In 2015, Ukraine became an associate member of the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, "Horizon 2020" (2014-2020). Over nearly a decade of cooperation, it has become clear that "Horizon" is one of the most effective tools for integrating Ukrainian educational institutions into the European research area. Moreover, the funding received for implementing winning projects serves as a key indicator of the success or failure of researchers from the respective country.

And it is doubly pleasing that the number of projects being implemented by NUBiP scientists is continuously growing. It is no coincidence that on September 13, 2024, a representative delegation from the European Union and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine visited NUBiP of Ukraine. The European side was represented by Frederik Sondergaard (Policy Officer, DG.RTD.03, Ukraine Unit) and Yehor Pyvovarov (EU Delegation to Ukraine, Science Advisor). The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine was represented by Hryhorii Mozolevych (Director General of the Directorate for Science Development), Olena Makarenko (Head of the Expert Group on Strategy and Integration into the European Research Area of the Directorate for Science Development), and Heorhii Vasyliev (Consultant to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine on the Development and Management of Scientific Infrastructure).

The program of the delegation's visit includes familiarization with leading universities in Ukraine, with an emphasis on presenting current projects being implemented within the framework of the "Horizon Europe" program and key scientific laboratories.

During the meeting, the university's rector, Vadym Tkachuk, presented the delegation with information about our university, its prospects for the development of educational, scientific, and international activities. Subsequently, presentations of the ongoing "Horizon Europe" grants being implemented at the university took place:

• "Development of research potential and enhancement of qualifications and skills of the research group from NUBiP (Ukraine) in agroecological intensification of crop production" (Grant Agreement No. 101079308 – ECOTWINS), presented by the Vice-Rector for Scientific Work and Innovation, Oksana Tonkha, and members of her team.

"Demonstrating innovative solutions to water and soil pollution problems in the Mediterranean agri-hydro system" (Grant Agreement No. 101156867 – Path4Med), presented by Associate Professor of the Department of Agrosphere Ecology and Environmental Control, Vita Strokal, and the Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and International Activities, Oleksandr Labenko.

The delegation then visited the NUBiP Botanical Garden, where Yurii Marchuk, Head of the Department of Botany, Dendrology, and Forest Breeding, and Associate Professor of the same department, Mariia Shevchuk, reported on its development.

The laboratories of the Agrobiological Faculty and the Soil Museum were presented by Dean Vitalii Kovalenko and Associate Professor of the Department of Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry and Water Quality, Olha Kravchenko. The visitors were particularly interested in the laboratories of the Department of Agrochemistry and Crop Quality (drones and unmanned technology, agrochemical services in precision farming, differentiated use of agrochemical resources) and the Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, which focused on soil quality monitoring.

The leadership of NUBiP Ukraine assured the distinguished delegation of the university's great potential and the interest of its researchers in participating in the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and invited them to visit other university laboratories. The entire scientific community of the university expresses its gratitude to the European Union for supporting Ukrainian science, especially for scientists who, despite all the challenges, continue to work in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Otchenashko, Head of the Research Department

Olha Kravchenko, Associate Professor of the Department

of Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry and Water Quality