Agricultural University Plovdiv and Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Agricultural University, Plovdiv

The Plovdiv Agricultural University, founded in 1945, is the only state university in Bulgaria specialising in agricultural and life sciences and enjoys a high national, European and international reputation. The National Accreditation Agency ranks AUP among the top three universities in Bulgaria. The main structural units are Faculty of Agronomy, Faculty of Horticulture and Viticulture, Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology, Faculty of Economics, Department of Languages and Sports and the Centre for Lifelong Learning. Education is provided for the acquisition of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in professional fields.

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER-BAS) was established on 1 July 2010 by merging the former Institute of Zoology, the Institute of Botany and the Central Laboratory of General Ecology - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
The Institute conducts research in basic and applied aspects of ecology, biodiversity, nature conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. It trains PhD students in botany, mycology, zoology, enthomology, animal parasitology, ecology, hydrobiology, conservation biology, environmental genetics, evolutionary biology and other closely related scientific fields. It provides scientific services and methodological support to governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Role in the project

Ivanka Semerdjieva

As a researcher, my focus is on analysing the size and structure of Bulgarian farms, the medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) species grown, and the farming methods used, whether organic or conventional. I am also investigating the current challenges and advances in chemical weed control for MAP crops, particularly the economic costs and decreasing availability of active ingredients. In addition, I am reviewing non-chemical weed management (NCWM) practices used in related crops, such as vegetables, field crops and ornamentals, to determine which strategies could be effectively adapted to MAP crops. A key aspect of my research is to identify the barriers and drivers that influence the adoption of NCWM strategies by Bulgarian farmers, with the aim of understanding the factors that either encourage or hinder their implementation. Beyond analysis, my aim is to consolidate existing knowledge, foster collaboration and co-create innovative solutions by engaging primary producers, processors, agricultural advisors, scientists, policymakers, educators and students.