History
The Development of Laimburg Research Centre: 1968 to the Present Day
From its first experimental tests in 1968, Laimburg Research Centre established itself as a major research institute for agriculture and the food sector in South Tyrol. Step by step, the infrastructure has grown, with the opening of new experimental areas, the inauguration of specialist laboratories and the commencement of important research projects. The following history offers a panorama of the essential steps in the institutional, structural and content developments of the Centre, from its foundation through to its transformation into a modern research institute with international reach.
-
From 1962
Experiments with low-growing training systems, early selection of clones, and varietal and rootstock trials in viticulture.
-
1968
Establishment of the first experimental fields.
-
1972–73
Construction of the experimental storage warehouse.
-
1975
Official establishment of the “Laimburg Centre for Agricultural and Forestry Research” under Provincial Law No. 53 of 3 November 1975.
-
1978
Construction of the Mair am Hof farmstead in Teodone/Brunico for experiments in arable and fodder crops; purchase of the Seeburg farm in Bressanone/Brixen.
-
1977–79
Establishment of the first premises of the Research Centre by converting the former stables of the Laimburg Estate.
-
1979
Commencement of activities at the agricultural chemistry laboratory.
-
1982
Start of experiments with aromatic plants.
-
1984
Foundation of the specialist library.
-
1986–89
Development of a mechanical and biological method to control cockchafers.
-
1989–90
Construction of the Rock Cellar.
-
1990
Construction of the farm in Oris, Val Venosta, for experiments in vegetable growing, arable crops, and forage production.
-
1997
Launch of the apple variety breeding programme.
-
2002
Commencement of work in the molecular biology laboratory and establishment of the germplasm collection.
-
2003
Accreditation of several laboratories at the Laimburg Research Centre in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025.
-
2005
Transfer into practice of innovative fruit storage using Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) technology developed at the Laimburg Research Centre.
-
2011
Establishment of the Laboratory of Flavours and Metabolites.
-
2014
Coordination of the Food Science sector at NOI Techpark and expansion of research capacities in food technology.
-
2015
Adoption of the “2016–2022 Action Plan for Research and Education in Mountain Agriculture and Food Sciences” by the Provincial Authority.
-
2016–17
Reorganisation: the Laimburg Research Centre adopts a new statute and internal organisational structure.
-
2018
New premises: the Laboratory of Flavours and Metabolites relocates to NOI Techpark (South Bolzano/Bozen).
-
2019
The first apple varieties from the Laimburg breeding programme reach market readiness and are licensed through a public tender procedure.
-
2022
Relocation of several facilities to the new Stadlhof building in Vadena.
-
2023
Inauguration of the new NMR spectroscopy laboratory at the NOI Techpark site in Bolzano.