Estonian Crop Research Institute has been formed after merging

Applied and basic studies are carried out in following
areas:
· Development and upgrading of efficient and
environmentally friendly agrotechnologies;
· Dependence of yield and quality from used
varieties and agrotechnologies;
· Plant protection and plant health;
· Agrochemistry and fertilisation;
· Agrometeorology.
More than 299 varieties have been bred throughout the
history of the institute. Institute represents 18 varieties of
other breeding companies in Estonia. Along with them,
there are 96 ECRI varieties in Estonian Variety List in
2015. Varieties of the institute are in active cultivation
also in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden,
Norway, Germany and Japan.
Estonian Crop Research Institute has been formed after
merging Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture and
Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute on 1 July 2013.
Research and Development activities of the institute
support the increase of efficiency and competitiveness of
agricultural production, decrease negative impact of
agricultural production on the environment and help
preserve agro-biodiversity.
In 2015, ECRI celebrates its 95th birthday.
Research activities of the institute are organised in five
research departments:
· Agrotechnology;
· Gene Bank;
· Jõgeva Plant Breeding;
· Plant Biotechnology;
· Plant Protection;
Total staff of the institute is 152 persons, including
47 researchers, of which 21 with doctoral degree.
Breeding of new varieties
Variety breeding is supported by National program of
plant breeding for 2009-2019.
Active breeding programs are carried on: cereals, oilseeds,
forage grasses and legumes, potatoes and vegetables.
Collaborative projects in agricultural, food and
forestry sectors for development of new products and
technologies:
· Widening range of cereal products for food and
industrial use and development of suitable
agrotechnologies.
· Increase of efficiency of organic cereal
production and improvement of grain quality for
food production.
· Cultivation of soya for protein products.
· Development of environmentally friendly
vegetable production.
· Implementation of site specific forecasting
system to control the potato late blight.
· Use of biofumigation and biologically active
substances to control potato diseases.
Genetic resources
Institute coordinates the programme „Collection and
Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture in 2014–2020”.
More than 2700 accessions from 58 species of cereals,
oilseeds, forage crops and vegetables are in long term
ex situ preservation in Gene Bank.
Department of Plant Biotechnology preserves accessions
of potato and horticultural crops in in vitro culture.
Jõgeva Seed Centre organises production and distribution
of certified seeds in cereals, oilcrops, grasses and seed
potatoes in Estonia.
New varieties registered in 2015
'Virges'
High yielding, early ripening, medium
growing garden pea.
'Evelle'
High yielding, early ripening, high
growing tomato. Good resistance to
diseases.
'Voore'
High yielding, medium ripening spring
wheat for bread making. Suitable for
baking. Good disease resistance.
'Ruja'
High yielding winter tritikale for feed.
Good resistance to diseases, very good
winter hardiness.
'Legato'
High yielding winter turnip. Very good
winter hardiness. Suitable for direct
sowing and organic farming.
Sharing of knowledge
Institute provides scientific support for advisory system,
state officials and development of legislation.
Distribution of research results takes place in trainings,
through publications, databases and web tools.
Institute is involved in organisation of professional and
voluntary additional education.
International Collaborative Research and
Development projects
EU 7th framework projects
HealthyMinorCereals – An integrated approach to
diversity of the genetic base, improve stress resistance,
agronomic management and nutritional/processing quality
of minor cereal crops for human nutrition in Europe.
EUROLEGUME – Enhancing of legumes growing in
Europe through sustainable cropping for protein supply for
food and feed.
LEGATO – LEGumes for the Agriculture of Tomorrow.
ERA-NET projects
COBRA – Coordinating Organic Plant Breeding
Activities for Diversity.
SoilVeg - Improving soil conservation and resource use in
organic cropping systems for vegetable production
through introduction and management of Agro-ecological
Service Crops.
COST Action projects
Biogreenhouse – Towards a sustainable and productive
EU organic greenhouse horticulture.
EURO-AGRIWAT – Assessment of European
agriculture water use and trade under climate change.
Nordic Council of Ministries project
Public-private partnership in pre-breeding of perennial
ryegrass.
Program "Human resources and employment" project
Cereal Diet Food – The creation of a new scientific group
for the purposes of multisectorial research regarding the
evaluation of local selection material of cereals taking into
account the indicators of their nutritional potential and
opportunities of use in prevent of chronic intestinal
diseases.
Estonian Crop Research Institute
J. Aamisepa 1
48309 Jõgeva
Estonia
Phone +372 776 6901
Fax +372 776 6902
info@etki.ee
www.etki.ee
State research and development institute in area of
governance of the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture