On the occasion of International Danube Day, the University of Forestry presents the results achieved during the first year of the international project “Plasma Technologies in Environmental Monitoring, Wastewater Reuse and Soil Remediation for Cleaner Agricultural Production”, implemented under a programme of the Bulgarian National Science Fund.

The project brings together researchers from the University of Forestry, Brno University of Technology, and the University of Belgrade, with the shared objective of developing innovative scientific solutions for the protection of water resources, soils, and ecosystems within the Danube region. The topic is of particular importance, as the Danube is not only one of Europe’s most significant rivers but also a vital natural resource whose condition directly affects environmental sustainability, agriculture, biodiversity, and the quality of life of millions of people.

During the first year of implementation, the project team focused its work on several key areas related to the identification, monitoring, and mitigation of heavy metal pollution. The main research activities included:

• developing a methodology for assessing the bioavailability of heavy metals in wastewater and soils;
• determining the accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in plants;
• evaluating the applicability of innovative plasma technologies for reducing the toxicity of heavy metals in contaminated waters;
• promoting knowledge transfer, the exchange of good practices, and the enhancement of the research teams’ expertise.

The University of Forestry research team successfully carried out several important activities, including:

• analysing sources of heavy metal contamination and collecting water samples from the Danube River Basin;
• conducting laboratory studies on the effects of low-temperature plasma treatment on the bioavailability of heavy metals in water and soil;
• hosting young researchers from Brno University of Technology and the VINČA Institute, with whom joint experimental studies were conducted;
• participating in a scientific visit to the Central European Institute of Technology, where the team became acquainted with advanced methods for analysing heavy metal accumulation in plants using laser-induced spectroscopy, a technology that enables highly precise spatial determination of heavy metals and nutrients in plant and soil samples.

Throughout the past year, the University of Forestry team implemented a number of activities that significantly contributed to the progress of the project. Analyses of heavy metal contamination sources were carried out, and water samples were collected from the Danube Basin. At the same time, laboratory investigations examined the influence of low-temperature plasma treatment on the bioavailability of heavy metals in water and soil.

International scientific exchange has also been of particular value. Young researchers from Brno University of Technology and the VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences visited the University of Forestry, where joint experimental research was conducted. In turn, researchers from the University of Forestry visited the Central European Institute of Technology in Brno and gained first-hand experience with advanced methods for analysing heavy metal accumulation in plants, including laser-induced spectroscopy—a high-tech analytical approach that enables precise spatial determination of heavy metals and nutrient elements in plant and soil samples.

The participation of the University of Forestry in such international initiatives is further evidence of the University’s active role in contemporary environmental research and in the pursuit of sustainable solutions for the future. Through scientific collaboration, the exchange of expertise, and the application of innovative technologies, the University contributes to the development of modern approaches to environmental monitoring and the protection of natural resources.

Preserving the ecological health of the Danube River is a shared responsibility that requires continuous efforts, scientific commitment, and international cooperation. The integration of plasma technologies into environmental monitoring and the treatment of contaminated water and soils lays the foundation for new solutions that support a cleaner environment and more sustainable agricultural production.

Project KP-06-Danube/8 of 16 July 2025, entitled “Plasma Technologies in Environmental Monitoring, Wastewater Reuse and Soil Remediation for Cleaner Agricultural Production”, is funded under the programme “Multilateral Call for Scientific and Technological Cooperation in the Danube Region – 2024” of the Bulgarian National Science Fund.

The University of Forestry will continue to support and develop scientific initiatives aimed at environmental protection, sustainable resource management, and the creation of innovative solutions that benefit society and future generations.