Launch of the Living Lab
In June 2024, the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (short name: KIS) organised a kick-off event for the establishing of the “KIS Living Lab”. The Living Lab will focus on organic and local varieties of buckwheat, wheat, potatoes and beans in Slovenia. The launch event brought together researchers from KIS with organic breeders, farmers, farmers’ organisations, organic seed companies, schools and faculties, policy makers, agri-food companies and the community for sustainability and social inclusion.
AGRA 2024: Showcasing Organic Bean and Wheat Varieties
The new KIS Living Lab organised another meeting at the largest agricultural trade fair in Slovenia (AGRA 2024) in August. Barbara Pipan, a leading KIS researcher, led a presentation and discussion with the KIS Living Lab members about new bean varieties and the bean breeding programme in Slovenia with a special focus on the varieties suitable for organic production. She presented two varieties called KIS Bogo and KIS Deodat, which are on the list of Organic Heterogenous Materials. Later, Primož Titan from the company RGA presented the wheat breeding programmes and wheat varieties suitable for organic production. Currently, their programme focuses on breeding wheat with high protein content and good baking properties.
Discussion on Key Traits for Organic Breeding
Several participants then discussed the different traits that they consider most important when breeding wheat and beans in organic production. Most felt that for wheat protein content and baking characteristics as well as disease resistance were most important. In bean breeding, the quality of the beans, drought and disease resistance as well as varieties suitable for organic farming were considered important. The members of KIS Living Lab also discussed the possibility of bringing these new varieties to end consumers through targeted marketing campaigns or cooperation with large food retailers in Slovenia.
Organic Potato Breeding Event
At the end of September 2024, the KIS Living Lab held an event on organic potato breeding at the Zagorc family farm in Slovenia. The family is committed to organic farming and sustainable practises and participates in the LiveSeeding trials. The event included a presentation of the Zagorc family’s organic potato production, a presentation of organic potato production in Slovenia and access to organic potato seed, as well as a look at the selection of adapted potato varieties suitable for organic farming. The participants engaged in a lively discussion about organic potato farming and suitable varieties and had the opportunity to taste three varieties cooked and prepared in three different ways.
