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Kari Saikkonen Appointed Research Professor of Ecologic Plant Production

May 24, 2005

The General Directorate of MTT Agrifood Research Finland has appointed Academy Research Fellow Ph.D. Kari Saikkonen as temporary Research Professor of Ecologic Plant Production from June 1, 2005 on. The professorship is jointly awarded with the University of Helsinki and it is located in Mikkeli. The temporary professorship can be continued until the end of 2009 at most.

The professor will be in charge of the research involving organic plant production and the development of the related cooperation at the Environmental Research Institute of MTT Agrifood Research Finland as well as the development of the undergraduate education in his field and the organisation of the relevant further education at the University of Helsinki Mikkeli Institute for Rural Research and Training. The Institute for Rural Research and Training belongs to the Mikkeli University Consortium, which comprises four universities.

Kari Saikkonen has most recently held an Academy Research Fellow Post at the Plant Protection Research Institute of MTT Agrifood Research Finland in Jokioinen. Biodiversity has always played a central role in his research. During the last ten years, his primary research topic has been systemic fungal endophytes of grasses. In addition to ideal research systems for testing ecological and evolutionary theory, fungal endophytes have economical value as biological control agents against pests and pathogens, or when ensuring the quality of animal feed.

Kari Saikkonen has produced numerous international publications and he has been involved in many international research projects as well as acting as a visiting researcher in various American universities. He has also gained experience of the developing countries, namely Latin America and Africa. He is a Docent in Ecology at the University of Turku.

THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO THE RESEARCH OF ORGANIC AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS IS BEING STRENGTHENED

The University of Helsinki Mikkeli Institute for Rural Research and Training has been a pioneer in education relating to organic agriculture in Finland. It is the only institute in Finland that offers the opportunity to specialise in organic agriculture and food economy in connection with an academic undergraduate degree. The Research Institute of Ecological Production of MTT Agrifood Research Finland, which operates in Mikkeli and Juva, coordinates and implements the organic agrifood research of MTT Agrifood Research Finland on a national scale, as part of the Environmental Research activities of the research institute. The objective of the joint professorship located in Mikkeli is to promote the development of organic production and the related economies through increasing the scientific level of the research and education in the field.

For further information, please contact: Kari Saikkonen, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, e-mail: kari.saikkonen@mtt.fi or tel. +358 (0) 50 590 4164.

MTT Agrifood Research Finland

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