Interview with the Director of the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Balice, Tomasz Jacek, Ph.D. Eng.
Editors: Mr Director, the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Balice is actively developing its research infrastructure and is carrying out many investments within the unit. What is the purpose of these activities?
Tomasz Jacek: Investments in infrastructure are a key element in the development of our Institute. We are working for the benefit of science, research and also the implementation of modern technologies in animal science. We want to be a reference unit in this respect. Taking care of our research facilities, including the modernization of laboratories and the construction of new facilities such as the Aquaculture Centre, allows us to conduct research at the highest world level. This would not be possible without providing the right working conditions for our excellent researchers and staff. It is only by creating modern research space that we will be able to conduct research at the highest level and be a research institute of national and international significance.
Editors: Speaking of the Aquaculture Centre, what kind of research will be carried out there and what benefits will this investment bring?
Tomasz Jacek: The Aquaculture Centre is a state-of-the-art facility that is being built to conduct research in fish farming and marine aquaculture. As part of this project, specialized laboratories, rooms for aquaria and research pools will be created. This will enable us to carry out research into new technologies in farming, including the optimization of environmental conditions and the diet of aquatic animals. This is an extremely important area with implications for food security and the conservation of natural resources. So there will be research of great importance not only for us, but also for future generations.
Editors: The Institute is also carrying out other important investment projects, such as the construction of manure pads in the part of the Institute that is located right next to Balice – in Aleksandrowice. What is the significance of this project?
Tomasz Jacek: To be precise, manure pads with sealed slurry tanks are being built there. This investment is particularly important. First of all, it provides us with the possibility of proper storage and processing of manure, which is essential for our livestock operations according to the highest world standards. It is also an investment in the future, as it will allow us to better manage waste, which in turn can be used as natural fertilizer. This investment is therefore a step towards setting pro-environmental and ecological standards in the animal husbandry process.
Editors: It is no secret that the Institute’s headquarters are located in the Radziwiłł Palace in Balice. This building also requires investment…
Tomasz Jacek: Yes, we are fortunate to work in a beautiful, historic building. As such, we are obliged to take care of its condition. The necessary renovation of the Radziwiłł Palace – this is, on the one hand, part of our efforts to protect cultural heritage, but on the other hand, it is also an investment to improve the quality of the Institute’s conference and office infrastructure. Meetings of scientists, symposia and conferences are held within the walls of the Palace. It is a showcase both of our national heritage and, at the present time, of the Institute itself. I would like to take this opportunity to mention that we are not forgetting our other facilities. We are also investing in the main building. By the end of the year, the refurbishment of the rooms on the third floor will be completed, which will allow us to fully exploit the potential of the state-of-the-art equipment of the Department of Animal Molecular Biology purchased with funds from the National Reconstruction Plan.
Editors: Everything you have mentioned, including the development of infrastructure, investments in Aleksandrowice or the renovation of the Palace, sounds very interesting, but the financial issues cannot be overlooked. What is the cost of these activities and where do the funds come from?
Tomasz Jacek: Without doubt, these are ambitious and costly plans. We are planning to spend nearly 6 million zlotys on them. However, it is worth emphasizing that these funds are not only the Institute’s funds, but also the result of our efforts to obtain external grants. For example, the total cost of PLN 3.7 million for the construction of the Aquaculture Centre comes from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, under the National Reconstruction Plan. Without this support, it would not have been possible to achieve all the intended objectives in such a short time frame. I believe that this is only the beginning of our investments.
Editors: To sum up, what is your vision for the functioning and development of the Institute?
Tomasz Jacek: As I mentioned in the introduction, I would like the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Balice to be a reference unit and a research centre of national and even international importance. This is not possible without investment in scientific and research staff and infrastructure. For this reason, we have developed a long-term strategy to modernize and develop our research facilities. Implementing innovative solutions in breeding practice and being open to new technologies, as well as applying pro-environmental solutions, are currently our priorities. Another aspect is the – currently popular, but very apt – term research networking of the Institute. By this I mean cooperation with domestic and foreign research centres, which is one of the fundamental pillars of our activities, as well as strengthening cooperation with the socio-economic environment. In this respect, we are involved in national and international research projects, which allows us to build a leading position in animal science. We must also not forget that the research conducted at the Institute is primarily of a practical nature. This means that we cooperate with industry and the social environment by implementing the results of our research into economic practice. So, as I always emphasize, we care about the health of the Polish people.
Editors: Thank you for the interview.
Tomasz Jacek: Before I say goodbye, let me take this opportunity to thank my deputy, Tomasz Szanser, who is responsible for the Institute’s investments. The examples cited above indicate the extent of the challenges he faces.
I also invite you to keep up to date with news on the Institute’s operation reported on our website and on social media.