During the Polish Science Gala 2026 at the Polish Theater in Warsaw, the annual Minister of Science and Higher Education Awards were presented – one of the most important distinctions in the Polish academic community. In the presence of representatives of the scientific community, parliamentarians, and representatives of the central administration, Dr. Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, honored the winners in five prestigious categories: for significant achievements in scientific, teaching, implementation, and organizational activities, as well as for lifetime achievement.

We are very proud to announce that the team award for significant achievements in implementation activities was presented to scientists from the Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences: Prof. Maciej Balawejder and Dr. Natalia Matłok, Prof. UR. The award was presented in the presence of Prof. Jolanta Szempruch, Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at the University of Rzeszów.

This prestigious award is a recognition of their innovative research and technological solutions, which have been successfully implemented in agricultural and horticultural practice, bringing measurable economic and environmental benefits.

The award-winning team carried out a series of research and development projects, which resulted in, among other things, the development and implementation of innovative technologies in the following areas:

• residue-free plant protection,
• improvement of the quality and shelf life of berries,
• reduction of pesticide residues in fruit processing.

A key element of the developed solutions is the use of gaseous ozone and UV-C radiation, among others, in the cultivation of raspberries under cover and in the storage of large-fruited cranberries. The effectiveness of these methods, confirmed by research, has made it possible to:

• significantly reduce the use of fungicides,
• significantly increase the content of bioactive compounds in fruit,
• improve the shelf life and quality of raw materials.

The technologies are protected by patents (patents No. PL 247081 B1 and P.44483) and represent a globally unique approach to sustainable agricultural production and post-harvest processing. They respond to global challenges related to reducing the use of chemicals in agriculture and producing food with high health benefits.

The developed technologies have been applied in the activities of leading entities in the horticulture and processing sectors. Their implementation has brought measurable economic benefits by improving production profitability and enabling the expansion of products into foreign markets.

The international significance of the team's achievements is confirmed by prestigious awards, including the Gold Medal at the ICAN exhibition in Canada and the ARECA 2024 Medal in Croatia, as well as publications in highly ranked scientific journals.

The team has demonstrated high efficiency in technology transfer and commercialization of research results. Cooperation with industrial partners, including in the model of joint ownership of patent rights, has enabled the direct implementation of the developed solutions into economic practice.

The scientists' activities also included the active dissemination of knowledge through industry conferences, exhibition events, promotional materials, and the implementation of research and implementation agreements with industry.

Recognition for the quality of research at the University of Rzeszów

The Minister's award confirms the high level of research conducted at the Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences of the University of Rzeszów and the effectiveness of combining scientific activity with the real needs of the economy.

The success of the team led by Prof. Maciej Balawejder and Dr. Natalia Matłok proves that innovations developed at the University of Rzeszów have a real impact on the development of modern, sustainable agriculture at the regional, national, and international levels.

https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/gala-nauki-polskiej---wybitni-badacze-uhonorowani-nagroda-ministra