The National Research Institute of Animal Production has been awarded this year’s special prize Śląskie Orły Wprost 2023 (Silesian Eagles Wprost 2023) in the category Innovators in the Region. The gala took place on 21 April 2023 at 6:00 pm at the Cavatina Hall in Bielsko-Biała. The award was received by Jakub Howaniec, Deputy Director for Infrastructure. The Institute received the award for its overall activities, and in particular for the project in which the Institute is a partner: “Integrated approach to the protection of ecosystems from invasive alien plants in southern Poland.” The primary goal of the project is to strengthen the resilience of selected ecosystems, primarily riverine and terrestrial ecosystems to the negative effects of climate change, through their comprehensive protection against invasive alien plants, in particular species from the genera hogweed (Heracleum spp.), goldenrod (Solidago spp.), knotweed (Reynoutria spp.) and balsam (purple jewelweed – Impatiens glandulifera). The project is being implemented at the Department of Sheep and Goat Breeding of the National Research Institute of Animal Production. Activities include sheep grazing in two locations: Ojcowski National Park, Prądnik Korzkiewski area (Natura 2000 area) – a flock of Olkuska sheep, and Cieszyn Tufa Springs Morzyk enclave (Natura 2000 area) – a flock of Polish Pogórza sheep.
The event was held under the honorary patronage of Grzegorz Puda, the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy.
