90th Anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus: role and results of agrarian science

Abstract

Agrarian science in general and a number of agrarian scientists were at the forefront of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR. Researches and knowledge in the field of this science in the republic originated in the last third of the XVIII century. Their formation was accelerated by occurrence of Gory-Goretskaya agricultural school 180 years ago in Mogilev province and of the Institute of Belarusian Culture (Inbelkult) in 1922, which gave start to the Academy of Sciences in 1928. It also included agricultural research institutes, which in 1940 made up 30 % of the total number of research institutions in the BSSR. In 1957–2002 agrarian science was united by the sectoral Academy. In 2002 it was included into the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus again, Department of Agrarian Sciences was created which included 25 research organizations, 7 agricultural and 2 industrial enterprises. Today, agricultural knowledge is formed by the structural sub-divisions of the Agrarian Sciences Division of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, other scientific organizations of the Academy, and their joint researches. There are five leading research and production centers for arable farming, livestock breeding, potato and fruit-and-vegetable farming, mechanization of agriculture and foodstuffs, which combined specialized research all the areas of the country's agro-industrial complex and to strengthening the country's agrarian economy. Agrarian scientists have established close relations with colleagues in many countries of the world, but the closest relations have been established with Russian research institutes: a number of research and technical programs have been implemented within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. There are many famous people among Belarusian agrarians being highly appreciated by the state. Thus, agrarian science of the Republic of Belarus has passed a serious stage of development throughout its history, retaining connection and tradition of several generations of scientists of fundamental importance for research work in the XXI century.