16 August 2024, Bratislava: FAO Director-General QU Dongyu began a two-day visit to Slovakia, focusing on the country’s leading agricultural research institutions.
The Director-General visited Biocentrum Modra, a specialized facility within the National Agricultural and Food Centre (NPPC). Established in 2014 by merging seven institutions, NPPC is the only research organization in Slovakia dedicated to strategic and applied research in agriculture and food. Biocentrum Modra focuses on the development and verification of advanced food technologies, playing a critical role in ensuring the quality, innovation, and competitiveness of agricultural products. During his visit, the Director-General remarked on the impressive linkages between theoretical and applied science that the center exemplifies, highlighting its significant contributions to improving food production processes and safety standards.
The Director-General also visited the Slovak University of Agriculture (SUA) in Nitra. Established in 1952, SUA is a premier institution in Slovakia for educating experts in the agrifood sector and other areas of the national economy. SUA comprises six faculties, including Agrobiology and Food Resources, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, and Economics and Management, among others.
During the visit, the Director-General witnessed the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI). The LoI, signed by the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia and the Rector of the Slovak University of Agriculture, is aimed at leveraging innovative technologies to produce healthy and safe food, improve diets, raise levels of nutrition, and promote sustainable development—all in pursuit of eradicating hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. In addressing postgraduate students, he emphasized that science and innovation are key drivers for the transformation of global agrifood systems.
The Director-General also toured the AgroBioTech Research Centre (ABT RC) at SUA, a specialized center established in 2015 with the mission to advance applied research in agrobiology, biotechnology, and agricultural technology. The ABT RC is equipped with state-of-the-art research infrastructure and focuses on transferring research results into practical applications, with a direct impact on social practices. This aligns with the objectives outlined in the newly signed Letter of Intent.
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