On April 23–24, 2025, the Faculty of Horticulture at MENDELU in Lednice hosted a professional visit from its Finnish partner institution, HAMK – Häme University of Applied Sciences. HAMK is among Europe’s leading institutions in the field of sustainable development, and its representatives came to share their expertise and explore new opportunities for international cooperation.
During the full-day program on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the guests visited selected departments of the faculty, where they learned about research activities in hydroponics, aquaponics, ecological substrates, fruit and vegetable processing, fruit tree breeding, biotechnology, and in vitro cultivation. The afternoon program focused on topics such as horticultural waste processing, fuel analysis, erosion control measures, and student projects in landscape planning.
The visit brought valuable insights for strengthening international cooperation, particularly in the areas of sustainability, innovation in the horticultural sector, and the development of technological solutions.
On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the faculty hosted the international workshop “Sustainable Horticulture and Green Campus,” which focused on sustainable horticulture and the ecological development of university campuses.
The workshop was attended by more than 40 participants, including academics, students, and professionals. Representatives from the partner university HAMK – Eija Lankinen and Sari Suomalainen – presented examples of sustainable horticultural practices in Finland and shared experiences in building a sustainable university campus.
Local experts presented topics such as drought resistance research in fruit trees, the potential of new food crops, the use of horticultural waste in food production, and student projects in landscape planning.
“We thank all speakers, guests, and participants for creating an inspiring and friendly atmosphere that encouraged the sharing of ideas and advanced our joint efforts toward greater sustainability,” said Assoc. Prof. Ing. Tomáš Kopta, Ph.D.