The Green Plate Forum 3.0, titled “Future Food for Thought”, was successfully held on 24 June 2025, from 16:00 to 19:30, at BOKU University, TÜWI, Vienna. The event was jointly hosted and organized by students from BOKU University, together with our international guests from the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU) Prague and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and was proudly supported by the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS). This year’s forum focused on exploring the global intersections of food culture and sustainability. Under the theme “Future Food for Thought”, the event celebrated sustainable dishes from around the world, showcasing how diverse cultures contribute to sustainable development through traditional cooking practices, recipes, and localized food systems.

In April 2025, a team of researchers from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences went on an expedition to Laos thanks to the Erasmus+ KA171 programme. Ladislav Kokoška, Markéta Houdková and Mikuláš Středa participated in the research trip. Their aim was not only to collect samples of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine and samples of neglected and underutilized fruits and vegetables used to prepare local dishes, but also to establish cooperation with scientists from Savannakhet University.

From June 8–12, 2025, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague hosted the Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnobotany (SEB) – a globally respected event that took place in the Czech Republic for the very first time. The conference brought together dozens of researchers, scholars, and students interested in ethnobotany, biocultural diversity, and the traditional knowledge of plants.

The program included keynote lectures, interactive workshops, poster presentations, and field trips. Teaching Tuesday featured immersive VR ethnobotany sessions and discussions on teaching innovations. The week was closed by a full day of excursions across selected cultural and botanical heritage sites in the Czech Republic.

We thank all speakers, volunteers, and attendees who made this inspiring event a success!

Students of the International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development (ICARD) bachelor programme at FTZ, Jan Müldner and Anna Pražáková, travelled to the Brazilian part of the Amazon as part of their final thesis. The topics of their theses are related to the long-term plan of the research team TRACE (Tropical Farming Systems & Ecological Economics) at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, led by Assoc. Ing. Vladimír Verner, Ph.D., which is to strengthen food security and economic self-sufficiency of agricultural communities facing climate risks and to promote agrobiodiversity. Anička and Honza focused specifically on deforestation, sustainable farming and the use of local palm species. We are happy to share their experiences.

On 29–30 April 2025, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) hosted the EU CAP Network brokerage event titled “Partnering for innovation with impact in agriculture and rural areas.” Organised by the EU CAP Network in cooperation with CZU, the event brought together stakeholders to exchange knowledge and foster collaboration under the EIP-AGRI initiative, with a strong emphasis on funding opportunities within Horizon Europe. The programme featured field visits, a networking dinner, and tailored matchmaking activities to build impactful partnerships across the agriculture, forestry, and rural development sectors. 

The event focused on innovation topics aligned with Horizon Europe Cluster 6 — including digital technologies, sustainable food systems, new business models and value chains, and soil and water health.  

During the event, representatives from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (CZU) presented their research and international project experience. 

• Petra Chaloupková shared insights on value chain management based on her work in the ADVALUE project in Kenya and Uganda and the SmartAgri Cambodia project. 

• Pavla Hejcmanová introduced activities of Antelope Conservation in Senegal. 

• Zbyněk Polesný presented research activities of the Laboratory of Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology. 

• Francisco Herrador Ceacero contributed with expertise in Animal physiology and behaviour. 

• Radim Kotrba highlighted activities under the AfroGrow project. 

• Jan Staš shared experience from field projects in Zambia. 

• Aishwarya Chaure showed the etnopharmacology laboratory and presented the main target products of the research. 

• Anežka Daníčková conducted the excursion in the greenhouse. 

These contributions showcased the diverse and impactful role of academic institutions in fostering innovation for sustainable development in agriculture and rural areas. 

The SmartAgriCambodia project officially launched this week at the National University of Battambang (NUBB), marking a major step forward in promoting sustainable agricultural practices in northwestern Cambodia. The two-day kick-off meeting, held from May 16–17, 2025, brought together representatives from academic institutions, local cooperatives, non-governmental organizations, government authorities, and international partners.