Professional Development Courses
From March 23, 2026, to March 27, 2026, the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences (NAAS) hosted online professional development courses for researchers from NAAS institutions, as well as academic and teaching staff from agricultural higher education institutions, research staff from other institutions, doctoral candidates, master’s students, and candidates in the specialty H1 – Agronomy, in the following areas: «Modern methodological approaches and methods for conducting the breeding and seed production process for vegetable and melon crops» 30 hours / 1 ECTS credit; «Innovative technologies for growing vegetable and melon crops and seeds» 30 hours / 1 ECTS credit.
In the course «Modern Methodological Approaches and Methods for the Breeding and Seed Production of Vegetable and Melon Crops,» the following topics were covered in the lectures:
- Methodological foundations of vegetable and melon crop breeding and their practical application.
- Ecological and genetic aspects of vegetable and melon crop breeding.
- Production of hybrid seeds for vegetable and melon crops.
- The latest genetic methods for improving breeding efficiency.
- Biotechnological methods in breeding and seed production.
- Information technologies in vegetable and melon cultivation.
- Methodological aspects of creating interspecific hybrids of vegetable and melon plant species.
The following practical sessions were conducted:
- Scientific and methodological aspects of breeding vegetable and melon crops.
- Scientific and methodological aspects of seed production for vegetable and melon crops.
- Features of breeding cross-pollinated vegetable crops.
In the course «Innovative Technologies for Growing Vegetables, Melons, and Seeds,» the following topics were covered in lectures:
- Innovative technologies for producing seeds of biennial vegetable crops.
- General aspects of optimizing nutrition for vegetable plants.
- Adaptive system for growing vegetable crops.
- Methods of pre-planting preparation for vegetatively propagated plants. Potatoes, garlic, sweet potatoes.
- Alternative system for growing vegetable crops.
- Sales and marketing of products. Seed logistics.
- New approaches in vegetable plant protection technology.
The following practical sessions were conducted:
- Cultivation of major vegetable and melon crops.
- Cultivation of less common vegetable and melon crops.
- Biological cultivation technologies for vegetable and melon crops.
Each participant in the professional development program received a certificate.
