INHORT

The Research Institute of Horticulture (Instytut Ogrodnictwa, abbreviation “IO”) in Skierniewice, Poland, is a governmental R&D organization supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It was formed on January 1st, 2011 by merging two research entities with long tradition and great achievements in horticultural sciences: the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture (established in 1951) and the Institute of Vegetable Crops (established in 1964).

The research programme of the Institute covers all areas related to horticulture, from basic studies on plant physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, through biotechnology, creative breeding (including genetic engineering), protection of genetic resources, phytopathology, agronomy, organic horticulture, integrated pest managements, fruit and vegetable storage and processing, edible mushroom research, food safety, horticultural engineering, economics and marketing. Important part of the Institute’s activity is also training and extension toward advisors and farmers.

The studies for the development of innovative fertilizers and pesticides based on organic and microbial inocula for organic and integrated production methods in horticulture are a key activity of the Institute’ researchers involved in the project, acknowledged by several agreements and licenses with manufacturers.

The institute’s scientists participating in the project activities will utilize their experience to select the field trials and determine the initial native biodiversity (WP1). Then INHORT will contribute to elucidate the mechanisms of activity of the different bioinocula and bioeffectors (WP2), the dynamics of nematode diversity (WP4) and will carry on demonstration trials in its field experimental facilities (WP3).

The long experience and major mission of INHORT in dissemination will be also key for activities related to WP6. Being a recognized advisory institution for the support in regulatory matters to both national and international authorities, its role in WP6 will also be important for this aspect of the project activities.