Purpose of research

BIOSTRATEG - the strategic R&D programme "Environment , agriculture and forestry "  is managed by National Centre for Research and Development (NCRD). In addition to raising international of the Polish R&D, the aim of the programme is to transfer innovative solutions developed by scientists benefiting from NCRD support to the socio-economic environment. The implementation of the programme also gives the opportunity to increase the participation of Polish research teams in the projects and initiatives under the EU Horizon 2020 programme.

BIOSTRATEG will be carried out until 2019 with a total budget of PLN 500 million. The results of the first competition were announced in December 2014. Of the 67 projects evaluated by experts, the best nine received funding to the tune of over PLN 130 million in total. The projects support included methods for sustainable innovative nutrition in poultry production, increase of water resources efficiency and air quality improvement through the use of rainwater retention, a new technology for the direct conversion of biomass into electricity and heat as well as new solutions for low-carbon agriculture, capable of adapting to climate change.

BIOSTRATEG covers five research areas:

• food safety and security;
• rational management of natural resources, with a particular emphasis on water management;
• prevention and adaptation to climate change, with a particular emphasis on agriculture;
• biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of agricultural production area;
• forestry and wood industries.

The BIOSTRATEG funds will be used to finance projects involving research, development and activities related to the preparation of project results for implementation. Consortia made of at least three entities were eligible to apply.