The European University INVEST Presented at the International Conference on “Organic Farming – Solutions to Address Droughts and Heavy Rainfall Events,” Organized as Part of AGRA 2025
For the sixteenth consecutive year, in collaboration with and supported by the International Fair Plovdiv, the traditional Organic Farming Day was held on February 19, 2025, featuring an international conference on the topic: “Organic Farming – Solutions to Address Droughts and Heavy Rainfall Events.” The event was co-organized by the International Fair Plovdiv, with partners including the Bulgarian Organic Products Association, the Bioselena Foundation for Organic Agriculture, and the Regional Development Agency with Business Center for Support of Small and Medium Enterprises – Plovdiv.
During the official opening, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Dimitrova, President of the University of Agribusiness and Rural Development (UARD), presented the Biofactor 2025 Laureate Award to Doychin Ganev – a renowned entrepreneur known for breeding organically certified sheep and goats. His dairy processes milk from these animals into high-quality dairy products, including white brined cheese and traditional Bulgarian yogurt.
A presentation by Eng. Velizar Petrov focused on sharing best practices within the European University Alliance INVEST, highlighting the work of its regional living labs. Attendees showed great interest in the concept of a virtual living lab for business succession and transfer, established through a partnership between UARD and the Regional Development Agency with Business Center for Support of Small and Medium Enterprises – Plovdiv.
The UARD team also presented several developments from the Bulgarian branch of the INVEST regional living lab, including:
- Natural Soil Moisture Retention Methods in Crop Production
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Yakimov, Vice-Rector of UARD
- Determination of Territorial Scope and Fluctuations in Complex Climatic Indicators Characterizing Moisture Conditions in Agriculture
- Prof. Dr. Plamen Lakov, Head of the Department of Regional Development, Agribusiness, and Tourism, UARD – Plovdiv
- Trends in the Development of Global and EU Agriculture: Quantitative and Structural Changes, Regional Differences
- Prof. Dr. Krasimir Levkov and Prof. Dr. Plamen Lakov, Institute for Regional Studies, UARD
Biological sector partners also contributed with the following presentations:
- The Role of the Bulgarian Organic Products Association in Developing Organic Production in Bulgaria
- Albena Simeonova
- Organic Farming and Scientific Research – New Challenges
- Dr. Stoilko Apostolov, Bioselena Foundation
- How No-Till Farming Significantly Improves Crop Production During Drought?
- Veselin Spasov, Chairman of the No-Till and Reforestation Association of Bulgaria
Two Deputy Ministers of Agriculture and Food participated in the discussions during Organic Farming Day 2025, addressing current issues and laying the groundwork for future collaborations. Lozana Vassileva and Yanislay Yanchev joined the lively discussion, answering pressing questions about irrigation as a priority, the restoration of irrigation infrastructure, the expansion of irrigated areas, open financing schemes, support for local and heirloom crop varieties, the conservation of essential genetic resources, investments in organic farming, and expressed their willingness to collaborate with local producers.
The forum was officially closed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Arabska, Rector of UARD, who summarized the key discussion points, thanked the participants, and reaffirmed UARD’s commitment to fostering future collaborations aimed at promoting organic agriculture.
Congratulatory messages were sent by:
- Dr. Georgi Tahov, Minister of Agriculture and Food
- Iva Ivanova, Executive Director of the State Fund Agriculture
- Kostadin Dimitrov, Mayor of Plovdiv Municipality
- Khojiakbarhon Akhmedov, Rector of the Tashkent Institute of Management and Economics, Uzbekistan
- Nuriddin Muradullaev, Vice-Rector for Financial Affairs, Nordic International University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Source: https://www.invest-alliance.eu/en/Home/NewsInfo?link=138-the-european-university-invest-presented-at-the-international-conference-on-organic-farming-sol
