quality of the key-speakers enabled the participants to be acquainted with the latest achievements in the agricultural research and high range of oral and posters presentations gave a perfect review of the present research trends in the particular topics of the conferences and workshops. Presentations of IUNGs researchers enlarged the knowledge on the Institute achievements, including information on the new laboratory equipment purchased within Proficiency project. It activated participants for wider cooperation and scientific exchange and the increase of the common projects was the best example of the outputs of those meetings.
The trainings and open days had more education aspects and were aimed mainly to attract two groups of audience: students and agricultural advisors and farmers. The open days and farmer days were organized 3 times and they gathered over 1000 visitors including students from agricultural universities and the pupils form agricultural schools. They embraced different forms of presentations (lectures, visits in laboratory, visiting experimental fields and meteorological stations, etc.). The trainings were target mainly at agricultural advisors and farmers – examples of such successful activities were trainings “Breeding, cultivation and use of spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp spelta) under the climate change” (2011) and “Technology of grain and fodder crop production and their quality and safety under climate change” (2012). The different form of dissemination of information on new perspectives and challenges for agricultural science to join European Framework Programs was a one-day training (2010), which included mainly IUNG researchers.
All activities on international and national levels were proportional and well time-balanced assuring continuous contact with all partners and the receptors of the project results. Organisation of the conferences, workshops, courses and training days for researchers, agricultural producers, processors, governmental officials and politicians, enabled IUNG – according to the main Proficiency aims - to become a considerable centre for professional traineeship and for lifelong learning.
To get closed to local community a special Open Days for the citizens of Pulawy were organized in May 2013. IUNG’s employees from the Department of Extension and Information and scientists from the Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality informed people about the outcomes and benefits of the Proficiency project and also about other current activities of the Institute. Citizens from our city had this one-time opportunity to visit IUNG’s laboratories of the Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, the Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology and the Department of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Protection. Information leaflets and promotional materials were given to attract local people.
Communication tools in the form of leaflets about IUNG (including separate materials about each department) and Proficiency project were prepared and widely distributed to national and international audience. The roll-up and posters on Proficiency project were presented at each of the programme event. Other promotion/dissemination materials (like cups, ball pen, pen drivers, t-shirts, chocolates, etc.) were prepared and distributed in more limited extend (Board Members, key-speakers, as the awards for the distinguished young presenters, important visitors, etc.). Distribution of leaflets on Proficiency project as well as other information materials enhanced dissemination effectiveness and created a good communication axis between IUNG and visitors. All those activities assure wider societal impact of the project and helped to established IUNG positive image as a leading research institution.
The dissemination activities covered also press release, books, radio, tv and internet information. They reached audience at different national (local, regional, country) and international levels (internet). According to the main aim of the project, all those activities created positive image of IUNG in the civil society, disseminated the results of Proficiency project were positively rated by the evaluators.
Website promoting the results of the Proficiency and supplying all current information on project execution was created and maintained during all project period.
Thus, as it was planned, the main project outcome of the project i.e. a successful international recognition of IUNG as the most promising agriculture research centre in Poland and dissemination of those information to scientific community, civil society, policy makers and food producers was achieved.
Work package 6 was dedicated to project management. Day to day management has been realized by the management team, i.e. project coordinator and WP leaders and co-leaders and by financial managers that are responsible for all matters related to the financial side of the project, and project assistant dealing with the administrative matters. For advisory and cooperation purposes an Advisory Board has been involved in the project. It was composed of 18 representatives of foreign research institutions, 2 representatives of Polish Ministries and one from Polish university.
During the project realization four Advisory Board meetings were organized. The first meeting was organized on 19 -20 January 2010. Foreign members of the Advisory Board had an opportunity to get overall look at the Institute. During the first day of kick-off meeting representative from each of IUNG’s department presented main tasks and research areas, national and international projects realized by scientists from the department, some of their equipment and staff. On the second day delegates visited some of the departments. Kick-off meeting was organized to discuss about the methodology of PROFICIENCY Project, its financial conditions and also to make preliminary arrangements in the subject of outgoings and incomings.
Second Advisory Board meeting was organized on 24 – 25 May 2011 (M18) to make review and analysis of the progress in the first half of project realization.
At the beginning, on the first day of meeting, financial status of the project was presented. Then WP Leaders and researchers from IUNG participating in the project, presented the realization of work packages no. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The second day of meeting was dedicated to realization of WP 3. Advisory Board members were impressed of work performed in the first half of project realization and gave useful suggestions related to important issues.
Third Advisory Board meeting was organized on 25 - 26 October 2012. Proficiency project EC Officer – Mr. Lucas Janssen also participated in this meeting, during which the effects of the project realization were discussed. As some problems with proper realization did occur, participants searched for the best possible solutions. The outcome of this meeting was the second amendment.
The last Advisory Board meeting was organized on 21 - 22 May 2014. On the first day the Work Package leaders presented the results of actions performed during the whole period of project realization. Project financial manager presented the financial statements concerning the project expenses. On the second day experts evaluating Proficiency within WP7 presented their conclusions and the discussion concerning the possible changes of IUNG’s structure took place. Representative of local administration (Pulawy County) and the representative of agricultural advisory for farmers (Center of Agricultural Advisory) also participated in the meeting, to present the cooperation between IUNG and their institutions. Basing on the outcomes from the discussions during the meeting, evaluators prepared final version of their report.
Two amendments have been done during the realization of the project. First amendment concerned the extension of the project realization for 6 months and it was accepted by the European Commission on 6 June 2012. Second concerned the extension of the project realization for additional 6 months and some changes in the structure of the budget - transfer of 52 000 EUR (26 MM) from personnel costs in WP2 to subcontracting in WP1 that led to changes in direct and indirect costs and also made it possible to increase personnel costs in WP6 (from 37 to 42 MM) without changing the total requested EC contribution. This second amendment was accepted by the European Commission on 24 January 2013.
Also a financial audit by European Commission took place. It concerned the first period of Proficiency project realization. It was carried out by KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft, on 20-24 February 2012, but additional explanations were made till 23 July 2012. The draft of the report was ready on 19 September 2012 and in auditors’ opinion “the audited financial statements properly reflect eligible costs, receipts and interests, which:
• are actual;
• have been incurred by the Beneficiary during the duration of the project and in the financial periods audited;
• have been determined in accordance with the usual accounting and management principles and practices of the Beneficiary;
• have been used for the sole purpose of achieving the objectives of the project and its expected results, in a manner consistent with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness;
• have been recorded in the accounts of the Beneficiary;
• have been indicated in the estimated overall budget in Annex I;
• are exclusive of any non-eligible costs established in the second paragraph of Article II.14.3 of the Grant Agreement with the Commission of the European Union.”
The conclusion was that “the financial management of the project was carried out in an acceptable manner and in compliance with the requirements of the Grant Agreement”.
The Coordinator of Proficiency project, Prof. Wieslaw Oleszek, has been invited to present the project during a REGPOT workshop, that was organized on 25 June 2013 by the European Commission in Brussels. Only several projects out of over 100 financed were selected for the presentation. Proficiency presentation was well received and project was positively evaluated by audience and EC officers in the open discussion.
The objective of work package 7 was to assess the overall research quality and capability of IUNG. Three experts suggested by the EC: Prof. Istvan Feher from Hungary, Prof. Spyridon Kyritsis from Greece and Prof. Luigi Pari from Italy came twice to the Institute to evaluate the work performed under the Proficiency project. During first visit they met with work package leaders to discuss the actions taken and their results. Experts met also with project Coordinator, Prof. Wieslaw Oleszek, who is the current Director of the Institute. Prof. Oleszek gave them overall information about IUNG’s situation. Together they discussed the possible changes in some procedures in the Institute that could be helpful to encourage scientists to intensify their publication efforts. Experts also wanted to know what is the vision for the future of the Institute. Evaluators gathered all necessary information, collected documents and each of them prepared a draft of their report.
The drafts have been discussed during their second visit. Experts observations were also presented at the last Advisory Board meeting, that took place on 21 – 22 May. After having clarified some issues and fruitful discussions also with Advisory Board members, evaluators prepared one final report. They positively assessed the project realization and pointed out what can be improved and what is worth to be noticed in future.
Potential Impact:
Impact on the Institute level
- Proficiency was the first international project in which all IUNGs department have been involved.
- The technological capacities within departments of IUNG increased - 24 pieces of scientific equipment and computer programmes have been purchased to reach the higher modernity in the Institute.
- The pool of excellent scientists increased due to the permanent recruitment of 3 experienced scientists.
- Additionally one of the visiting scientists (dr Andy Perez, Cuba) after the end of his almost 2-years visit got permanent employment at IUNG. He got his PhD in phytochemistry from the University of Cadiz, Spain, and is highly experienced in MS and NMR techniques. Since in 2012 Department of Biochemistry purchased an NMR (500 MHz) equipment, his experience is of great values for the Department. Quality of work of the Department will definitely substantially increase.
- Project assistant, Agata Białek got experience in EC project managements and rules and since she got permanent position at IUNG, she become highly skilled person to be able to manage the administration of any national or international projects.
- Since Proficiency was the second EC project coordinated by IUNG’s stuff, but first so on such big scale, it gave possibilities to package leaders to increase their awareness on the principles of EC project management. Most of package leaders and skilled enough to coordinate projects by themselves.
- The number of publications with high impact factors substantially increased – in 2009 – 30 papers, 2010 – 27, 2011 – 37, 2012 – 66, and 2013 – 65. This is of great values as the Institute, like all science entities in Poland, undergoes work evaluation by the external, national body. The impact factor papers are most important factor (65% weight) of this evaluation.
- Proficiency opened the discussion about necessity of improving laboratory standards. After number of meetings decision was made on the IUNG Director's Board level to apply for the local founding to build new building for the departments, which activity is predominantly based on the use of sophisticated equipment. Application has been accepted and granted with the co-financing from Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland (European Regional Development Fund) Priority I.3. The Centre should be ready by the end of the year 2014. This action is a great example for the effect of synergy between the use of resources from Framework Programmes and from Structural Funds.
- Proficiency substantially increased the quality of services of the Science Supporting Department. The new created group helping scientists to prepare and to perform EC projects got new experience and due to the contacts with external auditors skills of this group increased. They are able to perform high quality service for IUNG’s Departments but also give advice to other entities.
- Project increased also awareness of IUNG scientist on EC Framework Programs, on possibilities of project application, finding partners, preparation etc.
- Project increased awareness on the necessity of better research results dissemination. Due to the project activities many new ties with local and international publishing bodies were started and at present they result in more wider dissemination of our activities.
- Project increased the awareness of the usefulness of international exchange and trainings in foreign laboratories for own carrier development. At the beginning of the project the interest in participation in inter-laboratory exchange was limited. This significantly increased by the end of the project.
- The awareness between department’s staff on benefits from inter-department collaboration increased. More projects that include people from different departments are being prepared now.
- The scientific knowledge on the defined topics of trainings and dissemination activities in IUNG's stuff increased.
- Better knowledge about the research conducted in other departments, more opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary projects.
Impact on national level
- Drought monitoring system has been substantially improved by implementation of new weather stations, which increased IUNG's competitiveness on a country scene.
- Two Poles, educated abroad has been attracted back in the country to develop their career in a home country.
- Number of Polish research entities assisted or participated in the conferences and workshops organized under Proficiency, which strongly strengthened ties among them and IUNG.
- Implementation of new equipment increased IUNG's attractiveness among other Polish research entities. IUNG has been seen as a good partner for collaboration. This resulted in a number of new projects application for national funding.
- Implementation of new equipment increased also attractiveness of the Institute among young people searching possibilities for their work carriers. Number of application for a position in the Institute increased, which gives possibility for better selection.
- New equipment gave also IUNG’s stuff better arguments to apply for the projects on national level (NCN, NCRiR).
- Research developments within IUNG are connected to the needs of end-users such as government agencies, advisory centres, farmers' organisations and policy makers, thanks to a continuous review process. IUNG researchers provide different kinds of expertise to the Ministry of Agriculture and participate as Polish experts in the works of the EC bodies. The Institute has an important role in decision-making processes in Poland. The support of Ministry in the budget of Institute is stable and important;
- The Soil Platform formed under the project increased the position of the Institute at country level. The result of this increase was the organization in IUNG of the national conference on soil (different aspects)after project has ended. This event brought IUNG again to a leading position in Poland regarding this topic. Soil problems are being the topic of IUNG activity for over 100 years. Soil Platform gave us possibility to maintain our leading position in the country.
Impact on international level
- IUNG has strengthened its ties with 16 excellent partners (members of the board), number of outgoing and incoming scientists were exchanged. Three international conferences and several workshops of high level of scientific excellence were organized with high number of researchers from Europe participating. Therefore, the visibility of IUNG increased within the European Research Area, and some bilateral collaborations have been initiated.
- Cooperation with scientists visiting IUNG within Proficiency is continued, some of them are willing to come again for short visits. Number of visits of foreign researchers substantially increased during the project realization – in 2009 there were 4 visits, in 2010 – 12, 2011 – 15, 2012 – 12, 2013 – 21.
- Number of papers are being published as the result of project coordination also after project was terminated. This will continue in the future as number of trials to apply for funding from different agencies is increasing.
- Global knowledge of the staff, in particular on EU programmes and Project Management has increased. Proficiency directly allowed to participate in four new FP7 projects (BioBoost, GREENLAND, CANTOGETHER, C-Catch), which have been accepted for financing by EC. All together at the beginning of this project IUNG participated in 2 EU projects, in year 2013 the scientists from the Institute participated in 12 projects within the FP7.
- Presentation of the capacity of IUNG, its data bases and instruments, long lasting field experiments, opinion forming position on the country level, at international workshops, conferences, board meeting increased awareness of foreign partners about IUNG and increased their interest in inviting IUNG to Horizon 2020 projects. In the first phase IUNG participate in 8 different consortia.
- The most effective international activities within Proficiency concentrated in the area of soil protection. This was in line with the recent concentration of the EU and many international organisations on the problems of soil security in the light of the increased threats (e.g. climate change) to its main functions, which regulate all aspects of the life. The reflection of this concern was EU document “Towards Soil Thematic strategy”. Nomination the coming year 2015 as “Soil Year” followed the great international interest in this issue. Of particular importance was the International Standardisation Organisation Technical Committee 180 “Soil Quality” Meeting organised in Puławy in 2010 to celebrate 25th Anniversary of the Committee. The members of the ISO Committee – involved concurrently in the CEN 345 “Soil Quality” activities - formed wide audience deriving not only from scientific community but also from the industry and EU administration. Information about IUNG and Proficiency project was disseminated not only through the representatives of the European community but reached countries like South Korea, Japan and Australia. “Soil and Land Use” platform organized within WP4 also reflects new trends in understanding the function of soil.
List of Websites:
http://proficiency-fp7.eu
http://iung.pulawy.pl
Prof. Wieslaw Oleszek
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
State Research Institute
ul. Czartoryskich 8
24-100 Pulawy
Poland
Tel.++48-81-8863421 ext. 363
Fax. ++48-81-8864547
email: iung@iung.pulawy.pl or wo@iung.pulawy.pl
The main idea of the PROFICIENCY project was to generate an increase of knowledge, visibility and intensity of collaboration of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Pulawy, Poland with existing and new partners within Europe. The project was composed of the following seven work packages:
Work package 1 (WP1) consisted in an upgrade of IUNG’s equipment, thus increasing its attractiveness for researchers. 24 pieces of scientific equipment and computer programmes have been purchased to reach the higher modernity in the Institute. To provide appropriate conditions for scientist to perform their research and enable them to fully use all the equipment, the new laboratory premises are being built. The Innovation and Science Centre for Agricultural Research (INCBR) in Pulawy has been granted with the co-financing from Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland (European Regional Development Fund) Priority I.3 and should be ready by the end of the year 2014.
Work package 2 (WP2) consisted in improving the internal human capacities and the management organisation. Four experienced researchers have been hired in the Institute, but one of them resigned. Also, the continuation of employment of three young promising scientists was possible within this work package.
Work package 3 (WP3) focused on the exchange of know-how through mobility trainings. Researchers from IUNG have been actively participating in 172 outgoing visits (64 of young scientists and 108 of experienced researchers). They visited number of countries all over the world. Those visits lasted from one week to few months. Mobility trainings and the knowledge increase were also related to the participation of IUNG’s scientists in training courses, international conferences and workshops, where they delivered oral and poster presentations, followed the modern trends in science and promoted the Proficiency project as well as the scientific potential of the Institute. 57 incoming visits from partner institutions were organized.
Work package 4 (WP4) consisted in partnership creations with other actors within Europe. Collaboration with other excellent research centers was pursued (attendance to 5 international conferences), as well as a ‘Soil and Land Use Platform’ launched.
Work package 5 (WP5) covers project and results dissemination. Activities were organised on different scales: international (3 international conferences, 3 international workshops and an international meeting), national (3 conferences, 6 workshops, 3 trainings, 3 Open- and farmers’ days). The dissemination activities covered also press release, radio, tv and internet information. They reached audience at different national (local, regional, country) and international levels (internet). Website promoting the results of the Proficiency and supplying all current information on project execution was created and maintained during all project period.
Work package 6 (WP6) corresponded to management activities. . Day to day management has been realized by the management team, i.e. project coordinator and WP leaders and co-leaders and by financial managers that are responsible for all matters related to the financial side of the project, and project assistant dealing with the administrative matters. For advisory and cooperation purposes an Advisory Board has been involved in the project. It was composed of 18 representatives of foreign research institutions, 2 representatives of Polish Ministries and one from Polish university. During the project realization four Advisory Board meetings were organized.
Work package 7 (WP7) corresponded to an Expert Panel Review, which assessed the excellence of IUNG. Three external evaluators suggested by the EC came twice to Pulawy to meet with work package leaders and collect information about the project realization and the Institute (structure, publications, plans for future). After discussions and collecting all the comments they prepared their report - project realization was positively assessed.
Project Context and Objectives:
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Pulawy (IUNG) was a coordinator and only beneficiary of the Proficiency project (FP7-REGPOT-2009-1-245751). The main objective of this project was to strengthen IUNG’s excellence, through technological, human and partnership capacities fostering, but most of all through a complete reshaping of its internal organization. IUNG ambition was to adopt a totally integrated interdisciplinary approach around four interdisciplinary research areas, defined as priorities by the Institute, in order to converge towards excellence on a crucial topic: “Managing the Production of Food and feedstuff, their safety and quality under global Climatic Change”.
The main objectives of Proficiency project were to:
• update and improve the research equipment and organization in the Institute;
• scientifically enhance knowledge on soil, food and feed safety and quality in the face of climate change;
• become an Institute of prior importance for Polish end-users and fully integrated with the European Research Area.
More specifically, the Proficiency project aimed to achieve the following scientific and technical objectives:
• to improve Poland’s competence in the production of food and feedstuff of high quality and safety;
• to improve risk assessment methodologies on soil and food safety issues, and provide public authorities with timely, objective, and unbiased information;
• to successfully implement an entirely new approach to conducting interdisciplinary research through fostering a close and constant working relationship between the Institute’s departments; one that focuses on specified priority research areas;
• to develop national and international cooperation with high quality research institutions;
• to run courses, training days, seminars, and events for agricultural producers, governmental officials, researchers, and politicians that will enable IUNG-PIB to become a reputable centre for professional traineeships and lifelong learning;
• to increase IUNG’s participation in EU collaborative research projects.
Project Results:
Proficiency project was divided into seven work packages. Each of them was dedicated for different activities all leading to the scientific and technical improvement of IUNG.
The main aim of work package 1 was to establish higher modernity within the research laboratories. To reach this goal following equipment has been purchased:
- Five database servers for DSS and GIS analysis
- Seven automatic agrometeorological weather stations
- Computer tools from iSpace.onEnergy programme (ASECO)
- PC computer program (standalone version) designed to Polish condition in Polish language (DSS Software)
- PCR with equipment
- Table centrifuge
- TOC/TN Analyzer
- ACE Automated Soil CO2 Exchange System
- Preparative LC system
- Freeze-drying chamber
- HPLC–MS
- Print and finishing equipment (Collator, Colour Printer and Copier, Automatic Paper Folding Machine, QuarkXpress 8, Puzzle Flow Organizer)
- Statistical Data Miner
- Portable photosynthesis and transpiration system
- Microtox® system
- Particle size laser analyzer
- CHNS/0 Elemental Analyzer
- GC-MS system
- Vacuum rotary evaporator 20 L
- Portable gas chromatograph with a FID detector
There were some differences between equipment planned in Annex I and the equipment purchased:
- instead of simple PCR, a PCR with additional equipment for microorganisms identification was purchased – it was possible to purchase PCR with additional equipment in the amount of money planned for PCR only. This change allow the better use of PCR;
- instead of planned analytical X-Ray spectrometer, a table centrifuge and TOC/TN analyzer were purchased
- instead of Micro-HPLC-DAD, a HPLC-MS was purchased
- from the printing and finishing equipment instead of software QuarkXpress 7 the latter version was purchased (QuarkXpress 8) and as Quark Print Collection is not compatible with QuarkXpress 8, a Puzzle Flow Organizer software was purchased instead.
- as after all planned purchases there was still some money left in the budget of WP 1, EU Officer agreed to purchase additional equipment, that was Vacume rotary evaporator and Portable gas chromatograph with FID detector.
As a part of creating effective laboratories, a reorganization of existing structure was needed. At the beginning of the project a meeting with Department’s Representatives was organized to discuss the possible changes in IUNG’s laboratory organization, in order to prepare the recommendations for the Institute. Agreed recommendations have been presented in deliverable D1.1.
Since this meeting, and thanks to knowledge and experience gained during the trainings, the policy of the Institute in the subject of laboratory reorganization changed. To provide appropriate conditions for scientist to perform their research and enable them to fully use all the equipment purchased within Task 1.1 new premises nearby the actual headquarters of the Institute will be built. Departments that main scope of activity is laboratory work will be transferred there. Thank to that the collaboration between departments would be easier to manage. Scientists working on the similar equipment will be able to exchange their knowledge and solve research problems together. Therefore the modernization of the place in the laboratory purposes will not be needed.
The new laboratory will be built with co-financing from Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland (European Regional Development Fund) and Institute’s own resources. When making the amendment of Proficiency project in December 2012, one activity within task 1.2 has been added, i.e. preparing executive projects for the building. The contractor to prepare those projects has been chosen through Public Procurement and projects have been prepared.
This action is a great example for the effect of synergy between the use of resources from Framework Programmes and from Structural Funds.
Work package 2 consisted in improving the internal human capacities and the management organisation. At the beginning of the project, five profiles of research experience and skills of the expected candidates for new research positions at IUNG were defined by the departments interested in the recruitment. Information including an offer of employment for the duration of the project with a possibility of permanent employment at IUNG after its completion, has been sent to over 30 research institutions including: Foundation of Polish Science, Polish Academy of Sciences, numerous universities and scientific institutes in Poland. Information on new vacancies at IUNG was also spread through contact with researchers from other countries who collaborated with us during other projects in the past.
Our recruitment efforts resulted in hiring 4 experienced researchers at IUNG:
1. Dr. Alina Syp - Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics - Implementation of system of decision support in agriculture - Agriculture economist with informatics skills and experience with data bases, modelling of agricultural systems, questionnaire analysis.
2. Dr. Mariusz Kowalczyk - Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality - Analysis of plant material with advanced chromatographic techniques - Phytochemist, biologist with phytochemistry skills, molecular biologist with phytochemistry skills with experience in analytical methods.
3. Dr. Grażyna Korbecka - Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology -Molecular aspects of plant pathogen interaction, natural resistance, induced resistance - Plant pathologist, microbiologist, biologist with phytochemistry and plant pathology experience.
4. Dr. Michael Link - Department of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Protection - Toxicological studies of trace elements and persistent pollutants - Toxicologist, trained in analysis of trace elements, persistent pollutants, eco-toxicological methods, risk assessment methods.
It is important to emphasize that two of the researchers hired within the project (dr Grażyna Korbecka and dr Mariusz Kowalczyk) came back to Poland after training and working abroad and both of them are as well as other researchers interested in working in the Institute after completion of the project .
All hired researchers fulfilled the requirements formulated in the expected profiles of the candidates. Brief information about hired scientists:
Dr Alina Syp
Alina Syp obtained her diploma in horticulture (1985) from the University of Life Sciences in Lublin and her Ph.D. in farms organizations (2009) from the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Pulawy. She was employed in Lublin Agricultural Advisory Services in Konskowola (LODR in Konskowola) and she was tasked as the Head of the Economy Department from 1999 to 2010. In her previous job she was involved in organization of Polish FADN. From 2009 her role was concerned with team leading in the Project “Technical Assistance for Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in Republic of Macedonia”. In 2008-2009, she worked as an expert in the “Twinning Light Project: Support to Consolidate the Romanian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN)”. In 1995-1998, Ms. Syp worked as a Manager of Market Information Unit in the Foundation of Agricultural University in Lublin, in the framework of the project “Establishing Marketing Systems for Agricultural and Horticultural Products in Lublin province”.
Dr Alina Syp was employed in the Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics in July 2010. Since then she performed the following tasks:
• Participation in the research project “Merging of the land” under the Programme "Restructuring and modernization of food sector and rural development”. Within this project dr Syp was responsible for coordination of work related to conducting surveys, development of questionnaire to research the effect of cropland expanse on income from agricultural holdings, selection of sample 300 farms from Lublin Region basis of the FADN database in collaboration with Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics- National Research Institiute (IAFE-NRI) and sample criteria. The project was executed.
• Participation in the expertise „Assessment of GHG emissions in equivalent of CO2 for cultivation of wheat, triticale, corn and rye for production of bioethanol, and cultivation of rapeseed for production of biodiesel. Within this project dr Syp was responsible for preparing contracts which were signed with 16 Agricultural Extension Services, coordination of work related to conducting surveys, development of questionnaire to research, selection and analyses of sample of 300 farms from all voivodships in Poland based on the FADN database in collaboration with Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics- National Research Institute (IAFE-NRI). This work has been awarded by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Participation in research projects:
- FP7-KBBE-2011-5 „Catch–C” – Compatibility of Agricultural Management Practices and Types of Farming in the EU to enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Health. Dr Alina Syp participated in preparation of project proposal and now she is the coordinator within IUNG-PIB. She was responsible for organization and conducting surveys among farmers (300 questionnaires) based on the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen theory) in 3 farm type zones. The aim of these survey was to identify the main barriers and drivers of farmers towards adoption of sustainable practices.
- FP-KBBE.2011.1.4-06 “CANTOGETHER” - Crops and ANimals TOGETHER".
- FACCE JP/03/2012 “MACSUR - Modelling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Security”.
Dr Alina Syp participated also in the work of the statutory task "Assessment of rural agricultural environment under the influence of selected measures of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union” and in the work in the long-term program "Evaluation of the use of renewable energy from agricultural sources and their impact on the environment and food security in Poland”.
She participated in 20 international conferences, seminars, meetings, workshops and in 10 national meetings, workshops and courses presenting papers and posters. She was reviewer in two International Journals. The scope of work in which she would like to work is related to impact of climate change on agriculture taking into account socio-economic scenarios.
Publications
1. Syp, A., Faber, A., Kozyra, J., Borek, R., Pudełko, R., Borzecka-Walker, M. and Jarosz, Z. 2011. Modelling impact of climate changes and management practices on greenhouse gas emissions from arable soils. Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 20(6):1593-1902.
2. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Pudełko, R., Kozyra, J., Syp, A. and Borek, R. 2011. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of crops for energy production. JFAE 9(3&4):698-700.
3. Borzęcka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Mizak, K., Pudelko, R. and Syp, A. 2011. Soil carbon sequestration under bioenergy crops in Poland. In Principles, Application and Assessment in Soil Science. In Tech, Croatia, pp. 151-166.Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/soil-carbon-sequestration-under-bioenergy-cropsin-poland.
4. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Syp, A., Pudełko, R. and Mizak, K. 2012. Simulation of greenhouse gasses from miscanthus in Poland using the DNDC model. JFAE 10(2):1187-1190.
5. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Kozyra, J., Pudełko, R., Mizak, K. and Syp, A. 2012. Modelling the impact of climate change on miscanthus and willow for their potential productivity in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4): 1437 – 1440.
6. Faber, A., Pudełko, R., Borek, R., Borzecka-Walker, M., Syp, A., Krasuska, E. and Mathiou, P., 2012. Economic potential of perennial energy crops in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4):1178 – 1182.
7. Faber, A., Łopatka, A., Kaczyński, R., Pudełko, R., Kozyra, J., Borzęcka-Walker, M., and Syp, A. 2012. Assessment of existing soil organic carbon stocks and changes at a national and regional level in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4):1210 – 1213.
8. Pudełko, R., Borzęcka-Walker, M., Faber, A, Borek, R., Jarosz, Z. and Syp, A. 2012. The technical potential of perennial energy crops in Poland. JFAE 10 (2): 781-784.
9. Syp, A., Jarosz, Z., Faber, A., Borzecka-Walker, M. and Pudełko, R. 2012. Greenhouse gas emissions from winter wheat cultivation for bioethanol production in Poland. JFAE 10(3&4):1169 – 1172.
10. Syp, A., Faber, A. and Borzęcka Walker, M. 2012. Simulation of soil organic carbon in long-term experiments in Poland using the DNDC model. JFAE 10(3&4):1224 - 1229.
11. Syp, A., and Faber, A. 2012. The DNDC model application in simulating crop yield and tillage systems, effects on greenhouse gas emissions under the various production systems. SERIA, 14 (5):183-187.
12. Borzecka-Walker, M., Faber, A., Jarosz, Z., Syp, A. and Pudełko, R. 2013. Greenhouse gas emissions from rape seed cultivation for FAME production in Poland. JFAE 11(1): 1064-1068.
She plans to publish next articles: „Assessment farmers intention to adopt sustainable management practices” and “Effects of climate change on wheat production potential in Poland”, where they will be presented results obtained under the projects.
Dr Mariusz Kowalczyk
Dr Mariusz Kowalczyk obtained his diploma in biology (1995) from the Copernicus University in Toruń and his Ph.D. in plant cell biology (2002) from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå, Sweden. Following one year post-doc period at the Department of Horticulture, University of Minnesota, he worked at the Umeå Plant Science Centre, where he researched the metabolism of and interactions between plant hormones.
Dr Kowalczyk was employed in the Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality in April 2010. He brought to the Institute knowledge and skills in the following topics:
• Technical experience in trace LC-MS/MS analysis.
• Knowledge of secondary metabolism pathways leading to plant hormones.
• Mass spectra interpretation skills useful for structural characterization of unknown compounds.
His current research interests include identification and characterization of novel, defense-related plant secondary metabolites and chemotaxonomy. Specifically, his current research concentrates on:
1. Evaluation of anti-nutritional substances in plant-derived animal feedstuffs. Development and validation of quantitative UHPLC-MS methods to analyze saponins:
• in feed additives containing Yucca schidigera extracts – steroidal saponins from Y. schidigera are potentially hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic but their contents in feed additives was never evaluated.
• in feed additives containing Saponaria officinalis – feed supplements containing Saponaria affect ruminal fermentation and help to control the emission of methane. Nevertheless, they are potentially toxic to animals and their content of saponins has to be closely monitored. No quantitation method for Saponaria saponins was ever published before.
• in protein concentrates from Medicago sativa (alfalfa) – protein concentrates have to be controlled for their saponin contents, which should not exceed 1.5-2.5%. To aid the concentrate production process, a quantitation method was developed and several concentrates as well as production intermediates were tested for their saponins concentration (industry requested analyses)
2. Novel analytical method in fertilizers analysis, development of:
• a novel method for quantitation of 5-aminolevulinic acid – a UHPLC-MS/MS method based on HILIC separation of analytes (Pentakeep V® fertilizer, industry requested analyses).
• a novel UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of folcystein (Foltron® fertilizer, industry requested analyses).
• a quantitation method for nitrophenols and guaiacol in fertilizers – adaptation of the standard HPLC quantitation method to UHPLC-MS/MS (industry requested analyses)
3. New natural products from rare and medicinal plants
• Phytochemical contents of Eryngium species – three new triterpene saponins were isolated, characterized structurally and quantified. An in vitro protocol for propagation of rare and protected species: Eryngium maritimum was established and in vitro cultures were evaluated for production of phenolic acids and saponins
• Saponins from Argania spinosa – HPLC-MS/MS characterization of glucuronide-type saponins from this important for cosmetic industry plant. Complete identification and structural characterization of one new saponin.
4. Additional uses for cover crops: phytochemical analyses of legumes.
• Analyses of flavones, isoflavones and saponins in several legume species proposed as new cover crops, in search for their additional/alternative uses in the agriculture and/or industry
• Saponins from different Trifolium species: isolation and characterization of several new triterpene saponins from T. medium and T. hybridum
5. Phytochemistry of cereals: UHPLC-MS/MS quantitation of hydroxamic acids and their glucosides in different varieties of rye, searching for biological markers associated with the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting as well as diseases.
Dr Kowalczyk has also participated in following research projects:
- FP7- KBBE-2011-5-289277 “OSCAR” - Optimizing Subsidiary Crops Applications in Rotations.
- Polish National Science Centre (NCN) project N N311 2010-2016/76339 - Methane production and protein metabolism in the rumen of cows fed with a dose of triterpene saponins Saponaria officinalis L.
- NCN project 2013/11/D/NZ9/02771 - Secondary metabolites of Pulmonaria officinalis L. and their biological activity.
- Polish National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) project PBS1/A8/0/2012 “GENSEC” - Biological markers associated with the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting of rye (Secale cereale L.)
Publications
1. Pawelec, S., D. Jędrejek, M. Kowalczyk, Ł. Pecio, M. Masullo, S. Piacente, Francisco A. Macías, et al. "Triterpene saponins from the aerial parts of Trifolium medium L. var. sarosiense." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 61/2013: 9789-96
2. Pérez, A. J., M. Kowalczyk, A. M. Simonet, F. A. Macías, W. Oleszek, and A. Stochmal. "Isolation and structural determination of triterpenoid glycosides from the aerial parts of alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.)." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 61/2013: 2631-37
3. M. Henry, M. Kowalczyk, M. Maldini, S. Piacente, A. Stochmal, and W. Oleszek. "Saponin inventory from Argania spinosa kernel cakes by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry." Phytochemical Analysis 2013 24:616-622
4. Mounet, F., A. Moing, M. Kowalczyk, J. Rohrmann, J. Petit, V. Garcia, M. Maucourt, et al. "Down-regulation of a single auxin efflux transport protein in tomato induces precocious fruit development." Journal of Experimental Botany 63/2012: 4901-17
5. Novák, O., E. Hényková, I. Sairanen, M. Kowalczyk, T. Pospíšil, and K. Ljung. "Tissue-specific profiling of the Arabidopsis thaliana auxin metabolome." Plant Journal 72/2012: 523-36
6. Gutierrez, L., G. Mongelard, K. Floková, D. I. Pǎcurar, O. Novák, P. Staswick, M. Kowalczyk, et al. "Auxin controls Arabidopsis adventitious root initiation by regulating jasmonic acid homeostasis." Plant Cell 24/2012: 2515-27
7. Kowalczyk, M., Ł. Pecio, A. Stochmal, and W. Oleszek. "Qualitative and quantitative analysis of steroidal saponins in crude extract and bark powder of Yucca schidigera Roezl." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59/2011: 8058-64
8. Kowalczyk M, Masullo M, Thiem B, Piacente S, Stochmal A, Oleszek W (2014) Three new triterpene saponins from roots of Eryngium planum. Natural Product Research 28: 653-660
9. Moniuszko-Szajwaj B, Pecio Ł, Kowalczyk M, Simonet AM, Macias FA, Szumacher-Strabel M, Cieslak A, Oleszek W, Stochmal A (2013) New triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Saponaria officinalis. Natural Product Communications 8: 1687-1690
10. Szczechowiak J, Szumacher-Strabel M, Stochmal A, Nadolna M, Pers-Kamczyc E, Nowak A, Kowalczyk M, Cieślak A (2013) Effect of Saponaria officinalis L. or Panax ginseng C.A Meyer triterpenoid saponins on ruminal fermentation in vitro. In Annals of Animal Science, Vol 13, p 815
Dr Grażyna Korbecka
Dr Grażyna Korbecka obtained her diploma in biology (1998) from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland and her PhD in plant ecology (2004) from Leiden University in Leiden, the Netherlands. In 2004-2007, she worked as a postdoctoral within EU funded project “Intrabiodiv” at the Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow (Poland). Then she received a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship to carry out a project on sexual system and genetic diversity of annual plants in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Oxford where she worked as a postdoctoral researcher until July 2010. During these years of training and work experience, dr Korbecka became a specialist in an interdisciplinary field of molecular ecology. In most research projects carried out before, she used to apply the tools of molecular ecology (molecular markers) to answer ecological research questions in studies of wild plant species.
Dr Korbecka was hired for the position at the Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (in August 2010) because of her molecular skills in methods such as: DNA isolation, AFLP, RAPD, microsatellite genotyping, sequencing, transformation, cloning and computer analysis of molecular data. She is currently leading a sequencing laboratory established in the Department. The major task of this laboratory is performing analysis of genetic polymorphism and sequencing within research projects carried out in the Institute. So far, these projects focused on topics like: genetic diversity of hop cultivars, breeding for pathogen resistance in tobacco and genetic differentiation of Azotobacter sp. In the nearest future, dr Korbecka will implement new sequencing methods (using Ilumina sequencing platform) in this laboratory.
She has participated in following research projects:
- NCN; project number: 2011/03/B/NZ9/04746 - Genetic basis of resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY) in tobacco – as a principal investigator. The major aim of this project is to examine PVY resistance of a tobacco line carrying introgression from a wild species Nicotiana africana. So far, this project resulted in acquiring a segregating mapping population (F2) and testing its PVY resistance, comparing its effectiveness to other resistance sources and characterizing ten PVY isolates. Currently, microsatellite markers tested on the segregating mapping population in order to find markers linked to introgressed PVY resistance.
- NCBR project PBS 1/A8/2/2012 - Improvement of production technology of hop planting material free from viruses and Hop latent viroid using in vitro methods.
Moreover, dr Korbecka has been a participant of statutory research (internally funded) project entitled: „Characterization of Tobacco mosaic virus, influence of virus infection for chemical composition and identification useful sources of resistance”.
She continues to develop new research projects and apply for funding. Projects’ proposals under review at the moment include:
• Genetic differentiation of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) isolates and their ability to infect different plant species. Dr Korbecka in collaboration with two other researchers from the Institute (dr hab. Beata Szewczyk and dr Marcin Przybyś) carried out a preliminary research required for this proposed project. She collected over 600 samples of crops and weeds in many regions in Poland and tested them for the presence of various plant viruses using ELISA tests. Samples containing viruses are stored in temp. -800C; they will become an excellent basis for further genetic analysis of TSWV and other viruses. Moreover, a publication on the results of serological tests is being prepared at the moment.
• Improving quality of tobacco breeding lines carrying resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Chalara elegans.
• Molecular adaptation in range expansions: predicting fitness of future plant communities (Acronym: MolAdapt) - dr Korbecka developed a collaboration with researchers from ten research institutes in Europe and Asia in order to prepare an ERA-CAPS project proposal on annual plant Mercurialis annua. The pre-proposal has been positively evaluated and the full proposal for this project will be submitted in July 2014.
Publications
1. Pfeiffer T., Roschanski A.M. Pannell J.R. Korbecka G., Schnittler M. (2011) Characterisation of microsatellite loci and reliable genotyping in the highly polyploid plant Mercurialis perennis (Euphorbiaceae). Journal of Heredity 102 (4): 479-488.
2. Korbecka G., Hamilton A., Pannell J.R. (2011) Mixed mating in androdioecious Mercurialis annua inferred using progeny arrays and diploid-acting microsatellite loci in a hexaploid background. Annals of Botany 107: 1057-1061.
3. Taberlet P., Zimmermann N.E. Englisch T., Tribsch A., Holderegger R., Alvarez N., Niklfeld H., Mirek Z., Moilanen A., Ahlmer W., Marsan P.A. Bona E., Bovio M., Choler P., Cieślak E., Coldea G., Colli L., Cristea V., Dalmas J.P. Frajman B., Garraud L., Gaudeul M., Gielly L., Gutermann W., Jogan N., Kagalo A.A. Korbecka G., et al. – 56 authors and IntraBioDiv Consortium. (2012) Genetic diversity in widespread species is not congruent with species richness in alpine plant communites. Ecology Letters 15 (12): 1439-1448.
4. Depta A., Olszak-Przybyś H., Korbecka G. Infection intensity with Potato virus Y (PVY) depending on the inoculation method and the assessment of the virus spread depending on the type of plant resistance - submitted to Polish Journal of Agronomy.
Presentations during conferences and seminars:
1. Korbecka G. (2011) Selfing rate and reproductive system of Mercurialis annua. Internal departmental seminar in Polish. 13 January 2011, IUNG, Puławy (Poland).
2. Korbecka G., Pannell J.R. (2011) Spatial and temporal variation of mating system in Mercurialis annua. Oral presentation at Basic and Applied Plant Population Biology Conference, 2-4 June 2011, Oxford (UK).
3. Korbecka G. (2012) Genetic basis of resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY) in tobacco – a project synopsis. Internal departmental seminar in Polish. 30 August 2012, IUNG, Puławy (Poland).
4. Korbecka G., Agacka M., Skomra U. (2012) Marker-assisted sex determination in hop breeding. International Conference “Biotechnology and Plant Breeding: Perspectives Towards Food Security and Sustainability” 10-12 September 2012, Radzików (Poland).
5. Korbecka G. (2013) Report from a scientific visits in Germany and Belgium. Internal departmental seminar in Polish. 18 April 2013, IUNG, Puławy (Poland).
6. Depta A., Olszak-Przybyś H., Korbecka G. (2013) Infection intensity with Potato virus Y (PVY) depending on the inoculation method and the assessment of the virus spread depending on the type of plant resistance. Symposium “Classical and molecular approaches in plant pathogen taxonomy” 10 – 11 September, 2013, SGGW, Warszawa (Poland) .
7. Korbecka G., Czubacka A., Depta A., Olszak-Przybyś H., Doroszewska T. (2013) Mapping introgression determining Potato virus Y (PVY) resistance transferred to cultivated tobacco from Nicotiana africana. CORESTA Joint Study Groups Meeting, 13-17 October 2013, Brufa di Torgiano (Italy).
Dr Michael Link
Dr M. Link obtained his diploma in agriculture at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen (1995) and his Ph.D. (2002) at the same University. In the years 1995-2008 he was employed at this University as a scientific worker. His research work concentrated on the sustainable protection of biodiversity on agricultural areas and were granted by the German science-supporting organizations like Stiftung Hessischer Naturschutz and DAAD. In the years 2008-2010 he was a visiting professor at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences at the Institute of Landscape Architecture dealing with the problems of the effect of climate changes on the agricultural soil quality and land use, which is also a subject of his current research interest in the IUNG-PIB.
Dr Michael Link was employed in the Department of Soil Science and Land Protection in September 2010 and worked till October 2011. His activities in IUNG included:
- ”Multifunctional landscape analysis as a basis for recourse, environment and nature conservation as well as sustainable development of agricultural landscapes in eastern Central Europe under global climate change conditions” - comparison of Polish and German soil textural system as well as soil evaluation system, analysis and evaluation of the biotope and landscape structure as a basis for the assessment and evaluation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, generation of a multifunctional concept for a sustainable development of agricultural landscapes in eastern Central Europe.
- Participation in the EU project URBAN SMS.
Publications:
1. Link, M., Th. Vorderbrügge, Z. Dajdok, A. Wuczyński, A. Michalski, & A. Niewiadomski (2010): Multifunktionale Interpretation von Bodenschätzungsdaten als Basis für ein länderübergreifendes Konzept zum nachhaltigen Ressourcen- und Landschaftsschutz am Beispiel Polens und Deutschlands. Ber. DBG, http://www.dbges.de.
2. Kowalkowski, A., J. Jonczak & M. Link (2010): Veränderung der Nutzungseignung der Jungmoränenlandschaft Nordpommerns am Beispiel des Einzugsgebietes der Struga Leśna (Waldbach). Ber. DBG, http://www.dbges.de.
3. Link, M., Th. Vorderbrügge, A. Kowalkowski & T. Harrach (2011): Interpretation of German and Polish soil appraisal data in order to deduce and value soil parameters and functions – Part I: Methodical basis and database. Submitted in: “Die Bodenkultur”.
Additional employment related to realization of WP2
As problems with finding proper person for the fifth position occurred, with the agreement of EC Officer from 24.10.2011 the salaries of three promising young employees have been covered from the budget of WP2 – MSc. Sylwia Pawelec, MSc. Radosław Kaczyński and MSc. Ewa Decka-Cywińska. It was the only opportunity to keep them in the Institute, as at that time their work contracts were coming to end and IUNG was unable to finance their further employment from any other source.
MSc. Sylwia Pawelec
In 2002-2007 she attended full-time studies at the Technical University of Radom, majoring in chemical technology. She graduated with the title of Master of Science with specialization in polymers chemistry and technology. Since June 2009 she took half-year internship at the Biochemistry and Crop Quality Department of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute. Since December 2009 she has been employed in IUNG as a technician and since December 2011 as a specialist within the project Proficiency. Between August 2012 and April 2013 she was on the maternity leave.
MSc. Pawelec has been working on the isolation of secondary metabolites in plants especially saponins from the genus Fabaceae and cereals, and profiling of plants of the genus Oronachaceae.
From 7.05.2012 to 6.06.2012 she visited the Department of Crop Chemistry and Biochemistry at Fodder and Dairy Productions Research Centre – Lodi, Italy. During this visit she gained experience about sample preparation to GC-MS measurement and determination of sapogenins using GC-MS. She was also working on HPLC preparative instrument to became acquainted about different method for saponins isolation and purification.
Publications:
1. Arafa I. Hamed, Milena Masullo, Łukasz Pecio, Dario Gallotta, Usama A. Mahalel, Sylwia Pawelec, Anna Stochmal, and Sonia Piacente, (2014). Unusual Fernane and Gammacerane Glycosides from the Aerial Parts of Spergula fallax, J. Nat. Prod.,DOI: 10.1021/np4008415;
2. Sylwia Pawelec, Dariusz Jędrejek, Mariusz Kowalczyk, Łukasz Pecio, Milena Masullo, Sonia Piacente, Francisco A. Macías, Ana M. Simonet, Wiesław Oleszek, and Anna Stochmal, (2013). Triterpene Saponins from the Aerial Parts of Trifolium medium L. var. sarosiense, J. Agric. Food Chem., 61 (41), 9789–9796;
Conference abstracts:
1. Sylwia Pawelec, Iwona Kowalska, Krzysztof Domaradzki, Mariusz Kucharski, Anna Stochmal (2013) Comparision of the content and antioxidant activity of phenolics from two solidago species (s. canadensis l., s. gigantea aiton)
2. Sylwia Pawelec, Renata Piwowarczyk, Mariusz Kowalczyk (2013) Metabolic profile of the genus Orobanche s. l. (Orobanchaceae) in taxonomic and hosts relation.
MSc. Radosław Kaczyński
During his employment at the institute funded by Proficiency, he carried the tasks EU projects, the long term PIB program and Drought monitoring for Ministry of Agriculture. He participated in two projects funded by the European Union:
• FP7: CANTOGETHER - Crops and Animals TOGETHER - responsible for Subtask 3.3.3: Land sharing between productive and ecological areas and between livestock farms and arable farms, Case Study Poland: Evaluation of SOC at the regional scale-Dolnoslaskie region.
• Poland-Czech Republic Cross-Border Operational Programme 2007-2013: Risk and benefits of application of exogenous organic matter to soil - responsible for task : Assessment of the current content of SOM in the CZ-PL borderland. The objective of this task was to evaluate status and trends in soil organic carbon in agricultural soils of Polish – Czech Republic borderland.
His work also included:
• Participation in the task 1.5 “Assessment of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture by its sequestration in soils” in the multi-annual program conducted at the Institute funded by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Supervising monitoring of soil moisture in reference 20 farms across the country for the project: "Agricultural Drought Monitoring System in Poland (ADMS)"
• Participation in the international conference “SOIL CARBON sequestration, for climate, food security and ecosystem services” Iceland on 26-29 May 2013, presenting the results of the work on the temporary changes of the organic matter in Polish soils, in the form of a poster: “Monitoring of long-term changes of SOC content in Poland”.
MSc. Ewa Decka – Cywińska
She has been employed as a specialist in the Department of Extension and Information of Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy. This Department deals with issues such as: documentation of publications of the Institute, implementation of the results of studies and dissemination of the progress in agriculture, cooperation with Agricultural Advisory Centers, Agricultural Schools subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chambers of Agriculture and agricultural practice, selling the scientific and popular scientific publications of IUNG-PIB. Scope of her duties/responsibilities:
- preparation of promotional materials of the Institute,
- preparation of conference materials
- proofreading of documents and articles prepared for print,
- edition and adjustment of texts,
- technical editing the scientific, implementation and extensional works of the Institute for publication.
Work package 3 was established to enable different groups of IUNG’s scientists the improvement of their knowledge and practical skills within training visits in leading research centers around the Europe. All of planned activities were organized to bring together all of IUNG’s departments and share the acquired knowledge, in order to create new working teams across the department lines. The mobility of researchers was dedicated to the four interdisciplinary research areas: Soil Quality, Land Use, Production Systems and Techniques, Plant Production Quality and Safety with special attention to following research problems:
Soil Quality: soil organic matter transformation, safe and efficient use of fertilizers, sustainable nutrient management, nitrate content in arable soils, nondestructive methods of soil fertility evaluation, ecological risk assessment, progress in microbial identification, protection of the quality of agricultural ecosystems;
Land Use: economic and environmental aspects of biomass production, optimizations of decision making in bioelectricity assisted by GIS, geoinformatics, bioelectricity assisted by GIS, application of selected energy programmes e.g. iSpace.on use of weather databases;
Production Systems and Techniques: comparison of different farming systems, photosynthesis and respiration of fodder crops under stress, current research on different farming systems, environmental aspects of biomass production;
Plant Products Quality and Safety: methods of plant analysis, biotechnological methods in agriculture, spectral methods of phytochemical analysis, allergens in grain crops, in vitro cultures development, legumes breeding and their quality, health promoting phytochemical analysis.
The activity of the work package included two categories of training visits dedicated for IUNG’s researchers and collaborating scientists: short visits lasting from few days up to 1 month and long stays over 1 month. IUNG’s researchers had also possibility to participate in conferences, workshops and training courses.
Financial support of the project gave opportunity for successful knowledge transfer which in short term should be beneficial improving the quality and scope of the research undertaken in the Institute. Scientists from IUNG have paid short visits to research institutions across Europe to get consultations with professional experts working on problems included in four working areas and to participate in meetings to become part of international projects’ working teams. Such activities resulted in creation of new projects and initiatives. IUNG pays particular attention to young scientists who strengthen existing working teams and in perspective will set new directions of research areas. Strong emphasis has been put on their long lasting training to increase their motivation and creativity as well as to maximize their potential. They also took part in training courses to increase their experience in using modern laboratory equipment and techniques. IUNG’s researchers actively participated in international conferences and workshops to promote the Proficiency project and scientific potential of the Institute abroad. Collaborating scientists and technicians hosted by the Institute had beneficial influence on the work performed and strengthen IUNG’s ongoing researches. Their temporary employment was an important goal from the Proficiency project’s perspective.
Outgoing of IUNG’s researchers to partners: activities planned in WP3 have included 56 training visits of IUNG’s researchers in partner institutions.
Totally there were 172 outgoings among them: 77 of short visits and 41 of long stays. In conferences, workshops and training courses have participated: 37, 9 and 8 researchers, respectively. Long training visits lasting from 1 month up to 6 months were more common for young scientists while short ones for experienced researchers. The most active within the mobility training were researchers from the Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics (45 training visits), Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (34 training visits), Department of Soil Science Erosion and Land Protection (33 training visits) and Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality (23 training visits). The most effective cooperation was established with the research institutions from Germany (University in Gettingen), Italy (University of Salerno), Belgium (Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research ILVO), Greece (University of Athens, University of Chania), the Netherlands (Wageningen University) and Finland (University of Helsinki).
Incoming of experienced researchers from partners to IUNG: 27 exchange visits of experienced scientists and 3 technicians in IUNG were planned within the WP3 activity.
Totally there were 53 incomings of researchers and 4 technical workers from international research institutions as well as national universities and institutes. Almost a half of the incomings constituted long visits (> 1 month). Six researches have been working in IUNG for over one year, eight for the period of 4-6 months and ten for 2-3 months. Visits of collaborating researchers were strongly related to the activity and knowledge exchange in the Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (7 researchers and 2 technicians), Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics (9 researchers and 1 technician), Department of Soil Science Erosion and Land Protection (8 researchers) and Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality (9 researchers). The majority of cooperating partners were from Greece (Agricultural University of Athens), Italy (University of Piza) and Germany (Leibniz University of Hannower, University of Hohenheim).
The results of WP3 implementation were presented during the seminar “Summary of the Proficiency project realization – scientific experience sharing within IUNG” which was hold on 29th October 2013. The scope of the meeting was focused on the presentation of the knowledge increase through the mobility trainings and the strengthening of IUNGs’ position in the European research community. Ninety five employees representing research departments have participated in the meeting. Sixteen oral presentations were delivered and thirty five posters presented by IUNG’s researchers on international conferences and workshops were shown. Benefits of project implementation were presented by the leaders of work packages - session I and young researchers representing individual scientific departments involved in scientific trainings within WP 3 - session II.
Following outputs of the mobility trainings have been considered as the most important: possibility of cooperation with experts from various leading research institutions across Europe, participation in new international projects carried out within the 7th Framework Programme, increase the amount of IF publications as well as the number of collaborating research institutions. Particular attention on laboratory training and international team work skills has been shown. The abridged versions of presentations and results of knowledge increase within mobility trainings have been posted below.
Department of Agrometeorology and Applied Informatics intensified scientific exchange and collaboration with research institutions from Greece (Agricultural University in Athens and University of Chania), Austria (iSPACE Studio) and Switzerland (Reckenholz-Taenikon Research Station ART in Zurich). Thanks to the mobility trainings and cooperation with partner institutions, researchers from this department became partners in three research projects carried out within EC 7th Framework Programme:
BioBoost: Biomass based energy intermediates boosting biofuel production (contract No. 282873; http://bioboost.eu/home.php)
S2Biom: Delivery of sustainable supply of non-food biomass to support a “resource-efficient” Bioeconomy in Europe (contract No. 608622; http://www.s2biom.eu)
Catch-C: Compatibility of Agricultural Management Practices and Types of Farming in the EU to enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Health (contract No. 289782, http://www.catch-c.eu). The scientific representative of IUNG in this project is dr Alina Syp, who has been employed within the WP2 of the Proficiency project and will get the permanent position in the Institute after the project ends. The results of international collaboration were presented in four publications in journals with IF 0,517-2,975 and delivered as oral and poster presentations in international conferences and workshops.
Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality - young researchers involved in scientific exchange have visited University of Salerno (Italy) and University of Cadiz (Spain) to practice NMR spectroscopy with special attention to spectra identification and interpretation. In 2012 IUNG received subsidy from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and purchased NMR spectrometer therefore the mobility trainings enabled researchers fast adaptation of the equipment to laboratory conditions.
Collaboration with scientists from international and national research institutions was focused on the isolation and identification of plant-derived compounds and application of TLC method for the determination of activity of compounds by using DPPH Rapid Test. The results of research conducted in cooperation with international and national partners were described in 17 scientific papers published in international journals with IF 0.955-3.633. Researchers from this department have also actively participated in international conferences and workshops delivering posters.
Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology - researchers actively participated in the mobility trainings that were focused on the implementation of new techniques for the laboratory practice e.g. cytometric techniques for biosystematics studies of vascular plants and GC-MS technique for hop oils and tobacco analysis. They hosted international experts and technical workers from Italy (CRA-FSO, Sanremo and University of Genova) and Germany (University of Hohenhein). Scientists have also participated in several conferences and workshops presenting the results of collaboration with partners and promoting the scientific potential of the Institute on international forum.
Department of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Conservation - the mobility trainings were related to the cooperation and consultations with experts from national and European research centers. The exchange was focused on the increase of knowledge on application of modern field and laboratory techniques, training in ecological risk assessment procedures and c sequestration in soils. Researchers have participated in several international conferences and workshops, where they have presented sixteen posters and delivered seven oral presentations. Thanks to the cooperation with foreign research centers, researchers from this department became partners in two research projects carried out within EC 7th Framework Programme:
Greenland: Sustainable management and gentle remediation of trace element contaminated land (contract No. 266124; http://www.greenland-project.eu)
Cantogether: Crops and Animals Together (contract No. 289328; http://www.fp7cantogether.eu).
Department of Forage Crop Production has established the strong and fruitful collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Plant Science Unit, Genetic and Breeding, Belgium. Scientific exchange covered several training visits to practice molecular biology and cytogenetic techniques, and making new interspecific crosses between two species of grasses: Festuca and Lolium. Scientific exchange of young researcher from this department was focused on problems related to drought tolerance in Festulolium hybrids and their physiological and (cyto)genetic characterization. The results of international scientific collaboration will be included in the PhD thesis of A. Fariaszewska.
Scientists from this department have also participated in international conferences and presented number of posters.
Department of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization - researchers from this department have actively cooperated with the University of Helsinki, Finland. Two scientists have visited the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry working on plant physiology and biochemical aspects of drought response. Experts hosted in IUNG represented research centers from Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Scientists from this department have been involved in the project Catch-C: Compatibility of Agricultural Management Practices and Types of Farming in the EU to enhance Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Health (contract No. 289782, http://www.catch-c.eu) carried out within EC 7th Framework Programme.
Department of Cereal Crop Production participated in WP3 activity through the collaboration with the Lithuanian University of Agriculture where young scientist has practiced the implementation of new technologies in greenhouse experiments and participation in the training course on mycotoxins determination in plant samples with application of HPLC/UV-VIS techniques. Researchers from this department actively participated in international conferences delivering oral presentations and posters.
Department of Systems and Economics of Plant Production has cooperated with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Young scientist has practiced modern techniques of greenhouse gasses measurement using the robotized incubation system and other methods in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Researchers also collaborated with two centers from Lithuania: Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Center for Agriculture and Forestry, Kedainiai and Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Kaunas exchanging knowledge and experiences on: greenhouse gases emission, production of raw material for energy utilization (biomass, biogas, bioethanol, analysis of availability and usefulness of soils for cultivation of energy plants, environmental aspects of cultivation of energy crops, agrotechnique and yielding of energy crops, economic analysis of energy crops cultivation).
The activity of work package 4 was focused on scientific networking. It was based on two tasks: 4.1 – “Scientific partnership and networking” and task 4.2 – “Partnership with end users: platform for soil and land use”.
Realization of the first task has resulted in participation of researchers from IUNG-PIB in five international conferences to show IUNG’s scientific achievements in various fields of soil and plant research, and to introduce the Proficiency project to scientists all over the world. The following conferences were attended:
• 44th Tobacco Workers’ Conference and CORETA meeting took place in January 18-21, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The subject matter of the conference included different aspects of worldwide breeding and cultivation of tobacco. Nearly 100 oral reports and over 200 posters were presented within 20 sessions concerning tobacco field production and industry under conditions of global climate change. The problems of plant diseases and pesticides application were also discussed. Almost 300 researchers from different countries, including four researchers from IUNG-PIB: prof. Apoloniusz Berbec, prof. Teresa Doroszewska, dr. Anna Trojak-Goluch and dr. Anna Czubacka (Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology) participated in the conference. The following posters were presented by Polish researchers:
- A. Czubacka, T. Doroszewska: “Obtaining resistant to PVY tobacco double haploids containing different sources of resistance”,
- A. Trojak–Goluch and A. Berbeć “Agronomic performance of tobacco breeding lines carrying black root rot resistance”.
Moreover prof. Doroszewska participated in Scientific Commission Meeting of CORESTA (Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research relative to Tobacco). Prof. Doroszewska as a Coordinator & Liaison of Sub-Group Collaborative Study on Virus Diseases presented results of “Potato virus Y project” and “Survey of impact of other viruses” based on the experiment 2009.
• 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, May 3-7, 2010, Lyon, France. More than 1500 researchers from 72 countries participated to the Conference. IUNG-PIB was represented by four scientists from Department of Agro-meteorology and Applied Informatics: dr. Andrzej Doroszewski, dr. Katarzyna Mizak, dr. Magdalena Borzecka-Walker and dr. Rafal Pudelko.
Dr. Borzecka-Walker with dr. Katarzyna Mizak and dr.Pudelko as co-authors gave the oral presentation on “Modeling Impact of Climate Change on Willow Potential Productivity in Poland” at “Agro-environmental assessments” session. Other IUNG’s researchers presented four posters:
- “Miscanthus Cultivation Potential for Energy Purposes in Poland”,
- “Willow Cultivation Potential for Energy Purposes in Poland”,
- “Competition between Power Stations for Biomass in Poland”,
- “Geographic Information System of Biomass Resource in Poland”.
Dr A. Doroszewski presented also a poster “Strengthen IUNG’s Proficiency on – Managing the Production of Food and Feedstuff, their Safety and Quality under Global Climatic Change” which introduced the Proficiency Project to the international audience.
• World Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition, May 25-27, 2010, was held at the Jonkoping Elmia Conference Center in Sweden. The conference was organized by The Swedish Bioenergy Association (SVEBIO) from Stockholm and Elmia from Jonkoping. IUNG-PIB was represented by four researchers from Department of Agro-meteorology and Applied Informatics: dr. Jerzy Kozyra, dr. Rafał Pudełko, dr. Magdalena Borzęcka–Walker and dr. Katarzyna Mizak. Two oral presentations were given by IUNG-PIB representatives:
- J. Kozyra: “Modelling Impact of Climate Change on Willow Potential Productivity in Poland”
- M. Borzęcka–Walker: “Competition between Power Stations for Biomass in Poland”.
- The following posters were also presented:
- “Willow Cultivation Potential for Energy Purposes in Poland”
- “Strengthen IUNG’s Proficiency on – Managing the Production of Food and Feedstuff, their Safety and Quality under Global Climatic Change”.
All participants were invited to take part in daily study visits, which were integral part of the conference programme.
• 8th International Wheat Conference (IWC), June 1-4, 2010, Petersburg, Russia. About 650 participants from 83 countries, including 18 researchers from Poland participated in the conference. The scientific program of the conference covered a wide range of problems related to global wheat research and production, such as: genetics and breeding for stress, yield potential and quality purposes, biotechnological and genomics tools in wheat improvements. Four researchers from IUNG-PIB: prof. Wieslaw Oleszek and prof. Anna Stochmal (Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality) and prof. Grażyna Podolska and dr. Alicja Sułek (Department of Cereal Crop Production) attended this conference. Each of them presented one poster:
- W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal: “Proficiency –The New EC program for developing research potential”
- J. Zuchowski, A. Stochmal, W. Oleszek: “Phenolic acid content in grains of Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and spelt (Triticum spelta)”
- G. Podolska: “Grain quality of winter wheat cultivars depending on the production technology”
- A. Sulek: “Grain quality of spring wheat cultivars depending on the production technology”.
• International PSE Symposium ‘Phytochemicals in Nutrition and Health’ in Giovinazzo (Bari), Italy, September 27-30, 2011. Four researchers from IUNG-PIB: prof. Wieslaw Oleszek, prof. Anna Stochmal, dr Iwona Kowalska and MSc. Barbara Szajwaj participated in this Symposium. They presented the following posters:
- I. Kowalska, D. Jedrejek, Ł. Ciesla, S. Piacente, M. Mosullo, W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal: “Phenolic composition of Trifolium scabrum L. aerial parts.”
- B. Szajwaj, L. Pecio, M. Szumacher-Strabel, A. Cieslak, W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal: “Isolation of bioactive compounds from Saponaria officinalis L.”
- M. Maldini, P. Montoro, A.I. Hamed, U.A. Mahalel, W. Oleszek, A. Stochmal, S. Piacente: “Strong free radical scavenging phenolics from Acacia nilotica pods.”
Moreover, prof. Oleszek was a member of scientific committee of the conference and chaired one session.
To build long-term partnerships not only with scientific bodies but also with research end-users IUNG wanted to create a Platform. At the beginning the subject of the platform was to be “agriculture cultivation system: conventional, sustainable and organic”. A meeting was organized in Klementowice Agrobusiness School on 11th April, 2011 to establish the platform. During this meeting various aspects of crop cultivation according to conventional, sustainable and organic systems were discussed, based on the following lectures presented by researchers from Department of Systems and Economics of Crop Production:
- Dr Jarosław Stalenga: “Systems of agricultural production in IUNG-PIB research”,
- Dr Beata Feledyn Szewczyk: “Agri–environmental program as a tool of biological environment protection on rural areas”,
- Dr Krzysztof Jonczyk: “Ecological agriculture, functioning, current status and development perspectives in Poland”.
While working on this platform it was noticed, that it would be more efficient if the subject of the platform would be different. “Soil and Land Use” platform would reflect new trends in understanding the function of soil. In September 2011 as a part of Polish presidency to UE, IUNG together with Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized the European conference in Brussels on soil organic matter. The conference shown that in many European countries there is a problem of decreasing content of organic matter. Also in September 2011 under Proficiency program, project Coordinator attended a meeting in Berlin (German Academy of Sciences) to develop bases for organization of European network on “Soil and Land Use”. Poland would like to participate actively in this initiative, but first a national platform for that purpose should be organized. That is why with the agreement of EU Officer, the subject of the platform was changed for “Soil and Land Use” platform.
The second, international meeting was held on 26th - 27th September, 2013 in Pulawy. This important meeting was dedicated to IUNG’s initiative formulated within the Proficiency project which aimed at the establishment of Soil and Land Use Platform, also at the international level. The objective of the Platform is to bring end-users, decision makers, agencies and soil scientists together in order to make the soil related information that is being, or can be, generated more useful for protection of soil resources and the environment.
The following problems were discussed during 3 sessions of this meeting:
• Research needs, challenges and soil management approaches,
• European soil protection projects for end users,
• Soil monitoring programs and tools.
Forty one representatives of research institutions from 15 European countries (Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Poland) including representatives of Polish Ministry of Agriculture and local public administration from Poland, Slovenia and Germany, joined this Platform initiative meeting, which was very well perceived and appreciated by the all participating parties.
Recent activities undertaken within this Platform by dr G. Siebielec (Dept. of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Conservation, IUNG-PIB) include discussions and preliminary work on the following projects at the country level and EU:
- Biochar project for Horizon 2020,
- Spatial Planning – Poznan Voivodship (Poland),
- Chemometric methods for the environment assessment in Poland and Ireland.
- Soil organic matter (IUNG, Wageningen, Agroscope)
The objective of the work package 5 was to organize various dissemination activities spreading information about Proficiency project and its main achievements to as wide audience as possible. Activities were planned on different levels to gain and improve international, national and virtual visibility and reach various target groups like scientific community, students, administration bodies, policy makers, industry representatives, agricultural services and farmers. Societal implications were assured trough dissemination of the project information to civil society.
On the international level one of the main aims was to strengthen the links between IUNG and ERA. This was done very successfully through organisation of international conferences and workshops. Seven international meetings (3 conferences, 3 workshops and one international meeting) were organised during 4 years of the project. They gather 450 participants representing almost all European as well as some overseas countries. The most effective international activities within Proficiency concentrated in the area of soil protection. This was in line with the recent concentration of the EU and many international organisations on the problems of soil security in the light of the increased threats (e.g. climate change) to its main functions, which regulate all aspects of the life. The reflection of this concern was EU document “Towards Soil Thematic strategy”. Nomination the coming year 2015 as “Soil Year” followed the great international interest in this issue.
Of particular importance was the International Standardisation Organisation Technical Committee 180 “Soil Quality” Meeting organised in Puławy in 2010 to celebrate 25th Anniversary of the Committee. The members of the ISO Committee – involved concurrently in the CEN 345 “Soil Quality” activities - formed wide audience deriving not only from scientific community but also from the industry and EU administration. Information about IUNG and Proficiency project was disseminated not only through the representatives of the European community but reached countries like South Korea, Japan and Australia.
The other examples of very successful contacts of IUNG with ERA were two international conferences organised in years 2011 (“Protection of agricultural soils against joint stress of natural and anthropogenic factors”) and 2013 (“Protection of soil functions – challenges for the future”) regarding the very vital and current problems of soil protection. From one hand lectures presented by high quality experts from the leading scientific units in the EU made possible for Polish participants from all over the country to become acquainted with newest scientific achievements. From another – foreign guests from all over the Europe had an opportunity to become familiar with problems regarding soil protection and management in Poland and the methods of their solutions. Soil protection issue needs multidirectional approach (scientific, agricultural, administrative, special planning, etc.) and soil management problems are covered by different regulations on the EU and national levels. Application of all those regulations may have strong economic effects for agriculture, industry and landowners. The conferences, besides scientific aspects, created a platform for the exchange of the opinions of policy makers and administrative bodies from different countries providing an incentive for the improvements of the current documents and their better adjustment to the EU directives. These opinions were disseminated - through media – to civil society.
Although direct contacts of scientists – as it is possible during conferences and meetings - are usually the best platform for creating and strengthening the cooperation, the other forms of dissemination are not negligible. Thus, the participants of the international conferences and workshop were supplied with leaflets including information about IUNG and Proficiency project accompanied by other promotional materials with Proficiency logo like ball pens, notes, t-shirts, cups, chocolates, etc. to maintain the emotional links with IUNG.
Increased contacts between IUNGs researchers and the scientists from international community had a great impact on the activity of IUNG as regards participation in the EU programmes. While at the beginning of the Proficiency IUNG participated in 2 EU projects, in year 2013 the scientists from the Institute participated in 12 projects within the FP7. This strengthen significantly the position of IUNG in the regional research area and improved visibly the position of Lublin region on the map of EU scientific activities in Poland.
On the national level the dissemination activities were highly diversified and focused at different addressees.
The conferences and workshops were aimed mainly at scientific community, but their topics were wide enough to attract representatives of administration bodies, industry and policy makers. The conferences “Microorganisms - plant – environment under changing climate” (2013) and “Bioactive Plant Compounds - Structural and Applicative Aspects” (2013), which gathered nearly 500 researchers from all leading universities and institutes in Poland, were of particular scientific interest, while the conference “Future trends in the agricultural land use as affected by climatic changes” (2010) and the workshops “Plant diseases and pests appearing in Poland as a result of climatic change and methods of their elimination” (2011), “Dispersing nutrients from agriculture into environment” (2012) and “The role of science and advisory services in support of innovation of Polish agriculture” (2013) had pronounced practical aspects and involved administration bodies on the country and regional levels, policy makers and agricultural advisers. Very positive aspect was high participation of young researchers and students in the workshops and conferences. This was possible due to low costs of those meetings supported from Proficiency founds. Investing in the young audience is the most progressive dissemination activity, assure wider future impacts and long-term effects in the establishing IUNG positions as the leading institution in the agricultural sciences. The high quality of the key-speakers enabled the participants to be acquainted with the latest achievements in the agricultural research and high range of oral and posters presentations gave a perfect review of the present research trends in the particular topics of the conferences and workshops. Presentations of IUNGs researchers enlarged the knowledge on the Institute achievements, including information on the new laboratory equipment purchased within Proficiency project. It activated participants for wider cooperation and scientific exchange and the increase of the common projects was the best example of the outputs of those meetings.
The trainings and open days had more education aspects and were aimed mainly to attract two groups of audience: students and agricultural advisors and farmers. The open days and farmer days were organized 3 times and they gathered over 1000 visitors including students from agricultural universities and the pupils form agricultural schools. They embraced different forms of presentations (lectures, visits in laboratory, visiting experimental fields and meteorological stations, etc.). The trainings were target mainly at agricultural advisors and farmers – examples of such successful activities were trainings “Breeding, cultivation and use of spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp spelta) under the climate change” (2011) and “Technology of grain and fodder crop production and their quality and safety under climate change” (2012). The different form of dissemination of information on new perspectives and challenges for agricultural science to join European Framework Programs was a one-day training (2010), which included mainly IUNG researchers.
All activities on international and national levels were proportional and well time-balanced assuring continuous contact with all partners and the receptors of the project results. Organisation of the conferences, workshops, courses and training days for researchers, agricultural producers, processors, governmental officials and politicians, enabled IUNG – according to the main Proficiency aims - to become a considerable centre for professional traineeship and for lifelong learning.
To get closed to local community a special Open Days for the citizens of Pulawy were organized in May 2013. IUNG’s employees from the Department of Extension and Information and scientists from the Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality informed people about the outcomes and benefits of the Proficiency project and also about other current activities of the Institute. Citizens from our city had this one-time opportunity to visit IUNG’s laboratories of the Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, the Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology and the Department of Soil Science, Erosion and Land Protection. Information leaflets and promotional materials were given to attract local people.
Communication tools in the form of leaflets about IUNG (including separate materials about each department) and Proficiency project were prepared and widely distributed to national and international audience. The roll-up and posters on Proficiency project were presented at each of the programme event. Other promotion/dissemination materials (like cups, ball pen, pen drivers, t-shirts, chocolates, etc.) were prepared and distributed in more limited extend (Board Members, key-speakers, as the awards for the distinguished young presenters, important visitors, etc.). Distribution of leaflets on Proficiency project as well as other information materials enhanced dissemination effectiveness and created a good communication axis between IUNG and visitors. All those activities assure wider societal impact of the project and helped to established IUNG positive image as a leading research institution.
The dissemination activities covered also press release, books, radio, tv and internet information. They reached audience at different national (local, regional, country) and international levels (internet). According to the main aim of the project, all those activities created positive image of IUNG in the civil society, disseminated the results of Proficiency project were positively rated by the evaluators.
Website promoting the results of the Proficiency and supplying all current information on project execution was created and maintained during all project period.
Thus, as it was planned, the main project outcome of the project i.e. a successful international recognition of IUNG as the most promising agriculture research centre in Poland and dissemination of those information to scientific community, civil society, policy makers and food producers was achieved.
Work package 6 was dedicated to project management. Day to day management has been realized by the management team, i.e. project coordinator and WP leaders and co-leaders and by financial managers that are responsible for all matters related to the financial side of the project, and project assistant dealing with the administrative matters. For advisory and cooperation purposes an Advisory Board has been involved in the project. It was composed of 18 representatives of foreign research institutions, 2 representatives of Polish Ministries and one from Polish university.
During the project realization four Advisory Board meetings were organized. The first meeting was organized on 19 -20 January 2010. Foreign members of the Advisory Board had an opportunity to get overall look at the Institute. During the first day of kick-off meeting representative from each of IUNG’s department presented main tasks and research areas, national and international projects realized by scientists from the department, some of their equipment and staff. On the second day delegates visited some of the departments. Kick-off meeting was organized to discuss about the methodology of PROFICIENCY Project, its financial conditions and also to make preliminary arrangements in the subject of outgoings and incomings.
Second Advisory Board meeting was organized on 24 – 25 May 2011 (M18) to make review and analysis of the progress in the first half of project realization.
At the beginning, on the first day of meeting, financial status of the project was presented. Then WP Leaders and researchers from IUNG participating in the project, presented the realization of work packages no. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The second day of meeting was dedicated to realization of WP 3. Advisory Board members were impressed of work performed in the first half of project realization and gave useful suggestions related to important issues.
Third Advisory Board meeting was organized on 25 - 26 October 2012. Proficiency project EC Officer – Mr. Lucas Janssen also participated in this meeting, during which the effects of the project realization were discussed. As some problems with proper realization did occur, participants searched for the best possible solutions. The outcome of this meeting was the second amendment.
The last Advisory Board meeting was organized on 21 - 22 May 2014. On the first day the Work Package leaders presented the results of actions performed during the whole period of project realization. Project financial manager presented the financial statements concerning the project expenses. On the second day experts evaluating Proficiency within WP7 presented their conclusions and the discussion concerning the possible changes of IUNG’s structure took place. Representative of local administration (Pulawy County) and the representative of agricultural advisory for farmers (Center of Agricultural Advisory) also participated in the meeting, to present the cooperation between IUNG and their institutions. Basing on the outcomes from the discussions during the meeting, evaluators prepared final version of their report.
Two amendments have been done during the realization of the project. First amendment concerned the extension of the project realization for 6 months and it was accepted by the European Commission on 6 June 2012. Second concerned the extension of the project realization for additional 6 months and some changes in the structure of the budget - transfer of 52 000 EUR (26 MM) from personnel costs in WP2 to subcontracting in WP1 that led to changes in direct and indirect costs and also made it possible to increase personnel costs in WP6 (from 37 to 42 MM) without changing the total requested EC contribution. This second amendment was accepted by the European Commission on 24 January 2013.
Also a financial audit by European Commission took place. It concerned the first period of Proficiency project realization. It was carried out by KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft, on 20-24 February 2012, but additional explanations were made till 23 July 2012. The draft of the report was ready on 19 September 2012 and in auditors’ opinion “the audited financial statements properly reflect eligible costs, receipts and interests, which:
• are actual;
• have been incurred by the Beneficiary during the duration of the project and in the financial periods audited;
• have been determined in accordance with the usual accounting and management principles and practices of the Beneficiary;
• have been used for the sole purpose of achieving the objectives of the project and its expected results, in a manner consistent with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness;
• have been recorded in the accounts of the Beneficiary;
• have been indicated in the estimated overall budget in Annex I;
• are exclusive of any non-eligible costs established in the second paragraph of Article II.14.3 of the Grant Agreement with the Commission of the European Union.”
The conclusion was that “the financial management of the project was carried out in an acceptable manner and in compliance with the requirements of the Grant Agreement”.
The Coordinator of Proficiency project, Prof. Wieslaw Oleszek, has been invited to present the project during a REGPOT workshop, that was organized on 25 June 2013 by the European Commission in Brussels. Only several projects out of over 100 financed were selected for the presentation. Proficiency presentation was well received and project was positively evaluated by audience and EC officers in the open discussion.
The objective of work package 7 was to assess the overall research quality and capability of IUNG. Three experts suggested by the EC: Prof. Istvan Feher from Hungary, Prof. Spyridon Kyritsis from Greece and Prof. Luigi Pari from Italy came twice to the Institute to evaluate the work performed under the Proficiency project. During first visit they met with work package leaders to discuss the actions taken and their results. Experts met also with project Coordinator, Prof. Wieslaw Oleszek, who is the current Director of the Institute. Prof. Oleszek gave them overall information about IUNG’s situation. Together they discussed the possible changes in some procedures in the Institute that could be helpful to encourage scientists to intensify their publication efforts. Experts also wanted to know what is the vision for the future of the Institute. Evaluators gathered all necessary information, collected documents and each of them prepared a draft of their report.
The drafts have been discussed during their second visit. Experts observations were also presented at the last Advisory Board meeting, that took place on 21 – 22 May. After having clarified some issues and fruitful discussions also with Advisory Board members, evaluators prepared one final report. They positively assessed the project realization and pointed out what can be improved and what is worth to be noticed in future.
Potential Impact:
Impact on the Institute level
- Proficiency was the first international project in which all IUNGs department have been involved.
- The technological capacities within departments of IUNG increased - 24 pieces of scientific equipment and computer programmes have been purchased to reach the higher modernity in the Institute.
- The pool of excellent scientists increased due to the permanent recruitment of 3 experienced scientists.
- Additionally one of the visiting scientists (dr Andy Perez, Cuba) after the end of his almost 2-years visit got permanent employment at IUNG. He got his PhD in phytochemistry from the University of Cadiz, Spain, and is highly experienced in MS and NMR techniques. Since in 2012 Department of Biochemistry purchased an NMR (500 MHz) equipment, his experience is of great values for the Department. Quality of work of the Department will definitely substantially increase.
- Project assistant, Agata Białek got experience in EC project managements and rules and since she got permanent position at IUNG, she become highly skilled person to be able to manage the administration of any national or international projects.
- Since Proficiency was the second EC project coordinated by IUNG’s stuff, but first so on such big scale, it gave possibilities to package leaders to increase their awareness on the principles of EC project management. Most of package leaders and skilled enough to coordinate projects by themselves.
- The number of publications with high impact factors substantially increased – in 2009 – 30 papers, 2010 – 27, 2011 – 37, 2012 – 66, and 2013 – 65. This is of great values as the Institute, like all science entities in Poland, undergoes work evaluation by the external, national body. The impact factor papers are most important factor (65% weight) of this evaluation.
- Proficiency opened the discussion about necessity of improving laboratory standards. After number of meetings decision was made on the IUNG Director's Board level to apply for the local founding to build new building for the departments, which activity is predominantly based on the use of sophisticated equipment. Application has been accepted and granted with the co-financing from Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland (European Regional Development Fund) Priority I.3. The Centre should be ready by the end of the year 2014. This action is a great example for the effect of synergy between the use of resources from Framework Programmes and from Structural Funds.
- Proficiency substantially increased the quality of services of the Science Supporting Department. The new created group helping scientists to prepare and to perform EC projects got new experience and due to the contacts with external auditors skills of this group increased. They are able to perform high quality service for IUNG’s Departments but also give advice to other entities.
- Project increased also awareness of IUNG scientist on EC Framework Programs, on possibilities of project application, finding partners, preparation etc.
- Project increased awareness on the necessity of better research results dissemination. Due to the project activities many new ties with local and international publishing bodies were started and at present they result in more wider dissemination of our activities.
- Project increased the awareness of the usefulness of international exchange and trainings in foreign laboratories for own carrier development. At the beginning of the project the interest in participation in inter-laboratory exchange was limited. This significantly increased by the end of the project.
- The awareness between department’s staff on benefits from inter-department collaboration increased. More projects that include people from different departments are being prepared now.
- The scientific knowledge on the defined topics of trainings and dissemination activities in IUNG's stuff increased.
- Better knowledge about the research conducted in other departments, more opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary projects.
Impact on national level
- Drought monitoring system has been substantially improved by implementation of new weather stations, which increased IUNG's competitiveness on a country scene.
- Two Poles, educated abroad has been attracted back in the country to develop their career in a home country.
- Number of Polish research entities assisted or participated in the conferences and workshops organized under Proficiency, which strongly strengthened ties among them and IUNG.
- Implementation of new equipment increased IUNG's attractiveness among other Polish research entities. IUNG has been seen as a good partner for collaboration. This resulted in a number of new projects application for national funding.
- Implementation of new equipment increased also attractiveness of the Institute among young people searching possibilities for their work carriers. Number of application for a position in the Institute increased, which gives possibility for better selection.
- New equipment gave also IUNG’s stuff better arguments to apply for the projects on national level (NCN, NCRiR).
- Research developments within IUNG are connected to the needs of end-users such as government agencies, advisory centres, farmers' organisations and policy makers, thanks to a continuous review process. IUNG researchers provide different kinds of expertise to the Ministry of Agriculture and participate as Polish experts in the works of the EC bodies. The Institute has an important role in decision-making processes in Poland. The support of Ministry in the budget of Institute is stable and important;
- The Soil Platform formed under the project increased the position of the Institute at country level. The result of this increase was the organization in IUNG of the national conference on soil (different aspects)after project has ended. This event brought IUNG again to a leading position in Poland regarding this topic. Soil problems are being the topic of IUNG activity for over 100 years. Soil Platform gave us possibility to maintain our leading position in the country.
Impact on international level
- IUNG has strengthened its ties with 16 excellent partners (members of the board), number of outgoing and incoming scientists were exchanged. Three international conferences and several workshops of high level of scientific excellence were organized with high number of researchers from Europe participating. Therefore, the visibility of IUNG increased within the European Research Area, and some bilateral collaborations have been initiated.
- Cooperation with scientists visiting IUNG within Proficiency is continued, some of them are willing to come again for short visits. Number of visits of foreign researchers substantially increased during the project realization – in 2009 there were 4 visits, in 2010 – 12, 2011 – 15, 2012 – 12, 2013 – 21.
- Number of papers are being published as the result of project coordination also after project was terminated. This will continue in the future as number of trials to apply for funding from different agencies is increasing.
- Global knowledge of the staff, in particular on EU programmes and Project Management has increased. Proficiency directly allowed to participate in four new FP7 projects (BioBoost, GREENLAND, CANTOGETHER, C-Catch), which have been accepted for financing by EC. All together at the beginning of this project IUNG participated in 2 EU projects, in year 2013 the scientists from the Institute participated in 12 projects within the FP7.
- Presentation of the capacity of IUNG, its data bases and instruments, long lasting field experiments, opinion forming position on the country level, at international workshops, conferences, board meeting increased awareness of foreign partners about IUNG and increased their interest in inviting IUNG to Horizon 2020 projects. In the first phase IUNG participate in 8 different consortia.
- The most effective international activities within Proficiency concentrated in the area of soil protection. This was in line with the recent concentration of the EU and many international organisations on the problems of soil security in the light of the increased threats (e.g. climate change) to its main functions, which regulate all aspects of the life. The reflection of this concern was EU document “Towards Soil Thematic strategy”. Nomination the coming year 2015 as “Soil Year” followed the great international interest in this issue. Of particular importance was the International Standardisation Organisation Technical Committee 180 “Soil Quality” Meeting organised in Puławy in 2010 to celebrate 25th Anniversary of the Committee. The members of the ISO Committee – involved concurrently in the CEN 345 “Soil Quality” activities - formed wide audience deriving not only from scientific community but also from the industry and EU administration. Information about IUNG and Proficiency project was disseminated not only through the representatives of the European community but reached countries like South Korea, Japan and Australia. “Soil and Land Use” platform organized within WP4 also reflects new trends in understanding the function of soil.
List of Websites:
http://proficiency-fp7.eu
http://iung.pulawy.pl
Prof. Wieslaw Oleszek
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
State Research Institute
ul. Czartoryskich 8
24-100 Pulawy
Poland
Tel.++48-81-8863421 ext. 363
Fax. ++48-81-8864547
email: iung@iung.pulawy.pl or wo@iung.pulawy.pl
