"Our scientists have worked hard for many years to promote science and innovation, and this assessment confirms that we are on the right track," said Andre Veskioja, Director of METK. "The evaluation assessed the scientific and societal impact and sustainability of METK's research activities. The aspects assessed show that we meet the criteria set for internationally recognised research activities and research institutions."
The international panel found that METK employs highly motivated and competent scientists and other specialists, has very modern infrastructure and extensive experimental fields.
Publications by METK researchers appear in international scientific journals. Research topics cover areas of relevance to agriculture. These include, for example, plant breeding, soil organic matter characterization and health, plant health and resistance to diseases, the role of cover crops in climate-resilient and organic farming, pollination ecology, and biodiversity conservation in agroecosystems.
"The positive result of the evaluation gives us confidence to continue with the strategic research directions outlined in METK's development plan and to strengthen cooperation with farmers and research institutions in Estonia and worldwide," added Marko Kass, Deputy Director of METK.
In the future, METK will focus more on increasing international cooperation by intensifying its collaboration with strategic partners such as the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke) or Wageningen University in the Netherlands. In this way, we will make ourselves attractive as a research institution to younger researchers who can help METK provide solutions to global challenges – from food security to the growth of resistance in plant breeding. METK is also looking for collaborations with both farmers and international universities to improve the availability of research infrastructures, which in turn will add value to the Estonian producer.
The objective of the regular evaluation was to assess the level of research activities of Estonian R&D institutions against internationally recognised criteria. A positive outcome of the regular evaluation entitles the institution to apply for research funding from the national budget. Individually, a positive evaluation is a quality mark for research institutions.
Additional information:
Marko Kass
Director of Research
