On December 12 of this year, a ceremony was held at the headquarters of the National Institute of Culture and Rural Heritage in Warsaw to present awards and distinctions of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for achievements in implementing progress in agriculture, rural development, agricultural markets, and fisheries. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development annually awards, through a competitive process, prizes and distinctions for achievements whose implementation or dissemination has brought measurable economic or social effects. They are awarded to research teams whose members are employed in entities working for agriculture, rural development, agricultural markets, and fisheries. This year, five research teams from our Institute submitted applications for achievement awards:

1. Replacement of the biological test with the molecular Hain test in laboratory diagnostics of tuberculosis in cattle in accordance with the 3R principle – Dr. Ewelina Szacawa, M.Sc. Nina Kozieł, Dr. habil. Monika Krajewska-Wędzina, Institute Professor, Dr. Anna Ziętek-Barszcz, Prof. Dr. habil. Krzysztof Szulowski.

2. Work on implementing the ELISA method using bulk milk samples to assess the occurrence of IBR and BVD-MD in cattle herds under performance monitoring – Prof. Dr. habil. Jerzy Rola, Prof. Dr. habil. Mirosław P. Polak, Małgorzata Głowacka, Elwira Orłowska, Elżbieta Boguń.

3. Implementation of monitoring of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents based on the model of Escherichia coli isolated from animals – Dr. Magdalena Skarżyńska, Dr. Magdalena Zając, M.Sc. Anna Lalak, M.Sc. Renata Kwit, M.Sc. Aleksandra Śmiałowska-Węglińska, M.Sc. Eng. Ewelina Skrzypiec, Prof. Dr. habil. Dariusz Wasyl.

4. Computer software enabling the collection of data on the use of veterinary medicinal products in animals in Poland – Dr. Ilona Materek, Eng. Mariusz Kowalik, M.Sc. Eng. Tomasz Borówka, M.Sc. Eng. Ewa Borzym, M.Sc. Amanda Markiewicz.

5. Introduction of an innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for sanitizing organic waste enabling its use in fertilization – project GOSPOSTRATEGIII/0061/2020 – Prof. Dr. habil. Tomasz Cencek, Dr. Eng. Jolanta Zdybel, Dr. hab. Jacek Sroka, Institute Professor, Dr. Angelina Wójcik-Fatla, Dr. Teresa Kłapeć, Dr. Piotr Skowron, Dr. Damian Wach.

At Friday’s ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was represented by Mr. Adam Nowak, Secretary of State, supervising, among other things, the activities of research institutes, whose competencies include research and scientific cooperation, innovation, digitalization, and knowledge transfer in the areas of agriculture, rural development, agricultural markets, and fisheries. The ceremony was conducted by Mr. Marcin Tomaszewski, Director of the Department of Knowledge Transfer and Social Affairs. Participants included Mr. Wojciech Wojtyra, Director of the Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine.

We are extremely pleased to inform you that the first prize from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was awarded to the team of Dr. Magdalena Skarżyńska for the achievement: “Implementation of monitoring of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents based on the model of Escherichia coli isolated from animals.” In addition, two research teams were distinguished: Dr. Ilona Materek’s team and Prof. Dr. habil. Tomasz Cencek’s team.

Representatives of the research teams from our Institute who participated in the ceremony included: Dr. Magdalena Skarżyńska, Dr. Magdalena Zając, M.Sc. Anna Lalak, M.Sc. Renata Kwit, M.Sc. Eng. Ewelina Skrzypiec, Prof. Dr. habil. Dariusz Wasyl, Dr. Ilona Materek, M.Sc. Eng. Ewa Borzym, Prof. Dr. habil. Tomasz Cencek, Dr. Eng. Jolanta Zdybel, Dr. habil. Jacek Sroka, Institute Professor, as well as Prof. Dr. habil. Stanisław Winiarczyk – Director of the National Veterinary Research Institute and Prof. Dr. habil. Mirosław Polak – Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs.

We congratulate the award and distinction recipients. We are proud of you,

Management of the National Veterinary Research Institute

P.S. This year, for the first time, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded an individual prize for exceptional achievements in implementing progress in agriculture, rural development, agricultural markets, and fisheries. It is directed to individuals who have conducted scientific or research and development activities in the aforementioned areas for at least 5 years, and who have successfully implemented their solutions into economic practice, achieving significant economic or social effects. This year’s individual award recipient was Prof. Dr. habil. Wiesław Oleszek, employee and former Director of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – National Research Institute in Puławy.

Congratulations to Professor Wiesław Aleksander Oleszek from our sister institute from the Management and all employees of the National Veterinary Research Institute.

Link to information on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development website:
https://www.gov.pl/web/rolnictwo/najwazniejsze-instytuty-nagrodzone-za-postep-w-rolnictwie-to-dzieki-panstwa-pracy-polska-jest-bezpieczna-zywnosciowo–podkreslil-wiceminister-adam-nowak