Department of Plant Protection (Keszthely)

Last modified: 28. November 2022

Georgikon, founded by count György Festetics in 1797 is the first independent higher education institution in Europe, which has been training  higher agricultural specialists in Keszthely for 223 years. In its teaching and research portfolio, the discipline of plant protection always played an important role. This is also proved by the fact that the Institute of Plant Protection was established here in 1972 for the first time in the country. Since 1970 the university degree of agrochemical and agronomic engineer has been started together with the participations  of University of Pannonia (Georgikon Faculty of Agricultural Sciences) and University of Veszprém.

Later (in 1987), due to the suggestion of Hungarian Plant Protection Society (within Hungarian Association of Agricultural Sciences)- with the active participation of the Plant Protection Institute – a proposal was made for the authorization of the plant protection profession in the form of private practice and to start plant doctor training. At the Agricultural Faculty of University of Pannonia for the first time of the world the plant doctor program was launched in 2000 in the form of five years of training. The application for accreditation of a professional establishment (plant doctor MSc) – with the active participation of the partner institutions - was finished in 2005. Education started in 2006 and 2008 years in Hungarian and English language, respectively.

Actually, the university professors of the Department of Plant Protection take part in the education of plant doctor MSc (full time) and plant protection  engineering training (correspondence training). Plant Protection Forum organized at Keszthely has been traditional for over 30 years. Both basic, applied and technological develelopmental works are included into the research field of the Department.