Ten Years of the Institute of Genetic Resources Marked

Solemn academy was held on 27 September 2019, devoted to the marking of ten years of existence and operation of the Institute of Genetic Resources at the University of Banja Luka.

Vice Rector for Human and Material Resources at the University of Banja Luka Professor Luka Kecman, PhD, said that the Institute has contributed significantly to having the University campus become a legally protected area.

,,Its involvement in scientific research showed results within many international and regional projects. Thanks to the work of the Institute, our results have been recorded in files worldwide’’, Vice Rector Kecman said.

Director of the Institute Professor Gordana Djuric, PhD, emphasizes that the Institute of Genetic Resources of the University of Banja Luka has a stable program of preserving genetic resources and that it has justified its existence with the results achieved in its work over the past ten years. Prior to the beginning of the academy on the occasion of marking 10 years of existence and operation of the Institute, Djuric emphasized that she is proud of this scientific institution and its contribution to the development of genetic resources and the protection of natural resources of the Republic of Srpska.

,, The issue of genetic resources is first and foremost a matter of science and research, and we are pleased to have the support of both the University and the RS institutions,“ Djuric said.

She stated that besides the plant resources program, the Institute is now working on the preservation of animal, forest and water resources.

,,We have also started working on the preservation of pollinators, such as wild bees and soil microorganisms, which is a very important issue in this field nowadays’’, Djuric explained.

Djuric further emphasized the significant contribution in having the University campus become a protected area managed by the Institute, with a botanical garden built within it. She explained that the Institute preserves autochthonous varieties and owns a collection of seed plants that are reproduced with seed, as well as a field collection for species with vegetative propagation.

,,We have between 500 and 600 autochthonous fruit species and varieties and 35 grape varieties, while in the seed collection we have harvested cereals, fodder plants, industrial plants, and medicinal plants and vegetables propagated through seeds“, Djuric said.

Assistant to the Minister for Agriculture of the Republic of Srpska Dragan Knezevic pointed out how important this Institute is, since it possesses a gene bank of autochthonous species from this area.

,,Without this bank, we would not be able to preserve them and we would lose many extremely significant old varieties characteristic of this area“, Knezevic said.

He added that the Institute is important because it has good genetic bases for making new species in future.

At the solemn academy, institutions and individuals who contributed to the development of this institution were given special recognitions, and the highest recognition went to the University of Banja Luka.

On the same day, as part of the anniversary, there was an all-day sales exhibition of traditional products called 'Feel the magic of home-made food, beverages and crafts'. Altogether 13 exhibitors presented their products at the exhibition, which took place in the protected area at the University campus.