Home / SGGW People / Prof. dr hab. Piotr Stypiński appointed as Honorary President of the European Grassland Federation

Prof. dr hab. Piotr Stypiński appointed as Honorary President of the European Grassland Federation

Prof. dr hab. Piotr Stypiński, a long-term head of the Department of Grassland, and then the Department of Agronomy, SGGW, was awarded the lifetime title of the Honorary President of the European Grassland Federation. The award ceremony took place on 29 June 2022 in Caen, France, during the 29th EGF general meeting: Grassland at the heart of circular and sustainable food systems in the presence of 330 scientists from around the world. Together with Professor P. Stypiński, this title was awarded to: Dr. Alan Hopkins (Great Britain) and Dr. Lars Nesheim (Norway). In the 60-year history of the European Grassland Federation, this honorary title which is a certificate of merit, was awarded to only 12 scientists from 6 European countries. Poland was represented once so far, by Dr Jan Caputa. 

The European Grassland Federation (EGF) was established in 1963 with 32 member countries currently. The mission of the EGF is to exchange and disseminate the achievements of grassland and related sciences in Europe and to set new directions. This is mainly achieved through the regular conferences and occasional symposia organized since 1965.. These conferences have a huge impact on the development of grassland sciences in Europe.

This year’s event: Grassland at the heart of circular and sustainable food systems, was attended by 330 scientists from all over the world, mainly from Europe (308 people from 21 countries), including 5 people from Poland. The conference was held in Caen, France, and was hosted by the Caen University and INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment). It is worth to emphasize that a candidate for the EGF Honorary President needs to meet some requirements, including: active participation in at least 12 EGF conferences, significant scientific achievements within the Federation (an author or co-author of plenary papers), working for the Federation (membership in the Executive Committee as a president or secretary), and conferences. The candidate’s personality, their scientific authority as well as international experience are also important.

For 50 years of his professional activity, Professor Stypiński has conducted a series of studies on the production of feed on individual farms, especially on organic soils, biology and use of legumes, mainly white clover, and the organization and systems of grazing.

Prof. Stypiński is the author of over 140 papers, including several dozen original scientific papers. He is a valued academic teacher.  He was a member of the EGF executive committee twice (1994-1996, 2009-2012). In 2010-2012 he was the President of EGF, which was related to the organization of the EGF General Meeting in Lublin in 2012 by the Polish Grassland Society.

EGF Honorary Presidents:

  • Davies (UK)
  • L. t’Hart (Netherlands)
  • G. Andrejew (Soviet Union)
  • Jarvi (Finland)
  • Caputa (Switzerland)
  • Frame (UK)
  • Blagovieszczenski (Russia)
  • ‘T Mannetje (Netherlands)
  • J. Wilkins (Great Britain)
  • Noesberger (Switzerland)
  • Prins (Netherlands)
  • Parente (Italy)
  • Stypiński (Poland)
  • Hopkins (Great Britain)
  • Nesheim (Norway)