Strategy

The strategy of AA aims at the achievement of the overall goal of ensuring sustainable development of the agricultural sector through knowledge and innovation. This concept is concentrated in several priority goals that ensure the development of agricultural science and education:

• Creating innovative scientific products and services for the sustainable development of competitive, environmentally friendly and climate-neutral agriculture.
• Effective use and modeling of ecosystems for adaptation and mitigation of the impact of climate change. Biodiversity conservation.
• Improving the safety and quality of agricultural raw materials and food.
• Implementation of information and communication technologies, digitalization and internationalization of scientific research, including the maintenance of open science and open access to scientific results.
• Continuous improvement of the scientific and innovative potential of AA and sustainable development of human resources.
• Restoration of the international positions of the AA in terms of quantity and quality of internationally visible scientific outcome.
• Expanding the participation of the Bulgarian agrarian scientific community in the European Research Area as well as expanding international scientific cooperation.

The strategy will focus on targeted fundamental research, which contributes to the development of both applied research and purely fundamental research.

Applied research is one of the main components of AA research. Its implementation in priority research areas is crucial for the development of innovation for the benefit of the economy and society. Priority areas of applied research in AA are:

• Research, maintenance and enrichment of the plant and animal gene pool in Bulgaria, represented by local varieties, populations (forms) and aboriginal breeds. Development of mechanisms for long-term conservation of biodiversity.
• Creation and introduction of new highly productive and competitive Bulgarian varieties of major field crops. Modernization of the seed production and control system.
• Phytosanitary monitoring of economically important pests in agricultural coenoses and innovative solutions for plant health protection.
• Creation and introduction of new highly productive breeds and farm animal hybrids. Development of technologies and innovations for obtaining animal products (meat, milk, wool, etc.) of better quality, meeting the needs of both market and industry. Innovations in animal nutrition.
• Sustainable management of natural resources, incl. activities aimed at reducing the impact of agriculture on the climate and increasing soil fertility.
• Creating quality, safe, healthy and innovative foods and raw materials.
• Development and implementation of integrated approaches to food safety control in the whole food chain.
• Development of green, blue, eco- and biotechnologies, creation of circular economy business models.
• Protection and realization of scientific products.
• Encouraging entrepreneurship and opening science to business.
• Creating opportunities for rapid scientific career advancement, raising qualifications and overcoming the disparity in the age structure.
• Preparation of modern training programs, incl. such aimed at helping farmers to adapt and implement the high criteria of the EU regulations for food quality and safety and the environment.

The implementation of the strategy includes many activities, the most important of which are:

• Selection of new varieties of cultivated plants and animal breeds with improved characteristics and productivity;
• Development of traditional and new technologies for growing plants and animals;
• Digitalization of agriculture;
• Evaluation of the innovativeness of the created scientific products;
• Patenting and certification of created scientific products;
• Transfer of scientific products in production - concluding license agreements;
• Development of green, blue, eco- and biotechnologies;
• Evaluation and control of organic production in the country.
• Explanation, promoting and creating bioeconomy and circular economy business models.
• Development of measures to overcome the degradation processes in the soil (erosion, pollution, acidification, salinization, loss of organic matter). Preservation and improvement of soil condition and soil fertility;
• Fighting drought in the conditions of climate change and development of irrigation systems in case of water deficit;
• Preservation, maintenance and use of the national plant and animal gene pool;
• Development of actions to reduce the environmental footprint of the agricultural sector.
• Reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides of chemical origin;
• Improving the methods for investigating the quality and safety of raw materials and food;
• Expanding the range of healthy foods, beverages and supplements; technology development.
• Transfer of technologies, knowledge, training and information support of agricultural producers;
• Production of traditional products and services, typical for the different regions of the country;
• Assessment of the economic and social impact of the implementation of the CAP for the multifunctional development of agriculture in rural areas. Proposals for corrective measures;
• Urgent modernization of the scientific infrastructure;
• Development of a system of incentives for development of the scientific potential, incl. policies to attract young researchers in the short and long term;
• Solving problems related to intellectual property;
• Supporting the publishing activity of scientists by maintaining specialized journals of wide international renown;
• Modernization of the doctoral programs in AA and stimulation of the participation in attractive international doctoral programs;
• Effective career development of scientists based on a high level of research;
• Raising the standard of living of scientists and specialists engaged in research by providing performance-based pay;
• Improving working conditions;
• Attracting private investment in science;
• Increasing public confidence in science through various initiatives, incl. supporting the state administration and in particular the so-called "decision makers" with scientifically sound competent opinions;