Delegation of Directors of EU Paying Agencies to visit SGGW

Conference of Directors of EU Paying Agencies

The Conference of Directors of EU Paying Agencies is a forum, bringing together representatives of paying agencies of EU member states and candidate countries, as well as representatives of EU institutions such as the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). These meetings are held twice a year and are dedicated to exchanging experiences and analysing the most important aspects of the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy for 2023-2027.

The 57th Conference of EU Paying Agency Directors was organised by the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture. On May 6 and 7 at the National Stadium in Warsaw, representatives of European Paying Agencies discussed, among other things, combating fraud in the area of agricultural spending in the EU. An important item on the conference agenda, given the events of recent weeks – foot and mouth disease and bird flu – was the theme of food security. A presentation on “Food Security: An Interdisciplinary Approach” was given by Prof. Krzysztof Anusz, Head of the Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences. The conference program also included workshops and an open-air part at SGGW facilities.

Visit to the SGGW Experimental Orchard and the Center for Translational Medicine

The visit to SGGW was aimed at presenting the university as a modern academic and research center, supporting public administration and the agricultural sector in implementing policies based on innovation, precision and sustainable development. The delegation visited, among others, the Experimental Orchard of the Institute of Horticultural Sciences “Wilanów”, where Prof. Kazimierz Tomala, Head of the Department of Pomology and Horticultural Economics, Institute of Horticultural Sciences at SGGW presented the guests with the latest technologies supporting horticulture.

The focus was on unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous driving systems. Demonstrations included the DJI Agras T50 drone, used in precision spraying and fertilisation, which, thanks to its high carrying capacity and advanced navigation, increases the efficiency of agrotechnical work while reducing the use of crop protection products. Also on display was GOtrack’s Auto Drive system, which enables autonomous driving of tractors and integration with accompanying machinery such as sprayers and mowers. An important part of the program was the presentation of modern methods of storing fruit – from optimal harvesting date, to blocking ethylene receptors, to the use of Dynamically Controlled Atmosphere, which makes it possible to extend the period of availability of high-quality fruit. The visit to the SGGW Experimental Orchard in Vilnius culminated with a tasting of cider made from red-fleshed apples of a clone grown at SGGW. Both the apples and the cider itself were created using the scientific and technological potential of the university, exemplifying the application of research and innovation in practice. The solutions presented at the meeting in Wilanów are part of the direction of sustainable and modern orcharding, setting new standards in precision fruit production.

The delegation then went to the Center for Translational Medicine at SGGW. One of the most modern scientific and research complexes in Poland, where interdisciplinary research from the borderline of veterinary medicine, medicine and biotechnology is conducted. Professor Zdzislaw Gajewski, Head of the Inter-Institute Unit, Centre for Translational Medicine at SGGW, introduced the delegation to the specifics of the research being conducted and gave them a tour of the Centre.

In the evening, the guests attended a gala dinner attended by Prof. Michael Zasada, Rector of SGGW, and Dr. Marta Mendel, Vice-Rector for Internationalization. The meeting was attended by Dr. Czesław Siekierski, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Dr. Wojciech Legawiec, President of the Agency for the Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture. The dinner was an opportunity for informal discussions and further exchange of experiences. The artistic setting of the event was provided by a concert by the SGGW Representative Orchestra.

SGGW’s participation in the program of the 57th Conference of Directors of EU Paying Agencies is the university’s contribution to the dialogue on the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy. The presentation of research facilities and innovative solutions developed at the university fosters the development of cooperation with institutions responsible for the management of agriculture in Europe.