Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG-PIB), Poland

The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute (IUNG-PIB) is a continuation of 150 years of the activity of agricultural centers in Puławy - thus representing the oldest tradition on the European continent in this regard. The Institute was founded in 1950 as one of the institutions created after the division of the National Institute of Agriculture. The head office of the Institute is located in the historic palace of the Czartoryski family. Currently, IUNG-PIB has the status of state research institute operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

As a distinguished center of agricultural sciences in the country and abroad, it was twice awarded the status of EU Centre of Excellence (PROLAND in 2002-2006 and PROFICIENCY in 2009-2014), which is tantamount to its becoming a full partner in the European Research Area. IUNG-PIB has also gained recognition at the national level - since 2005, it has had the status of State Research Institute  and is currently realizing a long-term program of " Supporting activities for the protection and rational use of agricultural environment in Poland and the development of crop quality in 2016-2020”.

The research conducted at the Institute covers a wide range of issues relating to crop production and the impact of agriculture on the environment. In the field of environmental research, the Institute has the largest agrometeorological, soil, and environmental databases in Poland.

The source of funding of the Institute, besides the statutory funds allocated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the activities within the status of State Research Institute, are national and international projects, MARD programs, central programs, research commissioned by local administration, industry and other entities. In 2013, the Institute carried out a total of 40 projects of which 12 were funded from 7th Framework Programme. In 2017 IUNG-PIB participated in 5 H2020 projects.

The Institute has a vast experience in project management. It coordinated PROFICIENCY project of "Strengthen IUNG’s proficiency on "Managing the Production of Food and Feedstuff, their Safety and Quality under Global Climatic Change" funded from the EU 7 FP  and two national projects: KIK/25 "Protection of species diversity of valuable natural habitats on agricultural lands on Natura 2000 areas in the Lublin Voivodeship" funded from The Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme and AZOMAIS project "Low-cost and environment-friendly system of fertilizing and sowing of maize" financed by the National Center for Research and Development. The members of KIK/25 consortium are: Institute of Technology and Life Sciences in Falenty, Polish Society for the Protection of Birds in Marki and Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities. The members of the AZOMAIS project consortium are: Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Fertilizer Research Institute in Pulawy, Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Poznań and Azoty Group Zakłady Azotowe Pulawy SA.

The activity of IUNG, apart from extensive publications, involves support at decision-making at various levels of state and local administration. The results of the research of the Institute on crop production technology, environmental protection and management of rural areas, are passed directly to agricultural practice: advisory services, farmers, and agricultural schools.
The Institute also runs doctoral studies and has the power to confer degrees in the field of agricultural sciences in two disciplines: agronomy and the development of environment. The Institute employs 340 people. Academic staff of IUNG-PIB in 2015 comprised 95 researchers, including 18 professors, 8 associate professors, 33 assistant professors, 8 assistants, and 20 research and technical staff. In 2016 12 persons were members of Doctoral Studies.

The research programs of the Institute are carried out in 11 scientific departments and supported by a well-organized support infrastructure (Main Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Experimental Station and 8 Agricultural Experimental Centers, Congress-Training Centre, Department of Publications and Dissemination).

A skillful combination of tradition and modern concepts enables the Institute to take up new challenges of research in support of sustainable development of agriculture and the development of agricultural area at the global level.

Scientists involved

• Jaroslaw Stalenga
• Krzysztof Jończyk
• Paweł Radzikowski

Links

• IUNG