Professional work

Since 1958, the Ministry of Agriculture has supported the implementation of expert tasks in the field of fruit growing. At that time, professional work in fruit growing was limited to the so-called introduction of varieties of different fruit species, where “introduction” meant testing varieties of fruit plants grown elsewhere for cultivation under our climatic conditions. Alongside this task, a smaller selection program for the development of new domestic fruit varieties was also financed, with a focus on nuts.

In recent years, the field of production technologies for pome fruits, stone fruits, berries, and nuts has started to complement the existing work on variety introduction and selection. Due to the increasing demand for more competitive fruit production, the testing of modern production technologies has also been given special recognition in the new regulation on public service tasks in the production of agricultural plants (Official Gazette of the RS, No. 60/17, U:2884).

The new regulation, which came into effect at the beginning of 2018, regulates the areas of variety introduction, selection, production technologies, and the provision of initial propagation material for various fruit species. A key innovation in the new regulation for the Public Fruit Growing Service is the establishment of a system for professional and technical coordination. This system will ensure unified operation of the Public Fruit Growing Service and facilitate the appropriate transfer of knowledge among research, education, and advisory institutions. It will also foster cooperation with other public services in agriculture and with growers, NGOs, and other stakeholders interested in maintaining and developing the fruit growing sector at an internationally competitive level.

Implementing institutions

The designated implementing institutions for the Public Fruit Growing Service for the period 2018–2024 are:

• Fruit Growing Center Maribor
• Fruit Growing Center Bilje
• Agricultural Institute of Slovenia