RCAB - Research Center for Agriculture and Bioeconomy

07/09/2026

Strengthening Cooperation with the U.S. Embassy

On 4 September 2026, the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra and RCAB welcomed Nicole M. Hatch, Economic Officer, and Katarina Slamka, Economic Specialist from the Embassy of the United States of America.

The meeting reviewed cooperation to date and explored opportunities to expand it, with a particular focus on future visits by U.S. experts to SUA in Nitra.

We look forward to further opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange!

07/09/2026

Resilience, Research and the Future of Agriculture

On 3 September 2026, RCAB organised a lecture by Marion Jansen, Director of the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate, for PhD students and staff at the Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra.

The lecture, “Resilience, Research and the Future of Agriculture”, brought an international policy perspective to our academic community.

Marion Jansen previously held senior positions at the International Trade Centre (ITC), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Thank you to Marion Jansen for sharing her expertise, Kristína Gendová Ruszíková, Counsellor at the Permanent Delegation oh Slovak Republic to the OECD for the support and to everyone who joined us!

07/09/2026

RCAB at Agrokomplex

What will the next chapter of EU agricultural policy mean for Slovakia?

Professor Pokrivčák contributed to roundtable discussions organised by the European Commission, focusing on funding for the Common Agricultural Policy in 2028–2034 and its place within Slovakia’s National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP).

The discussion also featured Andrea Porcella Čapkovičová from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), Helena Patasiová from Agrarian Chamber of Slovakia and Ladislav Šimko, the Slovak Government Plenipotentiary for the National and Regional Partnership Plan.

01/06/2026

RCAB joins the Horizon Europe WATERGRID Project

WATERGRID’s mission is to strengthen today’s water systems by combining Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) with smart technology. We build and restore natural “water storage” areas – such as wetlands, floodplains, and ponds -and connect them through a digital monitoring network.

📆 Duration: September 2025 – August 2029 (48 Months)
🏛️ Project budget: € 7 945 771,25
👥 Consortium: 22 organizations from 13 countries

Our Role: In the WATERGRID project, RCAB provides scientific expertise to the Slovakian demonstration site, focusing on developing and analyzing effects of nature-based solutions.

More information:
https://www.rcab.sk/

12/02/2026

Čo prinesie nová agrárna politika EÚ po roku 2027? 🌱

Z konferencie sme pre vás pripravili výber najdôležitejších informácií, tém a pohľadov odborníkov na budúcnosť slovenského poľnohospodárstva.

Ak vás zaujíma agrárna politika, vidiek a udržateľnosť, sledujte RCAB a zostaňte v obraze.

12/02/2026

01/12/2025

🌍 RCAB at the OECD Global Forum on Agriculture 2025
Our team participated in the OECD Global Forum on Agriculture, held on 28 October 2025 in Paris—an important platform for international dialogue on agricultural policy and the future of food systems.

This year’s theme focused on:
“Attracting New Farmers for the Future of Agriculture” — addressing the challenges of an aging farming population, generational renewal, and the need to bring new talent into the sector.

🔍 Key discussion topics included:
• barriers to entry for young people in agriculture
• career opportunities in a modern and innovative agri-food sector
• the role of digitalisation and technology in shaping the next generation of farmers
• policies needed to make agriculture more attractive and dynamic

📘 OECD also presented several new analytical outputs — blogs, policy briefs, and working papers exploring the future of farming, social issues in rural areas, and agricultural productivity.

By taking part in this forum, RCAB continues to bring international insights into the Slovak research environment, support evidence-based dialogue, and contribute to shaping the future of agriculture, food systems, and rural development.

09/10/2025

WATERGRID: New Horizon project

We are pleased to announce the start of the Horizon project WATERGRID, which will advance the Smart Water Grid (SWG) concept to strengthen climate-resilient water management and address extreme drought within a holistic catchment-based framework. Through the co-design and deployment of innovative Nature-Based Solutions across diverse European regions, WATERGRID will enhance water availability, improve quality, and foster long-term systemic resilience.

More details are available on CORDIS: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101180636

06/10/2025

RCAB at AGROKOMPLEX

Prof. Ján Pokrivčák participated at two roundtables at Agrokomplex exhibition organized by the European Commission in September 2025. The focus was on generational renewal and the big challenges faced by small, family, and young farmers.

Key challenges they are struggling with:

· Limited access to land

· Difficult access to finance

· Heavy bureaucracy

· Lack of advisory services

· Rigid and insufficient support schemes

03/10/2025

RCAB on Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Slovakia

For the Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber, we estimated the economic impact of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in Slovakia. Effective management and fair compensation for damages caused by foot-and-mouth disease can help protect the strategic direction of Slovak agriculture and agricultural policy. This will support stable livestock production, sustain rural employment, and strengthen food security and supply chains.