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Science and technology
Minister Sawicki, presents
awards to scientists
with special merits for
the agricultural sector
also important to introduce new varieties of
plants which are more resistant to heat waves
and droughts. Also, it is necessary to create hybrids
adapted to new climatic conditions and
make better use of a longer growing season.
Prof. A. Kowalski stated that the Polish
membership in the EU gave Polish agriculture
an opportunity to easily overcome emerging
challenges related to globalisation. Accession
directed and accelerated introduction of
a number of socio-economic reforms and in
some areas it even resulted in introduction
of solutions which were much more modern
than in the “old” EU countries. The speaker
stressed that development of the agri-food
sector should take into account the following
essential components: adaptation of the food
production growth to the demand, retaining a
satisfactory level of farmers’ income, prevention
of the environmental degradation.
Prof. W. Święcicki discussed the issues of new
technologies in crop production in the light of
increasing obtained yields. Apart from already
applied and improved technologies based on,
e.g. in vitro cultures, DNA analysis, he indicated
new trends, inter alia, in plant protection,
soil cultivation systems, genetic modifications
of plants.
Another speaker, Prof. Jędrzej Krupiński, focused
on discussing trends in development of
animal production in order to achieve the strategic
goal, i.e., modification of animal production
methods taking into account advanced
molecular technologies, preservation of biodiversity,
ecology, animal welfare and agricultural
environment.
During the second plenary session, the following
speeches were delivered:
Eugeniusz K. Chyłek, PhD, Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development, “Bioeconomy –
competitiveness, sustainable use of resources”;
Prof. Mariusz Piskuła, PhD, Institute of Animal
Reproduction and Food Research, Polish
Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, “Safe prohealthy
food for long and comfortable life”;
Prof. Piotr Tryjanowski, PhD, University of
Life Sciences in Poznań, “Threats to biodiversity
in the agricultural landscape: intensification
of agriculture, climate changes and invasive
species”;
Prof. Edmund Kaca, PhD, Institute of Technology
and Life Sciences in Falenty, “Water
management in the agri-food sector and in rural
areas under conditions of new challenges
and restrictions”;
Dr Magdalena Rogulska, Automotive Industry
Institute in Warsaw, “Relationship between
agriculture and energy industry in the context
of implementing the objectives of the low carbon
economy in Poland”;
Prof. Józef Kania, PhD, Hugo Kołłątaj University
of Agriculture in Kraków, “System of
knowledge transfer for the agri-food sector -
expected trends in development”.
In this session, particular interest, in terms of
food quality and impact on health, was raised
by a speech delivered by Prof. M. Piskuła on safe
pro-healthy food. While discussing the relationship
between the diet and the prevalence of
diet-related diseases, the speaker highlighted
the growing importance of functional food and
bioactive compounds contained therein. He discussed
the types of studies on functional food,
assurance of food safety, modern technologies
of food production and packaging, studies on
nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. He also mentioned
the national research programmes in
the field of “Food for health” and the EU programmes
“Healthy diet for healthy life” and
“Food for health”.
The substantive summary of the Congress
was made by Prof. Stanisław Krasowicz, PhD.
Press Office, Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development,
Ewa Woicka-Bekas
Agency for Restructuring
and Modernisation of Agriculture
48
Autumn 2011