Horticulture has long been an important discipline of plant production in Poland. The development of modern horticultural production has been considerably influenced by scientific activity of research centres at Agricultural Universities and branch institutes of fruit-growing, floriculture and vegetable growing.
The Polish Society for Horticultural Science (PSHS) was established in 1987 on the initiative of the Polish Academy of Sciences in order to integrate a horticultural science community in Poland. Professor Tadeusz Wojtaszek, a great promoter for the Society's establishment, was elected as first President of the Society. After his death in 1990, this function was bestowed on Prof. Andrzej Libik (1990-1999) and next on Prof. Stanisław Cebula (1999-2007), Prof. Edward Kunicki (2007-2011), Dr. Piotr Siwek (2011-2015), and Dr. Jacek Nawrocki (2015-2019). Presently Prof. Piotr Siwek is the President of the Society.
The statuory purpose of the Society is to develop scientific and educational activities of its members in horticultural research in all the fields, particularly in pomology, vegetables, ornamental plants, horticultural plant breeding, apiculture and landscaping.
The Society accomplishes its goals through:
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organisation of lectures, meetings, conferences and symposia of a local, all-Polish and international range and thus promotion of horticultural knowledge;
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regular publication of a scientific horticultural journal Folia Horticulturae in English and Information Bulletin devoted to current activities of PSHS members.
The Society's status distinguishes three possible types of membership:
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ordinary member - every person working in scientific research or showing interest in horticulture who declares co-operation and help in accomplishing the goals of the Society;
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supporting member - legal person interested in the Society's activities who declares financial support on behalf of the Society;
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honorary member - a person who has had a considerable share in the development of horticultural sciences or rendered outstanding services for the benefit of the Society.
The status of a honorary member has been awarded to distinguished scientists, namely Professors: Renata Dobromilska, Mikołaj Knaflewski, Marian Kossowski, Edward Kunicki, Andrzej Libik, Barbara Michalik, Katarzyna Niemirowicz-Szczytt, Józef Piróg, Maria Szymańska. Honorary members were also: Wojciech Angelus, Stanisław Cebula, Edward Close, Tadeusz Hołubowicz, Eugeniusz Kołota, Jerzy Korohoda, Nora Krusze, Janusz Lipecki, Jan Myczkowski, Szczepan Pieniążek, Henryk Skąpski, Jerzy Skierkowski, Jan Starck, Stanisław Zagaja.
From the beginning The Board of PSHS has had its seat in Krakow (The Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture at the University of Agriculture in Krakow), the city where agricultural studies have long tradition, which originated at the Jagiellonian University.
The Polish Society for Horticultural Science consists of eight divisions whose activities cover the whole of Poland: Kraków , Lublin, Olsztyn, Poznań, Skierniewice, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wrocław.
The Polish Society for Horticultural Science is a member of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).
The statuory activities of the Society are supported with financial means attributed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the accomplishment of concrete tasks related to popularisation of knowledge and publishing activity. It is also supported by numerous sponsors and, in small part, by membership fees. Members receive Folia Horticulturae and Information Bulletin. Following the decision of the General Assembly of Delegates the annual membership fee is 100 PLN from 2024. The students are charged a reduced fee (50%).
Membership fees can be paid into the bank account of the Polish Society for Horticultural Science: Bank Pekao SA, Krakow Regional Office Branch, Poland, IBAN PL81 1240 1431 1111 0000 1045 9430, SWIFT PKOPPLPWKRA.
