Dobele city
Activities
I. Research in the field of fruit growing
II. Preservation of fruit tree, small fruit and lilac genetic resources
III. Cooperation with interest groups in the field of agriculture and with individual fruit-growing and food processing enterprises
IV. DUS testing of fruit and berry varieties for the Baltic countries
V. Activities not linked directly with research
International conference „Sustainable Fruit Growing: From Plant to Product”
The Conference
Proceedings are
available
here.
About us
The Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing, as an independent institute (then named „Dobele Horticultural Plant Breeding Experimental Station” - Dobele HPBES), was established in 1995 by separating a 35 ha orchard from the Dobele Horticultural Experimental State Farm. The present status was given to the Institute on May 2, 2006, by reorganizing the Dobele HPBES. At present it is under the jurisdiction of the Latvia Ministry of Agriculture. The Institute operates according to its Statutes, ratified by the Scientific Council of the Institute on January 15, 2007.
Location: The Institute is located 70 km from Riga close by the town of Dobele, where the East Kurzeme highlands meet the plains of Zemgale. The climate in this region is suitable for fruit growing, making possible to grow fruit crops and cultivars which would not grow well in all regions of Latvia – pears, sweet cherries, apricots, peaches etc. The average annual rainfall is 560 mm, which is less than in many other places in Latvia. The annual sum of active temperatures (over 5°C) is 2423°C, the absolute minimum is -36°C; yet such low temperatures are observed only each 5-10 years. The highest precipitation during the growth season is in July, while May and August are the driest months. The annual sum of sunshine hours is 4522 h. The orchard soils are neutral or slightly basic (pH 6.7 – 7.4) sandy loam.
Our Institute is the leading fruit-growing research institution in Latvia. It has formed into the centre of the horticultural science in Latvia, performing topical and priority research in the field. The results of research regularly are passed on to Latvian commercial fruit growers and the fruit processing industry as recommendations, innovative products and technologies. It is done through close cooperation with the Latvian Fruit Growers Association (LAA), by publishing research results in special magazines and books. At present (January 1, 2008) the Institute’s regular staff is 58 people, of which 19 are full-time scientists (including 9 Doctors of Agriculture, Biology, Engineering or Chemistry, 5 with Master’s degree and 4 Master students). Three Doctors of sciences work part-time. The age of 12 researchers is below 35. Since 1995 the number of researchers has tripled.
Activities
Since the establishment as an independent research institution, during a 11 year period the activities of the Institute have developed and are continued along the following lines:
II. Preservation of fruit tree, small fruit and lilac genetic resources
V. Activities not linked directly with research
The different activities of the Institute are closely linked and
complete each other.
