New NCN grant for Prof. Olga Długosz: Polish-Norwegian cooperation for sustainable agriculture

Prof. Olga Długosz from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology has received funding from the National Science Centre (NCN) to start a research collaboration with the University of Bergen on innovative biostimulants for crop plants.

How can we support crop growth and increase resilience to adverse environmental conditions, while reducing dependence on traditional agrochemicals? Researchers will seek answers to this question within a collaboration to be developed by Prof. Olga Długosz from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, PK Krakow University of Technology.

Our researcher is among the 53 laureates of the Coordination & Capacity Kick-off call, resolved by the National Science Centre (NCN). The funding amounts to PLN 11,879. The partner of the planned collaboration is the University of Bergen, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Norway.

A new approach to supporting crops

The aim of the initiative is to establish scientific cooperation and lay the groundwork for joint research on innovative biostimulants for crop plants. The planned solutions will use:

• deep eutectic solvents (DES),
• micronutrient nanoparticles,
• bioactive compounds.

Unlike approaches focused primarily on combating plant diseases, this concept seeks solutions that stimulate crop growth and strengthen plants’ natural resistance to environmental stress. In the future, deep eutectic solvents may serve as a common platform for obtaining bioactive compounds and developing functional nanomaterials.

Science meets climate challenges

The planned research responds to the need for more sustainable agricultural production methods, especially in the face of climate change and increasingly difficult growing conditions. Its potential applications are also in line with the directions set by the EU “Farm to Fork” strategy.

The Coordination & Capacity Kick-off grant will enable direct cooperation, exchange of experience and preparation of a concept for a future interdisciplinary research project. The initiative is a preparatory stage for the LANGSPIL call, funded by the EEA Grants.

Congratulations, Professor, and we wish you every success in developing Polish-Norwegian scientific cooperation!

Photo courtesy: Olga FDługosz and faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology

NCN call results: coordination-capacity-kick-off-lr.pdf