About Us

The Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute is one of the departmental educational institutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, which has been in operation for almost 50 years. It provides a broad portfolio of services mainly in the area of continuing vocational, lifelong education, training and certification of agricultural advisors, compiles a specialized library collection, ensures effective and efficient access to information and information resources through information services and information technology. Hotel and conference services complete the portfolio of services.

As departmental educational establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic provides continuing vocational education and training for workers in the agricultural sector. It elaborates departmental concepts and plans of continuing education in specific education programs and modules, carries out educational projects at a national and international level. It provides professional training and certification of vocational skills of agricultural advisors, issues a certificate of vocational training, manages the Central Registry of Agricultural Advisors of the Slovak Republic for Agriculture and Forestry, develops and carries on an information system for advisory services.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute manages two unique departments and that is the National Center AGRIS FAO and FAO Depository Library. Both departments' activities fall under the professional and technical chapters of the Program FAO, which Slovakia is committed to support and develop. These outputs and services are aimed at member countries of the FAO, the national and international agricultural community, the scientific research base of the department, academic institutions, professional unions and associations, consultants, and students.

The Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute also provides the connection to the national and international environment via information services and technologies, especially by the creation, operation and updating of websites of the agricultural sector organizations: www.land.gov.sk, www.agroporadenstvo.sk, www.agroforum.sk, www.agroportal.sk, Agricultural paying agency, Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber, The Central Controlling and Testing Institute in Agriculture (ÚKSÚP), www.znackakvality.sk, www.skolskeovocie.sk.

Numerous organizations in the agriculture and rural development sectors, as well as outside of the resort, are involved in collaboration with the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute. Our long-term partners are the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Agricultural Paying Agency, research and development centers, universities, secondary vocational schools, professional chambers, unions and associations and European Commission Representation in the Slovak Republic.

Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute is a member of the Association of Adult Education Institutions (AIVD SR), the European Association of Adult Education, the Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber, the Rural Parliament, a member of the European network of Europe Direct information centers, a member of the Slovak Library Association, a member of AGLINET (international network of libraries) and the Slovak Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ZHRSR).

The Provision of Education and Advisory Services

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic has established the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute as a government departmental educational institution. The Institute is responsible for providing lifelong education and advisory services, with a particular focus on providing comprehensive information, library, conference, and hotel services.

The Institute participates in the creating of departmental concepts, strategies and guidelines within the continuing vocational education, elaborates departmental concepts and plans in specific education programs and modules, carries out educational projects at a national and international level. It provides professional training and certification of vocational skills of agricultural advisors, issues a certificate of vocational training, manages the Central Registry of Agricultural Advisors of the Slovak Republic for Agriculture and Forestry, develops and carries on an information system for advisory services.

Library and Information Services

The FAO Depository Library, the AGRIS FAO National Centre, and the Specialized Agriculture Library are managed by the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute in accordance with mandates and agreements.

Main tasks

• The creation of information and communication services to aid in the development of an information society in agriculture and rural development.
• The support for informatization in the sector
• To support the information linkage of the sector to the national and international environment
• Ensuring that the agricultural and rural development sectors are able to access the necessary information and resources in an efficient and effective manner.

International cooperation on scientific and technical information related to the FAO

Activities are ensured by the Slovak AGRIS FAO National Centre and the FAO Depository Library due to the resolution of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic No. 406/1993-100 from February 1st, 1993.

Library

The library carries out the duties of a unique agricultural library. The Library holdings amount between about 11,000 library units and consists of the FAO Depository Library fund and the EU Publications fund. There are 56 titles of periodicals in the fund. The Library Fund is electronically processed into a database that is a component of the Integrated Information System AGROKATALÓG.

Open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00

The library collaborates with Slovak and foreign information centers and libraries, as well as the AGLINET international network of agricultural libraries, as part of an international exchange of publications.

Library Services

• In-house loans (magazines, books, collections, encyclopaedias, statistical yearbooks).
• Outhouse loans (according to the Library Statute)
• Search services
• Interlibrary Loans (ILL)
• International Interlibrary Loans
• Reprographic services

Lists of Acquisitions
FAO/EU publications

About the Hotel Agroinštitút Nitra

The Hotel Agroinštitút has 106 beds and a stunning view of Nitra and its surroundings. The hotel has 54 comfortably appointed rooms - single beds, twin beds, and 6 apartments (2 LUX apartments for 2 people, 4 family apartments for 3 people).

All rooms are equipped with bathrooms and WCs, TV, telephones, fridges, and internet access.