Meeting of the Polish Wetlands Committee in Warsaw

Warsaw, Poland

On 08 November 2024, during the meeting of the Polish Wetlands Committee in Warsaw, which is dedicated to the study, protection and administration of wetlands, representatives of SPIN-FERT – Dr Ewa Furmańczyk and Dr Jadwiga Treder, Prof IO, presented the project’s assumptions, goals and methodology. Dr Ewa Furmańczyk presented the general concept and structure of the project, as well as examples of novel tools planned to be developed using artificial intelligence, which may prove useful in fostering techniques to improve soil health and the use of alternative substrates for peat in horticulture. Dr Jadwiga Treder, Prof. IO familiarised the audience with the most important characteristics which make peat so crucial  for horticultural productions and discussed the most promising alternatives to it that are already being designed at the National Institute of Horticultural Research, also within SPIN-FERT. The meeting was attended by 35 representatives of various Polish national institutions close to nature conservation, especially peatlands and wetlands, including: General Directorate for Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography, State Water Management “Wody Polskie”, Warsaw University, Institute of Technology and Life Sciences – the National Research Institute and National Parks (Biebrza National Park, Kampison National Park or Slovinski National Park). The presentation on the SPIN-FERT project aroused great interest and a lively discussion which could lead to collaborations for disseminating SPIN-FERT results and exploitation of its tools. The meeting was also an occasion to conduct another workshop for “The Breath of Soil: Memory Nexus” exercise, which created a great enthusiasm about the art-science approach of SPIN-FERT.