On 15–16 May 2024, a scientific conference entitled “Implementation and Dissemination Activities of the Institute in the Conservation of Farm Animal Genetic Resources” was held at the National Research Institute of Animal Production (NRIAP) in Balice. The event was officially opened by Prof. Sylwester Świątkiewicz, PhD, Deputy Director for Science.
On the first day, the program included a series of lectures on the conservation of genetic resources of various livestock species, including:
- Conservation of genetic resources in Poland (Agnieszka Chełmińska, PhD Eng.)
- Conservation of cattle genetic resources (Anna Majewska, PhD Eng.)
- Conservation of sheep and goat genetic resources (Aldona Kawęcka, PhD, Prof. of NRIAP)
- Conservation of pig genetic resources (Magdalena Szyndler-Nędza, PhD, Prof. of NRIAP)
- Conservation of horse genetic resources (Iwona Tomczyk-Wrona, PhD Eng.)
- Conservation of poultry genetic resources (chickens, geese, ducks) (Prof. Józefa Krawczyk, PhD, Jolanta Calik, PhD)
An additional attraction was a culinary demonstration, led by Piotr Lenart, Coordinator of the Culinary Trail “Niech Cię Zakole”, who presented the use of raw material from native breeds in gastronomy.
The second day of the conference began with lectures on the conservation of genetic resources of fur animals and bees, given by Prof. Paweł Bielański, PhD and Michał Kolasa, PhD. Presentations of projects conducive to the development and strengthening of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS), carried out jointly with counselling, were given by Krzysztof Paleczny, MSc., of NRIAP, and Dariusz Pomykała, MSc, of the Agricultural Extension Centre in Radom. The tasks of The National Bank of Biological Material were discussed in detail by Ewa Sosin, PhD Eng. The most important achievements of the Department of Molecular Biology were presented by Prof. Katarzyna Ropka-Molik, PhD, and Anna Koseniuk, PhD presented the research offer of the Department of Molecular Biology. The final note of the conference was the presentation of a greenhouse gas emission calculator, the operation and possible use of which was presented by Elżbieta Sowula-Skrzyńska, PhD Eng.
The conference was an important event enabling the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of farm animal genetic resources conservation and the presentation of the latest research results and implementation projects in the context of the operation of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System.
The conference was organized in the framework of the implementation of the task: Conducting dissemination activities, conducting cooperation, and exchange of knowledge with practice within the AKIS system.