We are starting realisation of the Lider XV project under the acronym EcoAgroPlazm!
We are pleased to announce that on December 1, 2025, we launched the project “EcoAgroPlazm Project: Innovative, High-Throughput, and Ecological Technology for Plant Seed Decontamination Using Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma” (contract number Lider15/0126/2024), led by Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk. This project received funding of 1,799,985.00 PLN from National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) in the frames of Lider XV competition.
On December 3 2025, at 10:30 AM, the researchers involved in the project met for the kickoff meeting of this project.
We will keep you updated on the results of realisation of the Lider XV project:)
Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk presented the assumptions of the Lider XV project (LIDER15/0126/2024) at the meeting at the NCBR office in Brussels
During a meeting with 17 beneficiaries of the Lider XV program at the NCBR office in Brussels, Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk presented the assumptions of the headed by her Lider15/0126/2024 project under the acronym EcoAgroPlazm. Participation in this meeting enabled demonstration of the potential of the scientific idea based on the presented preliminary research outcomes, obtain feedback from the other participants, and build a network of contacts, which is crucial in the field of modern science.
Participants of the meeting of beneficiaries of the Lider XV program at the NCBR office in Brussels. Source: NCBR
The employees of R&D Laboratory in the organizing committee of the XXVIII Biotechnology Summer School:)
Dr. Weronika Babińska-Wensierska and Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk, the members of the Research & Development Laboratory of IFB UG & MUG, co-organized XXVIII Biotechnology Summer School, which took place 22–26 September 2025, at the “SZARLOTA” Recreation Complex in Kościerzyna, located in the picturesque Kashubian region.
This year’s edition was themed “The Green Side of One Health: from basics to industrial applications,” emphasizing the importance of biotechnology in protecting the health of humans, plants, and the environment.
The program included lectures by distinguished scientists from Poland and abroad, including Jane Parker, Jonathan A. Napier, Monika Kałużna, Alessio Mengoni, and Magdalena Frąc, on topics such as: modern methods for improving plant immunity, sustainable agriculture, lipid biotechnology, the composition of environmental microbiomes, and various applications of genetic engineering. Workshops on the use of artificial intelligence in scientific work, career development outside of academia, and less formal activities such as a field game, a costume party, a barbecue, and a kayaking trip were also scheduled.
Biotechnology Summer School is an initiative organized since 1994, whose goal is not only to share the latest scientific knowledge, but also to build an international network of collaborations and foster integration within a creative academic environment.
Dr. Weronika Babińska-Wensierska awarded during the 9th National Microbiological Symposium “Metagenomies of Various Environments”
We are extremely pleased to announce that Dr. Weronika Babińska-Wensierska was awarded during the 9th National Microbiological Symposium “Metagenomics of Various Environments”, which took place on June 23-24, 2025 at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
For her presentation entitled “The role of soil microbiota in the development of disease symptoms of blackleg and wet rot of potatoes – identification of the natural antagonist Paenibacillus sp.“, Dr. Babińska-Wensierska received:
→ Award for the best presentation granted by the Polish Genetics Society,
→ 3rd distinction for the best presentation, awarded by the Organizing Committee of the Symposium.
This research was carried out in the frames of Preludium 21 project (2022/45/N/NZ9/01923) headed by her.
Congratulations:)
Dr. Weronika Babińska-Wensierska
Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk received funding in the NCBR Leader XV competition
We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk has received funding in the amount of PLN 1,799,985.00 for realisation of the project entitled “Project EcoAgroPlazm: innovative, high-throughput and pro-ecological cold atmospheric pressure plasma-based technology for decontamination of plant seeds“, which obtained founding from NCBR in the frames of Lider XV competition.
This interdisciplinary project will involve researchers from University of Gdańsk, Wrocław University of Science and Technology and the Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice. Besides we also anticipate involvement of the entities from the socio-economic environment to increase the chances of implementation of the effects of this project.
During Gala of Lider XV. Source: National Centre for Research and Development
The beneficiaries of Lider XV NCBR competition. Source: National Centre for Research and Development
R & D Laboratory team with the representatives of Univentum Labs at the Agrotech trade fairs in Kielce
The team of Research and Development Laboratory, represented by Dr. Natalia Kaczyńska, together with representatives of Univentum Labs special, had the pleasure of participating in the XXX International Fair of Agricultural Technology Agrotech held in Kielce on 14-16.03.25.
We had a unique opportunity to participate in interesting discussions about plant diseases, diagnostics molecular tools and modern methods of combating phytopathogenic microorganisms.
See you at the next events!:)
Realization of the NCN Opus 17 project led by Dr. Wojciech Śledź
We would like to keep you informed about the progress in realization of OPUS 17 project (2019/33/B/NZ9/00940) granted by the National Science Center in Poland.
Fruitful cooperation with the research team of Dr. eng. Anna Patrycja Dzimitrowicz Prof. PWr from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, contributed to dissemination of the research results in the form of 6 scientific publications:
Collaborators in the OPUS 17 project (from left): Prof. Paweł Pohl, Dr. eng. Anna Dzimitrowicz prof. PWr (head of the project from PWr), Dr. eng. Piotr Jamróz prof. PWr, Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk, Dr. eng. Wojciech Śledź (head of the project).
→ Dzimitrowicz, Anna, Piotr Jamroz, Pawel Pohl, Weronika Babinska, Dominik Terefinko, Wojciech Sledz, and Agata Motyka-Pomagruk. “Multivariate optimization of the FLC-dc-APGD-based reaction-discharge system for continuous production of a plasma-activated liquid of defined physicochemical and anti-phytopathogenic properties.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 9 (2021): 4813.
→ Motyka-Pomagruk, Agata, Anna Dzimitrowicz, Jakub Orlowski, Weronika Babinska, Dominik Terefinko, Michal Rychlowski, Michal Prusinski et al. “Implementation of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma for eradication of plant pathogens from a surface of economically important seeds.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 17 (2021): 9256.
→ Babinska, Weronika, Agata Motyka-Pomagruk, Wojciech Sledz, Agnieszka Kowalczyk, Zbigniew Kaczynski, and Ewa Lojkowska. “The first Polish isolate of a novel species Pectobacterium aquaticum originates from a Pomeranian Lake.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 9 (2021): 5041.
→ Dzimitrowicz, Anna, Pawel Pohl, Magda Caban, Piotr Jamroz, Piotr Cyganowski, Mateusz Bykowski, Aleksandra Klimczak, and Aleksandra Bielawska-Pohl. “How does direct current atmospheric pressure glow discharge application influence on physicochemical, nutritional, microbiological, and cytotoxic properties of orange juice?.” Food Chemistry 377 (2022): 131903.
→ Śledź Wojciech, Motyka-Pomagruk Agata, Żukowska Dominika, Babińska‑Wensierska Weronika, Żołędowska Sabina, Łojkowska Ewa. Genotypic and phenotypic uniformity among the population of Pectobacterium atrosepticum strains isolated during three growing seasons from potato fields in Poland. European Journal of Plant Pathology 2023, 167(1): 99-121 (doi: 10.1007/s10658-023-02687-y).
→ Orlowski Jakub, Motyka-Pomagruk Agata, Dzimitrowicz Anna, Pohl Paweł, Terefinko Dominik, Lojkowska Ewa, Jamroz Piotr & Sledz Wojciech. Application of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Results in Achievement of Universal Antibacterial Properties on Various Plant Seeds. Applied Sciences 2025, 15(3), 1255. (doi: 10.3390/app15031255)
in addition to two patents and two patent applications:
→ ,,Sposób eradykacji bakteryjnych fitopatogenów oraz przepływowy układ reakcyjno-wykładowczy do realizacji tego sposobu”. Numer prawa wyłącznego Pat. 236055 z dnia 2020-07-24. Twórcy: Łojkowska Ewa, Śledź Wojciech, Motyka Agata, Anna Dzimitrowicz, Piotr Jamróz, Paweł Pohl. Zgłaszający: Politechnika Wrocławska i Uniwersytet Gdański.
→ ,,Sposób otrzymania preparatu do stymulacji wzrostu roślin, preparat otrzymany tym sposobem oraz zastosowanie preparatu do stymulacji wzrostu roślin, w szczególności tych istotnych gospodarczo”. Numer prawa wyłącznego Pat.236377 z dnia 2020-03-17. Twórcy: Agata Motyka-Pomagruk, Anna Dzimitrowicz, Weronika Babińska, Wojciech Śledź, Paweł Pohl, Piotr Jamróz, Dominik Terefinko, Ewa Łojkowska. Zgłaszający: Politechnika Wrocławska i Uniwersytet Gdański.
→ ,,Sposób ochrony roślin istotnych gospodarczo, zwłaszcza roślin naczyniowych, przed patogenami bakteryjnymi” Zgłoszenie patentowe (UP RP) nr P.438360 z dnia 2021-07-06. Twórcy: Dzimitrowicz Anna, Jamróz Piotr, Pohl Paweł, Terefinko Dominik, Motyka-Pomagruk Agata, Babińska Weronika, Śledź Wojciech, Łojkowska Ewa, Orłowski Jakub, Prusiński Michał. Zgłaszający: Politechnika Wrocławska i Uniwersytet Gdański.
→ ,,Method for producing a formulation of antibacterial properties, the formulation obtained by this method and its application in addition to a flow-through reaction-discharge system for implementing this method” Zgłoszenie patentowe (UP RP) nr P.447139 z 2023-12-18. Twórcy: Dzimitrowicz Anna, Motyka-Pomagruk Agata, Terefinko Dominik, Jamróz Piotr, Śledź Wojciech, Orłowski Jakub, Babińska-Wensierska Weronika, Paweł Pohl, Łojkowska Ewa. Zgłaszający: Politechnika Wrocławska i Uniwersytet Gdański.
It is worth emphasizing that Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk, who presented the results of the OPUS 17 project in the Young Fahrenheit competition (2023), won the First Prize, which indicates the high commercialization potential of the collected research results.
We will inform you about the next successes
Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk was chosen the head of Branch Gdańsk FEBS jr section
We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk has been elected chairwoman of the FEBS jr section in the Gdańsk Branch🙂
Below we present an invitation from the Founding Committee of FEBS jr Poland to join this initiative:
Dr. Agata Motyka-Pomagruk
the head of FEBS jr section in the Gdańsk Branch
