The Fruit Research Institute Holovousy for 380 million is completed

Holovousy (Jičín region) - The construction of the Fruit Research Institute in Holovousy in the Jičín region, costing approximately 380 million crowns, is completed. The researchers plan to move into the new facilities between March and April. Jaroslav Vácha, the director of the Research and Breeding Institute of Horticulture, told ČTK today. Until now, the Holovousy research institute, established in 1951, has been located in rented premises of the local castle. The construction of the new institute is funded by EU grants.
    "The building has already been handed over and officially inspected, and is currently in trial operation," said Vácha. The new institute includes, besides the main building with laboratories, a fruit storage facility, a research greenhouse, two garage buildings for agricultural machinery, and a packaging storage area. Since August 2013, it has been constructed by the consortium Jablko, which consists of companies Hochtief CZ and BAK construction company.
    The total costs amount to 567 million crowns, which, in addition to the construction of the institute's facilities, also include costs for research projects, interior equipment, and agricultural machinery. Currently, for example, three tenders are underway for the supply of laboratory equipment. If the institute remained in the rented premises of the castle, its development opportunities would be very limited.
    In accordance with the research project, the institute has also hired about 30 new staff members, half of whom are university-educated researchers. The institute now has around 100 employees. As part of the new institute project, researchers are working, for example, on the preservation and conservation of historical Czech fruit varieties or on researching new protection methods in so-called integrated fruit cultivation systems. The result of their work is expected to be 171 expert publications. The institute is also intended to become an educational base for Czech fruit growers.