The fruit-growing research institute in Holovousy is almost finished

Holovousy (Jičínsko) - The construction of several buildings for the Fruit Research Institute in Holovousy in the Jičín region, costing 378 million crowns, is nearly complete. Actual research in the new facilities is set to begin in the spring of next year. The total costs of construction, the research project, interior equipment, and agricultural technology amount to 567 million crowns. Jaroslav Vácha, the director of the Research and Breeding Institute of Horticulture, told ČTK. The institute, whose construction is fully financed by grants from European Union funds, is expected to become a leading center for Czech fruit research.
    Today, fruit growers took possession of the first completely finished building, a fruit storage facility. The storage was created by converting an old refrigerated warehouse and cost about 40 million crowns. In addition to the two original chambers, it has seven other separate gas-tight chambers. In these, it is possible to regulate temperature, oxygen, and nitrogen content in a protective atmosphere. Additionally, the storage has 18 small boxes for conducting scientific experiments with controlled atmosphere during fruit storage. The storage hall also features modern equipment for sorting fruit.
    In accordance with the research project, the institute has already hired approximately 30 new staff members, about half of whom are university-educated researchers. The institute currently has a total of 100 employees.
    Part of the institute's project, alongside the main building with laboratories and the storage, includes the construction of a research greenhouse, two garage buildings for agricultural machinery, and a packaging storage facility. The construction part of the project is expected to be fully completed in January. Since last August, it has been carried out by the consortium Jablko, which consists of the companies Hochtief CZ and BAK Construction Company.
    Until now, the Holovousy Research Institute, established in 1951, has been located in rented premises at the local castle. Its development opportunities would have been very limited without the construction of the new institute.
    The institute is expected to help increase the competitiveness of Czech fruit growing in Europe. It should also become an educational base for Czech fruit growers. Czech fruit growing generates a value of around three billion crowns annually and employs approximately 6,000 people.