The Chargé d’Affaires from the U.S. Embassy learned about the university’s educational and research achievements in the field of precision agriculture, as well as its practical activities.
- Following its joint precision agriculture engineering program with South Dakota State University (SDSU), which offers a dual degree, the University of Debrecen is preparing further collaborations with other U.S. universities in the areas of student exchange, scholarships, and research programs. This visit provided an opportunity to showcase our achievements to date. In the field of agriculture, the importance of water management has come to the forefront, as water scarcity poses an increasingly serious challenge worldwide. In recent years, and especially this past summer in Hungary, we have strongly experienced how efficient water management is becoming increasingly important- Rector Zoltán Bács told hirek.unideb.hu.
The delegation members had the opportunity to learn about the research being conducted at the Látókép Experimental Farm, which focuses particularly on the agricultural impacts of climate change, land use, and water management.
- At the University of Debrecen, students are using U.S.-developed precision irrigation systems, drones, and artificial intelligence to produce more food while using less water. This is particularly important at a time when Hungary is facing increasingly severe droughts. This collaboration enables Hungarian farmers to access the most advanced American expertise and technologies, while the United States gains a strong partner in strengthening global food security. For me, this is what Hungarian-American cooperation means: real technologies, practical solutions, and tangible results- emphasized Caroline Savage.
In recent years, the University of Debrecen has made significant strides in the field of precision agriculture education and research. For several decades, the Remote Sensing Crop Production Experimental Station has been one of the key sites for domestic crop production and water management research.
Endre Harsányi, Vice Rector for Strategic Development and Head of the Department of Agricultural Machinery and Robotics, explained that they wanted to present a comprehensive overview of the university’s research in the fields of precision agriculture and climate change.
- Our experts are conducting the same research in parallel, using the same technologies, as researchers at South Dakota State University and Nebraska State University. The reason for this collaboration is that they face similar climatic challenges as we do. It is therefore important that we pass on our existing knowledge to the next generation. This way, they can continue these scientific studies at a higher level, with an even greater focus on precision, evidence-based land use and water management- added Endre Harsányi.
During the American delegation’s visit, they also met with third-year precision agriculture engineering students from the DE Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management.
Press Office - ÉE