MEETING OF THE COORDINATION AND METHODOLOGICAL COUNCIL ON RESEARCH PROGRAM 16 "SUNFLOWER: BASICS OF PRODUCTION PROCESS MANAGEMENT"

On July 10, 2025, an online meeting of the Coordinating and Methodological Council of Scientific Program (SP) 16 "Sunflower: Basics of Production Process Management" of NAAS was held at the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS. Supervisors and responsible executors of the projects within SP 16 from 8 research institutions of NAAS were present. The SP head, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, NAAS Academician Viktor Vasyliovych Kyrychenko opened the meeting, giving a talk “Methodological Fundamentals of Improving the Production Process on Sunflower”.

The participants of the meeting discussed the implementation of the work programs in the first half of 2025 by projects, in the context of the extreme weather conditions of the year, impact of stressors on the growth and development of sunflower, and manifestations of diseases. In total, reports on 12 projects were presented: 3 fundamental projects, 8 applied projects, and 1 short-term applied project.

Attention was focused on the sunflower cultivation challenges associated with war-inflicted pollution and destruction of agricultural lands. Concern was expressed regarding the gross harvest of commercial sunflower seeds, which is predicted to be about 10.2 million tons, i.e. significantly less than in previous years. A call was made for the active promotion of scientific achievements through various information channels.