NARIC National Agricultural Research and Innovation Center

Hungary

2100 Gödöllő, Szent-Györgyi A. u. 4., Hungary www.naik.hu

Phone: +36-28-526-100 Fax: +36-28-526-101

The Goal of the Hungarian Government

Establishment of an integrated, single legal entity from the

fragmented and ill-proportioned sectoral governmental RDI

capacities, "where the institutes keep their professional

autonomy as separate organizational units and their

financial management is carried out on a high level of

independence."(1467 (VII. 24.) Korm. hat.)

Expectations concerning NARIC:• concentration

• high level professional profile• dynamism

• high level of control

The 13 institutes integrated by NARIC conduct high-quality basic and applied research and development activities in the field of plant and animal biotechnology/genetics; animal breeding, reproduction and nutrition; fisheries and aquaculture; food and meat science; plant and vegetable production; viticulture and enology; forest research and management; climate change and biodiversity; agroenvironmental research and technologies and agricultural engineering.

The organisation, by employing nearly 200 researchers, is of significant size even at international level. It is able to join the world’s scientific circulation and increase the recognition of Hungarian agricultural research.

Basic distinction from the previous financing model:

• Institute funding gives place to project funding

• The yearly budget of an institute exclusively depends on the number of projects and their funding – most often the support won by tender.

• At the moment there are 170 research projects in 11 independendt research units at 27 premises.

• There are long-term (4-8 years) projects, as well.

The main public tasks of NARIC are the following:- developing and executing practice-oriented programmes contributing to the increase and sustainable development of the competitiveness of Hungarian agroeconomy;- analyzing and evaluating the relations of agricultural production processes and environment, with special regard to the effects of climate change;- participating in the research, maintenance and further development of biological bases;- supplying producers with high quality, pathogen-free propagation materials;- developing control methods, with special regard to the examination of the origin and quality of basic materials and foodstuff;- performing duration experiments, running monitoring systems, maintaining databases;- supporting the dissemination and use of up-to-date production methods by providing advisory and information services, in cooperation with professional bodies;- giving technical support to the national institutions providing education, training in agriculture and food industry;- maintaining contact with national, foreign and international institutions, with special regard to the research institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Hungarian higher education institutions and the scientific organisations of the European Union;- assisting the propagation of healthy nutrition among Hungarian population.

NARICNational Agricutlrual Research and Innovation Center, General Directorate

NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (www.abc.hu)

Diagnostic Group Éva Várallyay PhDAdaptation and development of sensitive and fast new molecular biology methods for detection of virus infection in grapevine.

Agricultural Genomics and Bioinformatics Group Endre Barta PhD

Bioinformatics servicesNext Generation Sequence (NGS) analysisMangalica genome project

Plant Tissue Culture Group Dr. Judit MitykóHomozygous doubled haploid (DH) plant production in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) by in vitro anther culture, tissue culture and micropropagation of different vegetables and fruit tree species

Director: Zsuzsanna Bősze PhD, Dsc

NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (www.abc.hu)

Section of Genetics Head: Ferenc Olasz PhD

Plant Genomics & Plant-microbe Interaction Group Péter Kaló PhD Genetic analysis of symbiotic and pathogenic interactions between plants and microbes.

Plant RNA Biology Group Dániel Silhavy PhD,Dsc The mechanism of Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD)

Fruit Genetics Group Géza Dallmann PhD Identification of novel mechanism in apple related to fire blight tolerance

Host-pathogen Interaction & Microbial Genomics Group Ferenc Olasz PhD Studying the genomic determinants responsible for pathogenicity and spreading

Microbiology Laboratory Ferenc Olasz PhD Genomics and metagenomics of microorganisms with agricultural relevance

Section of Plant Biotechnology Head: Dr. Zoltán Havelda

Epigenetics Group György Szittya PhDInvestigating the role of small RNAs in ambient temperature sensing and response.

Plant Developmental Biology Group Zoltán Havelda PhD, Dsc Investigation of small regulatory RNA controlled developmental processes in pepper and model plants.

Plant Virology Group József Burgyán PhD,Dsc Exploring the molecular bases of silencing based antiviral mechanisms and developing new antiviral strategies in model and crop plants.

Plant Cell Biology Group Barnabás Jenes PhDInduction of virus resistance in barley and chloroplast transformation in alfalfa and rice.

Molecular Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Group Zsófia Bánfalvi Phd,Dsc

Improving drought tolerance of potato. Mapping an extreme virus resistance gene in potato. Studying the wheat metabolome upon

vernalization

NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (www.abc.hu)

NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (www.abc.hu)

Section of Animal BiotechnologyRabbit Genome Biology and Biomodel Group Zsuzsanna Bősze PhD DscValue added rabbit modelsPatented technology: IgG antibody with high specificity and quantity

Ruminant Genome Biology GroupLászló Hiripi PhDIn vivo tests of promising bovine rSNPs in transgenic mouse models using reporter gene constructsMarker assisted selection with rSNPs

Applied Embryology and Stem Cell Research Group Elen Gócza PhDDiscovery of pluripotency-associated microRNAs in rabbit preimplantation embryos and embryonic stem-like cells

E

RAB 6d EMB

NARIC Agro-Environmental Research Institute (AERI)

Founded in 1880Member of the research institute network of the Ministry of Rural DevelopmentMember of NARIC since 2014

Research on- chemical and genetic safety of agricultural technologies- environmental analysis of organic microcontaminants- environmental and applied microbiology- agricultural ecotoxicology

H-1022 Budapest, Herman Ottó u. 15.

NARIC AERIDepartment of Environmental Analysis

Chemical environmental safety:- monitoring organic microcontaminants (pesticide residues, etc.) in water and soil- determination of organic microcontaminants (pesticide residues, mycotoxins, etc.) in plants and vegetable matrices- investigation of translocation (e.g. into guttation fluid) of systemic pesticide ingredients- environmental fate and decomposition of pesticides (e.g. glyphosate)

Research activities:

Genetic environmental safety:- determination of transgenic proteins (e.g. Cry toxins) in GM crops and the environment (e.g. stubble)- determination of transgenic proteins in biological tissues in tritrophic studies of GM crops (maize)

Instrumentation, applied techniquesavailable:- GC-FID, GC-ECD, GC-MS- LC-UV, LC-MS- robotics assisted ELISA, sensorics- SPE, SPME, QuEChERS

NARIC AERIDepartment of Environmental and Applied Microbiology

Environmental microbiology:- monitoring of mycotoxin producing molds in Hungary- compost microbiology, isolation of cellulose and hemicellulose degrading bacteria - investigation of microbial diversity of arsenic-rich thermal springs - isolation and taxonomic identification of lactobacilli from exotic animals of the Budapest Zoo

Research activities:

Applied microbiology:- mycotoxin biodegradation- microbial de novo genome projects - description of new microbial species- cloning and biochemical characterization of cellulases and hemicellulases- symbiotic development- Archaea genetics

NARIC AERIDepartment of Ecotoxicology

Agricultural Ecotoxicology:- secondary effects of insect resistant transgenic plants (containing Cry toxins)- aquatic toxicology (alga, insect, crustacea, snail, fish, amphibian)- teratogenic effects of environmental contaminants- hormone modulant effects of environmental contaminants

Research activities:

Breeding:- MON 810 maize- Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata- Aedes aegypti - Daphnia magna- Pomacea bridgesii- Brachydanio rerio- Macropodus opercularis- Lissotriton boscai- Bombina orientalis

NARIC Research Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Meat Science

(ATK)

• ATK, or rather its legal predecessor, the Experimental Station of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, was established in 1896.

• According to its deed of foundation, the scope of activities of the Institute included basic and applied research and development activity related to the genetics, breeding, reproduction, nutrition, feed utilization, physiology of nutrition, management and feeding technology of the so-called large farm animals (cattle, swine, sheep, horse).

• Its further duties comprise national and regional consulting and information services in animal breeding and nutrition.

2053 Herceghalom, Gesztenyés út 1.

NARIC Research Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Meat Science (ATK)

• Research activity is conducted in departments specialized in genetics, cattle breeding, swine breeding, sheep and goat breeding, biology of reproduction, as well as departments for ruminant nutrition, swine nutrition, feed analysis and evaluation, physiology of nutrition, microbiology and feed preservation and biochemistry.

• An experimental farm and an abattoir are available for the execution of model and semi-field scale experiments.

• The Institute conducts many of its research and training programs in cooperation with several Hungarian, European and overseas research institutions. The scientific consulting days of ATK arose widespread interest among experts and the Institute was visited by many scientists from abroad.

• Reputed researchers of ATK are involved in the graduate and post-graduate training at Universities.

• The Institute hosts the Surgical Training and Research Laboratory of Department of Surgical Research and Techniques, Semmelweis University, which is dedicated to multispecialty research, education and training focused on minimally invasive techniques.

The Forest Research Institute began its functioning as the Hungarian Royal Forest Experiment Station at Selmecbánya after the foundation decree was signed on 31 December 1897.

According to the decision of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development he task of the Institute is to conduct complex research aimed at the development of forestry.

The Institute has five scientific departments: - Forest ecology and silviculture - Forest tree breeding - Plantation forestry - Forest protection - Forest economics

There are 74 persons working at the Institute, all of which 27 are researchers.

NARIC Forest Research Institute (ERTI)

climate – energetics – silviculture

Climate change -

unfavourable effects adaptation

Bioenergetics -

increasing demand new resource

Close to nature-

diversity, functionstability

• Climate change: adaptation of possible consequences• Effects of the silvicultural treatment on growth and structure• Breeding of fast growing species• Developing of plantation forest technology• Afforestation on the dry and disadvantaged area• Protection against hazards and damages• Evaluation of profitableness in forestry sector

NARIC Forest Research Institute (ERTI)

NARIC Fruitculture Research Institute (FRI)

• Successor of Horticultural Research Institute founded in 1950.

• There are three research stations in the network (Cegléd, Érd, Fertőd).

• FRI’s cultivars are in the production not only in Hungary, but in a lot of countries in the world.

• Research work is supported by stone fruit gene bank collection having large variability.

Ceglédi kedves

Melrose teahybrid

Fertődi narancs

Carmen℗

1223 Budapest, Park u. 2

Main activities (Cegléd, Érd, Fertőd):

• breeding of sweet cherry, sour cherry, apricot, European plum, Persian walnut, raspberry and strawberry

• rootstock research • orchard system trails• development of micro-propagation technology of woody

plant species• elimination of viruses, maintenance of virus-free nuclear

stock garden• Integrated Pest Management research• plant nutrition research • fruit site research • breeding of annual flowers propagated by seeds and rose

NARIC Fruitculture Research Institute (FRI)

NARICFood Science Research Institute (FSRI)

Biological and bio-analytical research on traceability and detection of biological and chemical risk factors of food safety.

Elaboration of novel methods with special attention to requirements of food control and food safety.

Research on biochemical and nutrition-physiological relations of food components with special attention to recent, healthy nutrition.

Development of environment-friendly and energy-saving minimal food processing.

Social and economic studies to establish food safety strategy, risk-management and risk communication.

Herman Ottó u. 15. Phone: +36 1 796 0400H-1022 Budapest, Fax: +36 1 796 0434Hungary

Research activities for the future food safety:

Investigation of hazards of novel foods and food producing technologies in the viewpoint of food safety:

molecular biology: Screening and quantification of GMOs, transgenic organisms, potential allergens using DNA based methodologies,

protein separation technologies, immunoanalytical methods: transgenic proteins, determination of potential allergenic compounds,

assessment of the fate of antigenic/allergenic proteins by using in vitro and in vivo rat models,

animal (rat/mice) models for biological evaluation of proteins and modulating of immune responses using oral adjuvant (probiotics, plant lectins),

development of probiotics (LAB) based plant products (selection methods, fermentation technologies).

NARIC Food Science Research Institute Department of Biology

Investigation of instrumental analytical methods for determination of different food-ingredients:

developing of selective and highly sensitive instrumental methods (HPLC, GC) for food quality and safety assurance,

investigation of sensor technologies (enzyme based amperometric biosensors, optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy based immunosensors),

near infrared (reflectance/transmittance) spectroscopy for non-destructive analysis,

research on physical, chemical and biological methods for food analysis,

quantification of food components and food contaminants (allergens, toxins and pesticide residues),

detection of adulteration, unlawful technological treatments and materials,

origins and varieties of different raw materials.

NARIC Food Science Research Institute Department of Food Analysis

Development of novel food technologies, social and economic studies to establish food safety strategy, risk communication:

development of novel, environment protective and energy saving food technologies serving the consumer’s health protection and quality improvement,

application of new technologies based on physical methods e.g. pulsing electric field (PEF), the radiofrequency and microwave treatment,

pilot plants,

physical and chemical analysis of food products regarding to food technologies,

sensory analysis,

surveys and studies made at different food chain players and consumers to improve the food safety, risk management and the consumer’s acceptance of novel food products and technologies,

implementation and adaptation of qualitative and quantitative methods(conjoint analysis, focal groups, opinion networking, SPSS etc.),

introduction and dissemination of the up-to-date riskmanagement approach and practice as well as to raisingthe level of consumer protection and information.

NARIC Food Science Research Institute Dept of Technology and Food Chain Analysis

NARIC Research Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture (HAKI)

The NARIC Research Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture performs practice-oriented applied research providing directly applicable results for the industry.

The three basic pillars of the institute’s strategy are: Economic sustainability (improving the profitability of

fish production) Environmental sustainability (decreasing the

environmental impact of fish culture) Social sustainability (promoting higher fish

consumption, improving public opinion)

Main fields of research: Development of aquaculture technologies Genetic characterization of fish breeds Studies on fish immunology and immunostimulants Fish feeding and nutrition Fish meat quality and influencing factors Aquatic ecology, natural water treatment systems Population dynamics and fisheries management in natural

waters Participation in international aquaculture development

projects Maintenance of live gene banks of common carp breeds and

sturgeon species Operating the National Fisheries Database Extension and training

NARIC Research Department of Irrigation and Water Management (ÖVKI)

The aims of the NARIC ÖVKI are now the revitalization of prior high-level research programmes and starting up-to-date research and innovation projects in the field of agricultural water management, irrigation and rice breeding.

R&D&I priorities:- Agricultural water management- Irrigation farming- Rice research and -breeding

Infrastructure:- NARIC ÖVKI Laboratory for Environmental Analytics- NARIC ÖVKI „Galambos” Rice Research Station- NARIC ÖVKI Lyzimeter Research Station- NARIC ÖVKI Radiological Research Station

H-5540 Szarvas, Anna-liget 8., Tel.: +36 66 515 301

NARIC ÖVKI – Infrastructures

NARIC ÖVKI

Radiological Research Station

Lysimeter Research Station

Rice Research Station

Laboratory for EnvironmentalAnalytics

Research Priorities:- research for reduction of the negative impacts of climate change;- research on adaptation possibilities to extreme hydrological events

(excess water, drought);- research on the Hungarian irrigation status and potential development;- complex research on excess water management, assessment of excess

water hazard, land use development possibilities;- GIS-based mapping;- defining the role of agricultural water management in environmental

protection, nature conservation and socio-economy;- evaluation of positive and negative external effects of agricultural water

management;- research on the relationship between EU WFD and agricultural water

management;- research of the role of agricultural water management on wetlands in

maintaining the context of ecosystem services;- research on the possibilities of recycling water for agricultural use;- building of Agricultural Water Management Database.

NARIC ÖVKI Agricultural Water Management R&D&I

NARIC ÖVKI Irrigation farming R&D&IResearch Priorities: - effective utilization of plant-based irrigation technologies (cereal crops, plantations)- research on agricultural originated waste water usage for irrigation in energy plantations- development of new technologies of water-saving irrigation (aerobic rice, aquaponics)- nutrient cycles in the plant-soil-water system- unravelling the accumulation of toxic elements in the agro-ecosystem.

NARIC ÖVKI Rice production/breeding R&D&IResearch Priorities:- Breeding new, high yielding varieties with good quality and tolerance to the special climatic conditions (low temperature, short duration)- Integration of biotechnological methods into traditional breeding (DH-lines via androgenesis – isolated microspore culture)- Research on abiotic (cold, drought) and biotic (blast disease, white tip disease) stress tolerance of rice- Management and development of rice gene bank to provide genetic background of research and breeding - Agrotechnological improvement for response to fertilization – good threshing and resistance to lodging- Cooperation with the Hungarian Rice Producers Association

NARIC ÖVKI Radiological R&D&I

Research Priorities:- accumulation of isotopes in the plant-soil system;- remediation of contaminated soils;- effect of pesticides – 14C isotope;- nitrogen and phosphorous cycle in cereals.

• Variety value research • Investigation of training systems, pruning systems and

fitotechnology • Environmental-friendly soil cultivation and nutrition

supply of vineyards • Maintenance , development and genetic analyses of

the genebanks • Grape breeding • Professional Consultancy Centre, local wine

qualification • Maintenance of vineyards for basic propagation of

rootstock and scion varieties

NARIC Research Institute for Viticulture and Enology (RIVE)Research Station of Badacsony

www.szbki-badacsony.hu

NARIC Research Institute for Viticulture and Enology (RIVE)Research Station of Kecskemét

• Variety value research • Investigation of training systems, pruning systems and

fitotechnology • Complex decontamination of grape propagation

materials• Maintenance , development and genetic analyses of

the genebanks • Grape breeding • Determination of the variety value of newly bred

table grape varieties• Complex development, analyses of the local origin

control systems, description of products and cadastre of grape production plots, technical expertise

• Deduction of the sensitivity of the grape for the Agrobacterium pests