The Agricultural and Forestry Institute Maribor also organized this year the traditional Lombergar Days – a three-day series of professional consultations that connect knowledge, experience, and best practices from key sectors of Slovenian agriculture. The event took place at the Faculty of Agriculture and Biosystems of the University of Maribor in Hoče.
The slogan of this year’s 8th Crop Production Consultation, held on 2 December 2025, was: “Roots of the Future: Together for Sustainable and Resilient Crop Production.” The consultation focused primarily on the role of biostimulants in modern crop production, particularly their impact on improving crop growth, stress resilience, and yield enhancement.
The presentation titled “Microalgae as Biostimulants for Crop Plants” was delivered by Tanja Zrnec Drobnjak, co-authored with Assoc. Prof. Rok Mihelič from the Biotechnical Faculty. Special emphasis was given to showcasing research conducted within the Waste4Soil project. Participants were introduced to the basic regulatory frameworks governing the use of biostimulants and were explained how microalgae influence the growth and development of crop plants. Furthermore, results from field trials conducted as part of the Living Lab Slovenia–Istria within the Waste4Soil project were highlighted, demonstrating the potential of microalgae as a sustainable solution in crop production.
The consultation aimed to foster collaboration among research institutions, advisory services, and producers, and to support the implementation of innovative approaches for more sustainable and competitive agricultural production.
