The prestigious AgroBioTop scientific prize was awarded by the Biotechnology Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) to Dr Marta Grech-Baran from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.

The AgroBioTop Award was granted for the third time with aims to honor young scientists whose recognized achievements in the field of biotechnology have contributed to the development of agricultural sciences. The award is an annual individual cash prize 5000 euro granted by an independent jury appointed by the Biotechnology Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The prize is funded by Bayer.

– Dr Marta Grech-Baran received the AgroBioTop 2019 award for identifying the potato resistance gene to Y virus infection – said Prof. Maciej Żylicz, chairman of the jury of the AgroBioTop Award – This is the first, very important step to receive plants resistant to Y viruses. These viruses (also called PVY) attack not only potato, but also tobacco and tomato crops, bringing huge losses in agriculture in the world, including Poland – added Żylicz.