The research activities of the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (KIS) are related to the broader fields of agriculture, ecology and environmental protection. They are based on European and Slovenian strategic documents, such as the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe), national strategies and guidelines for the work programme of public research institutes, the Strategy for the Development of Slovenian Agriculture, and other development documents aimed at promoting environmentally friendly production methods.
Research activities are carried out within four research programmes, three of which are led by KIS, while one is led by the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana:
- Sustainable Agriculture (P4-0133),
- Agrobiodiversity (P4-0072),
- Next-Generation Agriculture (P4-0431),
- Economics of Agri-Food Systems and Natural Resources (P4-0022; led by the Biotechnical Faculty).
Within the institutional pillar, KIS also runs the infrastructure programme Development of Technologies and Control of Agricultural Production (I0-0011I).
The Sustainable Agriculture research programme carries out research in support of competitive and environmentally sustainable production of high-quality and healthy food of animal and plant origin. It addresses the challenges of sustainable agriculture in both local and global contexts, particularly in the fields of cattle breeding, pig farming, beekeeping, fruit growing, viticulture and winemaking, and agricultural engineering. The research is based on needs identified through everyday contacts with farmers, advisors and breeding organisations; through the testing of fruit and grapevine varieties; through the evaluation of plant protection product residues in relation to agricultural practice; and through cooperation with the government on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
The programme is led by Dr Marjeta Čandek Potokar.
The Agrobiodiversity research programme brings together experienced scientists in the fields of plant genetics and breeding, plant physiology, plant–pathogen and plant–disease vector interactions, and crop production technologies. The work is carried out through a strongly interdisciplinary and integrated approach.
Research in plant genetics focuses on the successful identification of functional and gene-linked markers for agronomic and nutritional traits in selected agricultural crops. An important area of research concerns the mechanisms of plant resistance to abiotic stress, such as drought, and biotic stress, such as pests.
In the field of plant protection, we study biological plant protection, taxonomic uncertainties of nematode species, environmentally friendly plant protection methods, and the diversity and interactions between viruses and their host plants. Through research on sustainable technologies in long-term field trials, we identify possible gradual changes caused by production systems over the long term, thereby assessing potential risks to the environment and to the preservation of soil fertility.
The programme is led by Dr Barbara Pipan.
The Next-Generation Agriculture research programme brings together researchers from seven departments of the Institute and two related research institutions. In the past year, research was carried out in the fields of agroecology, plant protection and genomics, and horticulture and integrated plant protection. Research in agroecology included studies on the impact of wild animals on agricultural ecosystems, synergies between biodiversity conservation and drinking water protection, sustainable weed control strategies, landscape permeability for ecological connectivity, and related topics. In the field of plant protection and genomics, research focused on the chemotactic responses of nematodes to mollusc mucus, the genomic diversity and population structure of important pollinators such as the Carniolan honey bee, and plant genomics and bioinformatics using potato gene models. Research in horticulture and integrated plant protection addressed the effects of modified-atmosphere storage on the chemical profile of blueberry fruit and integrated pest management strategies for controlling varroa mites in honey bee colonies. Research on navigation signals for parasitic nematodes, together with the identification and characterisation of Planococcus citri genes, further deepened knowledge in the fields of nematology, plant protection and genomics.
The programme is led by Dr Jaka Razinger.
The Economics of Agri-Food Systems and Natural Resources research programme brings together agricultural economists from four research organisations. The programme is led by the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, while the Department of Agricultural Economics participates on behalf of KIS. The main objective of the programme in the current period is to contribute, through the development of new interdisciplinary knowledge, to the transformation of the agri-food system towards sustainability and the green transition. The research results provide a basis for decision-making processes in public policy, management at the level of economic entities and sectors, including the agri-food chain and the bioeconomy, and for raising consumer awareness of sustainable and healthy food supply. The programme’s thematic areas are: Evidence-Based Agricultural Policy, Sustainable Farm Management, Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Rural Partnerships and the Circular Bioeconomy, and Specific Studies of Consumer Behaviour.
The KIS members of the programme are Dr Maja Kožar and Dr Tanja Travnikar.
The infrastructure programme Development of Technologies and Control of Agricultural Production consists of six research and development units that provide infrastructural support primarily to research programmes and projects in various research areas related to agriculture, ecology and environmental protection. All organisational units within the infrastructure activity also provide technological support for the implementation of numerous development and professional tasks in the fields of variety testing and seed production, plant protection, animal husbandry, the crop gene bank, the quality of agricultural products and ecology. Our infrastructure is also used by other research organisations for their research work.
The programme is led by Mojca Škof.
Centres and Laboratories for Research and Professional Activities:
- Infrastructure Centre Jablje,
- Infrastructure Centre Komenda,
- Infrastructure Centre Brdo,
- Infrastructure Centre Ptuj,
- Experimental Centre for Animal Production, which includes the Experimental Centre for Beekeeping and the Experimental Pig Barn,
- Seed Laboratory,
- Central Laboratory,
- Data and Information Centre, which includes the Animal Production Centre, the Soil Data and Information Centre, the Library and the Project Office,
- specialised laboratories in the fields of plant protection, beekeeping, animal husbandry, agricultural engineering and genetics.
