The Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences invites you to Open Day, held on Friday, November 8, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event is an ideal opportunity for prospective students to explore our study programs, campus environment, and the activities our faculty offers.
Program:
Information sessions about study programs will take place at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in Room 116. Representatives from student organizations such as Be Fair, Student Ambassadors will also be available throughout the day to introduce their work and inform you about study opportunities.
Antelope Conservation, which is dedicated to protecting the biodiversity of the West African savannah and the western subspecies of the Derby antelope, will also be present.
Laboratories, research, and botanical garden tours
Meet members of our research teams and explore our laboratories, including the Laboratory of Plant Tissue Cultures and Laboratory of Molecular Genetics . The Animal Physiology and Behaviour Research Team, focusing on physiological and behavioral patterns in domestic species, will also present its work. Additionally, our Botanical Garden will be open with guided tours on the hour, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
We look forward to welcoming you!
S potěšením oznamujeme, že proděkanka pro mezinárodní vztahy na FTZ, Ing. Petra Chaloupková, Ph.D., dr. h. c., získala prestižní cenu ICA Excellence Award v kategorii „Networking“. Toto ocenění uděluje Asociace zemědělských univerzit v Evropě (ICA) za mimořádné přínosy v oblasti navazování a rozvoje mezinárodních vztahů.
Asociace zemědělských univerzit v Evropě (ICA) sdružuje více než 70 univerzit zaměřených na vědy o živé přírodě, včetně zemědělství, biotechnologie, potravinářství a dalších příbuzných oborů. Její cílem je podpora mezinárodní spolupráce mezi univerzitami, vědci a odborníky v těchto oblastech. Více informací naleznete na: ICA - Europe - 14th ICA Rectors and Deans Forum 2024.
Výběrová komise ICA ocenila odborné znalosti a inovativní přístup Petry Chaloupkové a zejména její významný přínos k rozvoji sítě ICA a podporu ostatním. Její práce nastavila nové standardy v oblasti mezinárodního networkingu a inspirovala mnohé další odborníky v oboru.
Petra Chaloupková převzala ocenění na slavnostním předávání cen ICA, které se konalo ve dnech 25.–26. října 2024 během ICA Rectors and Deans Forum na Zemědělské fakultě Univerzity v?Záhřebu v Chorvatsku.
Srdečně gratulujeme Petře Chaloupkové k tomuto ocenění a přejeme další úspěchy a přínosy v oblasti mezinárodních vztahů a spolupráce.
From October 2nd to 15th, 2024, the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ) had the honor of welcoming esteemed guests from the University of Bangui, Central African Republic. Dr. Lucie Aba-Toumnou, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and her colleague, Dr. Solange Makatia-Wango, visited the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague as part of a short-term Erasmus+ stay. The main objective of their visit was to deepen cooperation between the two universities and explore collaborative research initiatives that contribute to the development of science, education, and higher education management in CAR.
The visit’s program was organized by Assoc. Prof. Karolína Brandlová, Ph.D. During their stay, the scientists from the Central African Republic participated in key activities such as the presentation of the Advalue project, which focuses on sustainable development in Africa, and a roundtable discussion in celebration of the International Day of Rural Women. They also presented their research during a seminar hosted by the Wild Ecology Lab, which focuses on the conservation and research of large mammals.
Botanical Garden and Prague Zoo Visits
A part of the visit was a tour of the FTZ Botanical Garden and Prague Zoo, where the delegates were joined by colleagues from Université de Thies, Senegal, who are also long-term partners of FTZ and were in Prague through Erasmus+. The visit to the zoo provided a rare opportunity to observe animal species not commonly seen in the wild and highlighted the importance of zoological gardens in species conservation.
“As a result of zoological gardens, we have the opportunity not only to admire and study wildlife but also to actively protect it,” said Dr. Lucie Aba-Toumnou. Many African species were seen up close for the first time by the professors from CAR and Senegal.
Collaboration with the Institute of Vertebrate Biology and Field Research in Central African Republic
The visitors also met with the team from the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who have long been engaged in research on lowland gorilla symbionts in the Central African Republic. Dean Aba-Toumnou and her colleague participated in discussions about recent expedition of the Institute to the Chinko Nature Reserve, where over 40 species of small mammals were confirmed. Chinko is also home to the eastern subspecies of the giant eland, the largest antelope in the world, whose conservation is supported by Antelope Conservation at FTZ.
This visit represents another step forward in the ongoing scientific and educational collaboration between the Czech Republic and Central African Republic. A key focus of this partnership is the improvement of higher education quality in CAR, which supports the country’s sustainable development and contributes to its security and stability. Joint projects in biodiversity research and higher education advancement hold the potential to significantly enhance expertise and scientific progress in CAR. Through these international partnerships, FTZ continues to expand its efforts to promote sustainable development both in Africa and globally.
We would like to invite you to a Roundtable Discussion which will be held at CZU, organized by AGRIGEP and ADVALUE, in recognition of the International Day of Rural Women (celebrated on October 15). You are warmly invited to join either in person or online.
We are proud to announce that Nishanth Gurav, a 3rd-year Ph.D. candidate at the Tropical Botany and Ethnobiology Lab (TRIBE), Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTA), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, has been selected as a Student Ambassador and a member of the student committee of the prestigious Society for Ethnobotany (SEB).
Nishanth hails from India, and his current research focuses on sustainable practices and the folk taxonomy of wild edible plants used by the Gond tribal communities in the Bastar region of India. He has extensive experience working with local communities, having developed People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR) for over 70 villages in the states of Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.
As a member of the SEB student committee (serving from June 2024 to June 2026), Nishanth will be involved in managing the committee’s social media pages and student blog, as well as supporting the organization of student events and initiatives related to ethnobotanical research.
We congratulate Nishanth on this significant achievement and wish him continued success in his future endeavors!
For more information on SEB, visit SEB's website.
We would like to invite you to a unique exhibition, Beauty of the West African Savannah, which will showcase the diversity of West African nature through 7x7 family photography. This exhibition will also highlight the importance of protecting endangered species such as the Western Giant eland , the largest antelope in the world.
The exhibition will be complemented by a seminar that will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the FTZ-116 classroom, led by Assoc. Ing. Karolína Brandlová, Ph.D. (Wildlife Ecology Lab), who is also the leader of the Antelope Conservation Association. At the seminar, she will present the 7x7 family project, sharing experiences from her travels in West Africa, and explain the importance of biodiversity conservation.
The opening of the exhibition will take place on 3 October 2024 at 15:00 in the lobby of the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture. The opening will be attended by Mgr. Lenka Pokorná, former Czech Ambassador to Senegal, and Mgr. Václav Prášil from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
October 3, 2024 The Entrance Hall of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, ČZU Prague Seminar: 2:00 PM (room FTZ-116) Exhibition opening: 3:00 PM
Come to be inspired and discover the beauty of West African nature!
The Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences of the Czech University of Agriculture will host the prestigious international conference The Society for Ethnobotany (SEB) Annual Meeting in June 2025. This meeting, which each year attracts experts from around the world, provides a unique opportunity to share scientific knowledge and discuss key issues such as sustainable use of plants for food, medicine,... , plant biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change.
What is ethnobotany?
Ethnobotany is the study of the relationships between people and the plants they use for disease treatment, food self-sufficiency or as part of their cultural and religious practices. This multidisciplinary field encompasses botany, ecology, anthropology and history amongst others, and is fundamental to understanding how different cultures around the world use plants for their needs.
Ethnobotany plays a key role in sustainability because it allows us to understand traditional ways of managing natural resources, which often prove to be effective and environmentally friendly. Research in this field can provide crucial insights in and for addressing current global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security and livelihood improvement.
Society for Ethnobotany (SEB)
The Society for Ethnobotany is the leading international organisation dedicated to research and promotion of ethnobotany. The Society was founded in 1959 and has since become an important forum for scientists working on the relationships between plants, cultures and the environment. In June 2023, it changed its name from the original "Society for Economic Botany" to its current name to better reflect the scope of its work.
SEB conferences are held annually and serve as a platform for sharing the latest research and discussions on sustainable use of natural resources, conservation of ecosystems and adaptation to global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The 2025 meeting in Prague will attract experts from around the world and provide a platform for international collaboration in these key areas.
Prague as a centre for scientific dialogue on ethnobotany
"We are very proud to host such a prestigious conference that brings together scientific capacities and ethnobotany experts from all over the world," said Patrick Van Damme, Dean of the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture. "This event is not only an opportunity to strengthen international collaboration, but also a chance for our students and scientists to engage in current global research on sustainable development and natural resource conservation."
Prof. dr. ir. Patrick Van Damme, who has led the faculty since 2021, is one of the leading experts in tropical agriculture and ethnobotany. His scientific career began at Ghent University, where he began to work intensively on the sustainable use of plants in tropical and subtropical areas during his studies.
Among his most important projects is his work on the Great Green Wall initiative, which aims to create a forested barrier in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 to prevent the expansion of the Sahara desert. Van Damme has worked for many years in ethnobotanical research in countries such as Namibia, Senegal, Togo and Ecuador, just to name a few.
A rich supporting programme and cultural excursions
The conference will include excursions that will introduce participants not only to the beauty of Prague and its rich history, but also to Czech culture, products and traditions. The planned excursions will aim at linking the scientific discussion with the cultural context of the Czech Republic, providing a comprehensive experience for the foreign participants.
The SEB conference is an important step in the development of international cooperation and scientific research at the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture. "Our faculty has a long tradition in sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and plant research in tropical areas. We are thrilled to play such an important role in hosting this important event," concludes Van Damme.
The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR) has launched an innovative project titled "Environment for Life - Genetic Monitoring of the Wolf (2024-2026)" aimed at developing advanced genetic monitoring techniques for the grey wolf, a key species in Central European ecosystems.
As a top predator, the grey wolf is a key species in many ecosystems around the world. Human perceptions of it can then be controversial, ranging from a flagship and umbrella types of conservation to negative perceptions in pastoral communities. The urgent need to address and mitigate this polarization perceived by many stakeholders makes this species in many ways a model species.
The MEGERA (Molecular Ecology, Genetics and Evolutionary Research of Animals) research team working at the FTZ is involved in this prestigious project with the aim to develop genetic monitoring of the wolf, which provides indispensable information in describing the recolonization of Central Europe and in mitigating conflict with humans.
As the wolf phenotype can be confused with the dog and does not allow easy individual identification, it is an essential tool for verifying species affiliation, possibly verifying hybridisation with the dog and determining abundance. The data are also used in the study of the genealogy and viability of the population and the study of the spatial ecology of the species. Genetics is also an indispensable tool in the analysis of livestock attacks and forensic cases. Harmonisation of the genetic markers used allows cross-border comparisons. The needs of nature conservation institutions and the social topicality of the topic, including its politicization and tabloidization, require routinization, automation and acceleration of these procedures, which requires deeper cooperation between primary research institutions and the applied sphere.
Principal investigator is the Faculty of Science of Charles University, the co-investigator is the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, and the application guarantor is Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (NCA).
The project aims to streamline and automate genetic procedures through close cooperation between research institutions and the applied sphere and this work is expected to set new standards for genetic monitoring in wildlife conservation, with the potential to influence policy and public perception of the grey wolf across Europe.
Dear students, colleagues, alumni and friends of FTA we bring you a new issue of "Tropical News", in which you can find an overview of the activities and projects of international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences for the first half of this year. We also introduce our alumni and bring you news from student life. Our aim is to keep all our current and future partners informed and to encourage new opportunities for collaboration.
The newsletter is available for download at the link below, or you can find it in this section:
https://www.ftz.czu.cz/en/r-9422-international-relations/r-11631-international-relations-office/r-17265-fta-newsletter
Exciting updates from our EU-funded project on implementing Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in Agriculture and Life Science Universities! As we hit the mid-term mark, we're thrilled to share our progress. Alongside our six consortium partners and five sister projects, we've hosted numerous awareness-raising events on gender equality, inclusion and diversity in academia, teaching and research, and participated in the European Sustainable Development Week at CZU. We've also showcased our work at various international conferences. Recently, we gathered at one of our partner institutions, Universidade Politecnica de Catalunya in Barcelona, for an energizing summer school on GEPs. Now, we're gearing up for an engaging webinar series with our sister projects. Stay tuned for more updates on social media channels, subscribe to the newsletter and visit our website at www.agrigep.eu. Gender equality matters to us!
We would like to invite you to the unique event Development September, organised by the Czech Technical University in Prague from September 11th to 14th, 2024. This four-day event focuses on a holistic approach to engineering and architecture for development aid. Over 15 renowned speakers from more than 10 countries will share their expertise at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at CTU Prague.
We aim to improve development aid by understanding its root causes and impacts. We will explore anthropological, postcolonial, and environmental contexts and best practices in innovation and technology transfer.
Additionally, you will be able to view a student work exhibition, attend the Inspireli awards ceremony, and meet representatives from Kashitu School and Architects Without Borders International. The event will conclude with practical emergency training and a World Café to discuss current challenges.
Register here: https://forms.gle/hgPQwXmdmmPE5fiX9 .
More information here: http://icwd.cvut.cz/summer-school/ .
Registrations close 4th September 2024 If you are interested in Development Aid at CTU we have a unique subject open for any students: Civil Engineering in Developing Countries 124EDC - https://bilakniha.cvut.cz/en/predmet5483206.html#gsc.tab=0 .
Some very sad news reached our faculty in the first half of July. As a consequence we regretfully have to inform you that our good colleague, doc. Dr. RNDr. Tomáš Ratinger, MSc., Ph.D., who worked at our Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ) since its foundation in 2013, passed away at the age of 67.
He played an important role in promoting agricultural economics as one of the core teaching and research disciplines in our faculty. His career at FTZ was primarily associated with teaching and research in the fields of the impact of agrarian policies on agricultural efficiency and sustainability of natural resource use. He has also had the opportunity to participate in FTZ missions to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Afghanistan, and was involved in numerous topics related to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Amazon and Southeast Asia.
Thanks to his knowledge and attitudes, Tomas was known not only to the circle of agricultural economists in the Czech Republic, but also abroad. He worked for many years in Spain, the USA, the UK and Germany, and was an active consultant and expert for the European Commission and FAO.
Tomas also mentored numerous students during his career and significantly guided and influenced them in their future professional and personal careers. We have not only lost a highly respected expert, but also a true 'renaissance man' of deep cultural richness who influenced a whole generation of followers with his vision and attitudes.
Honour to his memory.
The recently launched BIO-CAPITAL project contributes to the development of financial tools that protect biodiversity by linking private capital investments and Earth observation data from space.
The Project 'Through Biogas Technology to Increase the Resilience of Communities in the Western Province of Zambia' unlocks unlimited potential. In Zambia, the population is faced with the unavailability and scarcity of energy resources, and most people depend on unsustainable energy practices. The responsibility for collecting traditional resources (charcoal, firewood) is, in most cases, borne by women and girls who often cannot devote themselves to education and/or other self-realisation activities.
Patrick Van Damme is not only one of the leading experts on tropical agriculture and ethnobotany, but he is also one of the few foreign scientists to head a Czech academic institution, as Dean of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences where his mandate started in April 2021. During his time at Ghent University, he and his then-assistant Emiel were asked by the well-known Belgian artist Eric van Hove to collaborate on the decoration of the garden of the new Belgian embassy in Morocco.
Enhancement of the long-term sustainability of the collection and commercialisation of local medicinal and aromatic plants. In March 2024, representatives of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, in collaboration with colleagues from Rhine-Waal University (Germany) and the University of Gastronomic Sciences
Discover with us the alarming reality of turtle egg poaching and the trade with turtle shell products. Learn how social media monitoring can be a powerful tool in catching poachers, and uncover several case studies dealing with the protection of animals.
Featuring insightful talks by:
Hana Svobodová will introduce the project - Protecting sea turtles (Chráníme mořské želvy a.s). All sea turtle species are threatened with extinction. The situation is worst in the Indian Ocean, where sea turtles have already disappeared in many places. This project works with local organisations to protect beaches from poachers in two areas in Indonesia (Lembata Island in the SE of the country and Denawan Island in the south of Borneo) and one area in the south of Sri Lanka (beaches near Dikwella).
In addition to direct protection of the hatchery beaches, the project also focuses on education and development of the local people and works with government organizations and other conservation organizations, preparing educational materials for children that are used in many countries around the world, including the Czech Republic. Since 2014, more than 4,000,000 turtle eggs have been saved through these activities, and this number is increasing every day.
Ing. Tereza Švejcarová (Faculty of Environmental Sciences) will focus on birds in South East Asia and illegal trade of them through social networks
Mgr. Ing. Jan Chmelař (eská Inspekce Životního prostředí) will present the Department of International Biodiversity Protection and CITES at the Czech Environmental Inspectorate (ČIŽP), along with few examples from several case studies.
You will learn more during our meeting and after the lecture you can enjoy a chance to discuss, network, and share ideas with us.
Learn & Discuss vol. 5 - Illegal animal trade
Date: 29. 4. 2024
Time: 17:30
Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, room 116
ACCTING (AdvanCing behavioural Change Through an INclusive Green deal) produces knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal and this week is hosting an online webinar on: “Rooted in equality: Strengthening food security through gender+ inclusive and sustainable small-scale farming“.
Invitation to a Scientific Seminar of the Department of Animal Science and Food Processing. The event will take place on Thursday – March 14 from 2 p.m., room FTZ 116.
The southern right whale faces conservation challenges from historical hunting to climate change. With the molecular ecology approach, we have tracked its population structure and dynamics across time. The research confirmed the connectivity of the South Atlantic populations. Further studies of stable isotopes illustrated that South African right whales underwent a dramatic northward shift and diversification in foraging strategy. Considering further predictions of the significant impacts of global warming, the future of the southern right whales and other marine megafauna remains uncertain.
If you want to find more please join us and meet speakers we invited - Petra Nevečeřalová together with her supervisor Pavle Hulva from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Charles University, who are part of an international team of scientists investigating the situation of the southern right whale. In a series of scientific studies, they managed to illustrate what problems the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is currently facing.
The platform offers green university case studies, living lab success stories, training materials, and toolkits, grant programs for green projects. On the platform invitation for collaboration is also possible.
The Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth and is one of the last places with a native forest on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is one of the countries active in caring for nature and in general, it is forbidden to cut down trees, let alone in protected areas, but the reality is that the owner, in order to better sell his wooded land, totally destroys the entire undergrowth, leaving only large trees.
The Gandoka Forest on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is still alive, but it is gradually being destroyed by developers for plantations and construction. The Prof. August Bayer Endowment Fund wants to buy 50 hectares of land in the middle of the forest from farmers and create a base for research and education that will help save the entire Gandoka area - Manzanillo willdlife refuge.
The Czech ethnobiologist Vít Hrdoušek, who manages the "Gandoka Lives" project, has been involved in the protection of this area for three years and is now dealing with the possibility of purchasing a part of the species-rich lowland forest for research purposes. He presented the intentions of this project on 13.2.24 at the opening of an exhibition of photographs from this beautiful piece of Central America. An exhibition of photographs, including information about the project, can be seen in the vestibule of the FTZ.
What is the gender dimension and how relevant is it in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate programs?
Conference will take place on 12 December from 14.00 to 15.30 CET. The lecture for FTZ will be given by Ing. Jan Staš.
The project "Development of study programs and research in the field of sustainable agriculture and aquaculture in Cambodia" culminated in the third international conference organized in cooperation between the Royal University of Agriculture in Phnom Penh (RUA) and the Czech University of Life Scinces Prague with the support of the Czech Development Cooperation.
Jan Staš, a member of the Biogas Research Team (BRT), has just returned from Sanya, China, where he represented his team NOSATOR-FLOW in receiving their award for their outstanding success in the food waste solution competition.
Dear students, colleagues, alumni, and FTA friends, Welcome to the seventh issue of Tropical News.
Our newsletter will give you a brief insight into the latest activities and international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
This newsletter is distributed twice a year, and we would like to inform all our current and future partners of the news from our faculty to create new opportunities for cooperation.
We will be happy to get you involved in FTA activities, so feel free to contact us!
Thank you for your continued support!
You can find the Newsletter in the attached file below and previous Newsletters here.
Are you interested in advances in renewable energy research or sustainable energy sources in sub-Saharan Africa? We would like to invite you to special lectures given by Professor Julius Kewir Tangka and Doctor Viyoi Catherine Tidze. The lectures will take place on Tuesday, June 20 at 13:00 in room 401, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences.
Today we commemorate Africa Day, an annual commemoration of the founding of the Organization of African Unity on 25 May 1963. Currently, more than 150 African students are studying at our faculty in bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs, they are mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Zambia, Rwanda, Senegal and other countries.
The newly launched Horizon EU project AGRIGEP contributes to creating equal opportunities for all through responsive Gender Equality Plans & Inclusive Action at Agriculture and Life Science Universities.
Dear students, colleagues, alumni, and FTA friends, Welcome to the sixth issue of Tropical News.
Our newsletter will give you a brief insight into the latest activities and international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
This newsletter is distributed twice a year and we would like to inform all our current and future partners of the news from our faculty to create new opportunities for cooperation.
We will be happy to get you involved in FTA activities, so feel free to get in touch with us!
Thank you for your continued support!
You can find the Newsletter in the attached file below and previous Newsletters here.
The 15-year cooperation between the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences CZU in Prague and the University of Agriculture and Forestry in Hue, Vietnam was newly expanded by taking on board the staff members of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences on a recent visit to Vietnam.
Please, let us invite you to the workshop „Meet the FTA Project centre and FTA experts” which will take place on 20th September 2022 from 10:00 to 12:00 at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences room no. 401, the event will be held in English.
Students, employees and others interested in projects are welcome.
The programme is attached.
We look forward to seeing you,
On behalf of the FTA Project centre
Tereza Žáková and Jan Staš
Interview with Prof. Dr. Phung Le Dinh, the Vice-Rector of HUAF. By Klára Jiřičná
A team of experts led by prof. Van Damme of FTA CZU published the final evaluation of FAO’s Action Against Desertification that mainly operated under the Great Green Wall initiative and was implemented in 2014-2020 aiming at tackling environmental impacts linked to drought and desertification in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Fiji, the Gambia, Haiti, the Niger, Nigeria and Senegal (partly during the COVID-19 pandemic).
The evaluation involved online and face-to-face interviews, field visits in 8 countries allowing for direct observation of land restoration and livelihood activities and came to the following conclusions.
Dear students, colleagues, alumni, and FTA friends, Welcome to the fifth issue of Tropical News. Our newsletter will give you a brief insight into the latest activities and international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
...which will take place during 14 – 16 September 2022, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic Can agroecological farming feed the world? Farmers' and academia's views
At the end of summer semester, evaluation of the projects, within the subject area of Plant Health and Plant Breeding started. The evaluation took place in different courses at our partners universities. Project final presentations were held face to face on 15th March at Swedish Agriculture University (SLU) and on 11th April at Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU)
In recent weeks, FTA representatives Ing. Iva Kučerová, PhD and Sára Šebrlová visited the Arba Minch region in Ethiopia within the development project titled “Arba Minch Fruit Value Chain, Gamo zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia” implemented by Mendel University in Brno in cooperation with FTA, funded by the Czech Development Agency.
On Tuesday 31st May, the International Relations Office of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (IRO FTA) organized an event called “Erasmus+ ICM Coffee” to join and meet all students, who are currently studying/doing an internship at the FTA under the Erasmus+ programme, within the project of the International Credit Mobility (ICM).
Students – representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Syria and Ukraine – were sharing information about their countries, their home universities as well us about their studies and experiences gained during the mobility. There was also one presentation from FTA student, who is currently doing his internship in Vietnam, in Hue.
The purpose of the event was not only to meet students from abroad, but to offer FTA students unique opportunity to make new contacts in these countries, and to apply for the ICM for the winter semester 22/23. The event was also organized to increase the visibility of the programme and to disseminate the Erasmus+ programme opportunities.
The Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences has again prepared a program within the framework of the Garden Fest of ČZU Alumni and Friends. You can enjoy tours of the laboratories (Herbarium and Molecular Genetics) and the FTA Botanical Garden, we will show you the collection of termites and tropical botany.
This year Tropentag 2022 is organised by the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. All MSc and PhD students, scientists, extension workers, farmers
Fruit processing methods were presented by Jan Staš (FTA employee, food processing expert) during a 10-day training for local farmers and future trainers within the project "iAGRO - Improving the agricultural value chain in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia" implemented by CCE Diaconia and supported by the Czech Development Agency.
Dear colleagues, students and friends of the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture, this is reportedly the first FTA annual report with a foreword in English. Rejoice and: boom drumbeat! (as Flemish poet, writer and Dada artist Paul van Ostaijen wrote in 1920).
Five representatives of the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) visited CZU between 21st – 25th March 2022. The visit was based on long-term cooperation and previous projects with FTA within Erasmus+ projects such as: EURASIA 2, ALFABET, AskAsia, SIMPLE and PISAI.
The Double degree Master study programme “Agricultural Sciences and Farming Systems in the Tropics and Subtropics” is the first Double degree (DD) programme offered by the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences. It is the unique opportunity for students to simultaneously receive two Master degrees in the area of „Agricultural Sciences and Farming Systems in the Tropics and Subtropics“ in only 2 years and thus enhance their position in the European and Czech labour market. The main objective of the DD programme is to enable students to profit from the different background of teaching and research of the partner universities in the area of tropical agriculture. In addition to the existing single degree programme “Tropical Farming Systems”, the double degree shall offer an additional benefit for the students by an increased selection of modules offered on tropical agriculture, the acquirement of soft skills in different teaching environments as well as cultural backgrounds and performing scientific work under the supervision of two academics from two different universities. Students will benefit from the elective modules at the host university that are more focused on environment, resource efficiency, aspects of developing countries and interdisciplinary work.
You can register for the study exchange programme Erasmus+ by uploading of the documents mentioned below by 11.2.2022, 23:59 to https://1url.cz/@Erasmus_Apps
Dear Reader, Welcome to the fourth issue of Tropical News. Our Newsletter provides a brief insight into the latest updates about activities and international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
Our PhD students Marek Jelínek, Jan Staš and Eduardo Duque Dussán, along with Assoc. Prof. Hynek Roubík, travelled to Ukraine as delegates of the FTA under the scientific cooperation project "Strengthening scientific capacities and cooperation of Ukrainian universities in AgriSciences" supported by the Czech Development Cooperation via Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
This mission within the FAO funded project on climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in the agricultural sector in Azerbaijan allowed us to have first direct contact with the actors in the field.
Scientists from the FTA, CZU Prague call for help for Ebogo village in Cameroon. Donors can help to protect the endangered tropical forest, sustainable development of the local rural community and children's education in Ebogo and surrounding villages.
As part of the FTA OPEN DAY, organized to mark the 60th anniversary of its founding and held in the brand-new building of the Pavilion of Tropical AgriSciences, the new Belgian-born Dean Prof. Patrick Van Damme – was solemnly crowned with the Bone and Pineapple, having sworn the following:
Our employees Marie Kalousová, Barbora Černá Bolfíková, Iva Bernáthová, Stacy Hammond and Anna Chládová recently returned from Ethiopia where they conducted activities within the project “Publication and Research Activities Development for Education in Life Sciences at Hawassa University”.
FTA experts (Jan Staš, Radim Kotrba and Petr Pudil) just started the final phase of the project “Integrated Farming II” in Zambia by conducting the monitoring harvests of the fishponds.
CZU Prague smart digital ecosystem - improving life on campus using the potential of 5G. The hackathon is intended for all CZU Prague students across the faculties.
PhD students Dennis Kyereh and Marie Kalousová; from the Tropical Biodiversity Research Group (TBG) were in Cameroon for the implementation of the project entitled: “Morphological and genetic characterization of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Heckel in natural and domesticated populations in Cameroon”.
In July 2021, the vice-deans of FTA – dr. Jiří Hejkrlík and dr. Jana Mazancová, extended and formalized the cooperation between FTA and The Cooperative University of Kenya in Nairobi (CUK). The start of the collaboration is dated back to 2020 when the head of the Cooperative Research Team
We would like to invite you to the Faculty Open Day at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences in Prague
The Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences cordially invites you to a public streaming of the virtual conference Tropentag 2021, 15.- 17. September 2021, Pavilion of Tropical AgriSciences, CZU
From 17 to 24 August 2021, a summer school called Host Plant Resistance Breeding took place in Alnarp, one of the 4 campuses of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) based in Uppsala. It was organized as part of the ESCAPAdE project - EraSmus Curricula in Applied PlAnt SciEnces, a European project funded by the European Union-funded Erasmus + Strategic partnership from September 2018 to August 2021
Not even the pandemic could stop members of the volleyball team of the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture of the CZU in Prague from participating in a beach volleyball tournament in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“What we have seen is that over time now, a number of crops that we equate with southern areas are also being at least tested in the Czech Republic.“ Read or listen to the full interview HERE.
A tornado such as Czechs know only from Hollywood movies swept through southern Moravia on the night of June 24 and, among other things, razed half of the HODONÍN ZOO...
Cameroon is a country of extremes and the fieldworks there, for sure, belong to the most challenging ones. The things work either extremely well, easy and smooth, or not at all. Working at such a sinusoid of ups and downs is indeed demanding and often exhausting.
Dear Reader, Welcome to the third issue of Tropical News. Our Newsletter provides a brief insight into the latest updates about activities and international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
Experts from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences launched 3 units of the CZU mobiLAB - a mobile laboratory for the detection of infectious diseases
Let us kindly invite you to the On-Line Thematic Session: Activities of central and eastern EU countries in research and Innovation partnership with Africa as a part of Stakeholder engagement week that is organized within LEAP4FNSSA project
On May 5, Prof. ir. Dr. Patrick Van Damme was inaugurated as the new Dean of the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture CZU. He was appointed to the office by the CZU rector Prof. Petr Sklenička and replaced Prof. Jan Banout.
The team from the CZU, namely Vladimír Verner, Radim Kotrba, Zbyněk Polesný, Jan Staš from FTZ and Miloslav Petrtýl from FAPPZ, is currently conducting fieldwork in the Western Province of Zambia. The activities are realized in the frame of implementation of two development projects, namely "Integrated Farming II" led by Mendel University in Brno and "Agribussines4LIFE “ led by Charita Czech Republic.
The Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences has a wide representation of development projects in Ethiopia under the auspices of the Czech Development Agency. However, in cooperation with Mendel University in Brno, we primarily solve two projects implemented in the vicinity of the cities of Arba Minch and Awassa. These are "Implementation of a Fruit Value Chain for Improved Nutrition and Efficient Production in Arba Minch Zuria" and "Protection of Awassa Lake through Sustainable Management of Surrounding Area".
The postdoc position is offered for 10 months for applicants from all over the world, out of the Czech Republic. The position starts from 1st September 2021 and finishes on 30th June 2022.
You can register for the study exchange programme Erasmus+ by sending the documents mentioned below by February 12th, 2021, 11:59 AM to e-mail hummelova@ftz.czu.cz
Welcome to the second issue of Tropical News. Our Newsletter will give you a brief insight into the latest updates about activities and international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
The Department for Science and Research announces the FTA Dean's Award for the best publication or popularization output of FTA employees
The Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague introduces a concept of mobile laboratories, CZU mobiLAB. CZU mobiLAB is ready for use in humans and veterinary medicine for the identification of any infectious agents based on nucleic acid detection in sampled individuals. The concept of CZU mobiLAB can be used in inaccessible areas of the developing world and at the same time offers solutions for developed countries in case of reaction to an unexpected threat.
As part of the project “Arba Minch Fruit Value Chain”, three FTA representatives (Anna Maňourová, William Nkomoki and Jan Staš) together with experts from Mendel University in Brno went to Ethiopia to kick-off a new four-year development project. Its aim is improvement of the knowledge and skills of local farmers, diversifying the local fruit production, opening new business opportunities for farmers and last but not least on the reduction of post-harvest losses.
Through the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTA) of Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), the joint secretariat of the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) and the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) in Switzerland is seeking a dynamic, independent and innovative young professional for the position of the YPARD Global Network Engagement Coordinator (full-time position).
The Network Engagement Coordinator is responsible for ensuring and monitoring the active engagement of the YPARD community. The incumbent‘s work is partly framed by the communications strategies developed with the communications team and it entails the design and implementation of online and onsite innovative, collaborative and vibrant activities. The incumbent reports to the YPARD Director and works closely with the Communications Coordinator and the Digital Communication Officer. The incumbent will be based in FTA/CZU, Prague, Czech Republic, which hosts the YPARD Europe office.
All courses at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTA) from September 29, 2020, will be organized as distance teaching (online lecturing).
Check-in will be available from 15th of September for mid-term and long-term stays. 4 types of rooms, 35 minutes from the CZU campus, private bathroom, silent study rooms and other benefits for you. Online application and other information with photos on the website
Welcome to the first issue of Tropical News. Our Newsletter will give you a brief insight into the latest updates about activities and international cooperation at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
Take a look through photographs and video in Benin, where our doctoral student Zuzana Holubová is on an internship for almost half a year, and where she is also collecting data for her dissertation thesis.
The cooperation between our faculty and ICRAF (World Agroforestry Centre) is the logical outcome of more than two decades of research and development of agroforestry projects in various regions of the world
Due to the ongoing State of Emergency and the necessary measures in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, some changes have to be made to the academic year schedule. It is clear to us that the current situation increases the tension and stress to which you are exposed, so we aim to ensure that you - the students - are able to successfully complete the academic year.
Regarding the current situation with the spread of COVID-19, the date of the Final State Examinations (FSE) at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTA) has changed.
Upon his return from a research trip in Cameroon, tropical entomologist and new associate professor at our faculty, Jan Šobotník, had mixed feelings: on the one hand, he had seen a catastrophic decline in termite populations in the forest, on the other, however, the group collected many new termophile insects, yet unknown to science.
A new state-of-the art facility called “the green building“ will be the latest expansion of the campus of the Czech Life Science University (CZU). Prospective students of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences interested in the fields of tropical agriculture and developing countries can enjoy the new premises as of this fall semester. The facility will offer top-notch technologies and space for scientific research.
Perhaps even more interesting than the number of giraffes is their coexistence with people and livestock in the "tiger bush". Giraffe here are in permanent contact with people, their crops and livestock.
A year of hard work has paid off. CZU ranked 31st in the Green Metric World University Rankings, and is thus one of the world leaders in terms of consideration for the environment.
In November 2019, our Biogas Research Team co-organized conference in Bila Tserkva (Ukraine).
On Monday, December 9, 2019, the University of Mostar with University of Džemal Bijedič (Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina) in cooperation with FTA organized Scientific Day.
FTA organized the second annual international scientific conference for young scientists and students, which was held on 5 December 2019 at the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in Cambodia.
FTZ representatives organized “Project Management Training - Preparation of the EU Projects and HR Awards” at the partner universities in Ukraine - Sumy National Agrarian University, Sumy State University, Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University as part of the project “Support for young university capacities in the field of quality of education and scientific and research activities in Ukraine”.
The scientific conference 2019 for young scientists and students will be held on 5th December 2019 at the Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Call for absract extended till 25th October 2019!
Read about impressive research of our PhD student Anna Bernátková who just came back from her research activities in Mongolia.
This Autumn 2019, the delegates of the PISAI project (Participatory and Integrative Support for Agricultural Initiative) from Thai partner universities visited the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CULS) as arranged by the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTA).
In recognition of her contribution and dedication to the advancements and improvements of higher education beyond the field of her expertise, and to honour her valuable outputs, the Council of the Prince of Songkla University in the Meeting 407, held on June 1, 2019, unanimously agreed to award an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Tropical Agricultural Resource Management to Dr. Petra Chaloupková. The awarding ceremony took place in the Convention Hall of the Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai on September 8, 2019. Dr. Chaloupková was honoured to receive the degree from Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, who – being scientist herself – has founded a research institute and give lectures at Mahidol University in Bangkok. Due to the presence of a member of royal family at the ceremony, a spot from the handover was on Thai national TV in the prime time news.
In August we organised the 6th summer school in Cambodia at Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in Phnom Penh. The summer school is the integral part of the development projects supported by Czech Development Agency (CDA).
The collaboration of staff and students of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences to save the Western Derby eland in Senegal will soon turn its twenties...
Call for participants - Summer school at Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University with topic "Research in practice - Waste management", 22th – 31th August, 2019
The aim of the research is to determine the size and range of the leopard population, their habitat and food preferences.
Come to learn more about the programme, see winning photos, listen to lectures and presentations of students who have already studied abroad...
February 13 - 14, 2019
10:00 – 14:00 at CULS Menza
A New project within H2020 programme titled „Long-term Europe-Africa Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture (LEAP4FNSSA)” was officially launched in Accra, Ghana at these days.
For the last two years members of our Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences have been lecturing a summer school on “livestock-wildlife interactions”, organised by the NGO People in Need. This initial contact finally lead to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National University of Mongolia,
In December, FTA had the pleasure to host the director of Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in Mongolia, Ganbaatar Oyunsaikhan, as part of the ongoing collaboration between our institutions and Prague Zoo.
As part of the development project "Support of Science and Research at the Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia", a team of experts from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences and the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources
Staff team from CULS Prague, FTA and FAFNR, is helping with implementation of three development projects funded by the Czech Development Agency, in cooperation with Caritas Czech Republic, University of Barotseland,
IPB Job Fair Career and Entrepreneurship Expo 2018 was held at Bogor Agriculture University in Indonesia 21st and 22nd September 2018.
Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences officially build up a partnership with Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences (HIES) in Cameroon.
Author: Markéta Swiacká. During August, in Chicago there was held the very first international conference focused on conservation of pangolins which was organized by the Chicago Zoological Society in Brookfield Zoo.
Our students (Veronika Kristufova and Winnifred Okpo) are collecting data for their thesis. Here are their greetings from Kenya:
Student's field research called "Agri-Cooperatives and Institutions for Rural Development" is still ongoing in Sumy, Ukraine.
FTA was visited by the representative of Sumy State University and Sumy National Agrarian University – dr. Oksana Zamora.
Career Days held at universities in Thailand and Cambodia were organised with the support of CULS in March and April 2018...
Have your say in the food system of the future! – Online survey on trends, showcases and potential breakthroughs. Till 30th June 2018
If you are interested in the Summer School, send your CV and letter of motivation in English by 31.3.2018 to email projectCambodia@ftz.czu.cz
The ALFABET project is coordinated by the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences together with Tadulako University in Indonesia.
Students and teaching staff mobility support among CULS Prague, Sumy National Agrarian University and Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University
FTA and FAFNR organized a two-week summer school "SCIENTIFIC WORK: Step by step" at the RUA in Phnom Penh
"Livestock-Wildlife interactions in Mongolia"
The official Kick-off Meeting of the project SIMPLE was held at the CULS Prague from 24th till 26th October 2016.
