May 15, 2026: Project Progress Meeting 11

On May 15, 2026, Project Progress Meeting 11 was organized by the leading institution, UJEP. The meeting summarized the results of the first almost four months of activities under Milestone 5. The event was held in a hybrid format: the team from the leading institution participated in person, while members of the other teams (TVHNPU, NULP, RMC, HC, and KazNU) joined the event online. In total, 17 participants attended the meeting (5 UJEP team members in person and 12 participants online).

Prof. Pidlisnyuk, NPD, opened the meeting and informed participants about the accomplishments of the project achieved in Mil1–Mil4; during this period, all planned equipment was purchased, 23 IF publications were issued, 2 Patents of Ukraine were received, 2 PhD dissertations and 5 Master’s theses on project-related topics were defended, 4 undergraduate and 4 graduate students were trained in the topics of Advanced Phytomanagement and Climate Change Mitigation, and 3 planned training programs and 2 additional disseminated events were conducted in accordance with the project timeline when 199 individuals were trained.

She also described the current priorities of the project at the final stage to ensure its success: maintaining and monitoring four research M×g plantations in Ukraine and the Czech Republic, where Advanced Phytotechnology is being tested, and emphasizing the importance of continuing the carbon pool research initiated in 2023–2024. The need to strengthen dissemination efforts, particularly for end-users in Ukraine, was also highlighted.

The Co-Directors of G6094 reported on their research activities during the first quarter of Mil5. Specifically, PPD Dr. Andriy Hertz reported on methodological approaches used in testing the properties of soil amendments, namely ash and biochar. Co-Director Vitalii Stadnik reported on the analytical program implemented by his team using the newly purchased analyzer for measuring carbon in soil and biomass. Co-Director Mariya Marinova shared recent results related to the valorisation of pyrolysis by-products. Co-Director William Chompsony reported on the current status of evaluating the attitudes of Ukrainian end-users toward Advanced Phytotechnology. Director of the Linkage Institution, Aigerim Mamirova, together with Master’s student Nargiza Akhmetalina, presented results related to a biochar microbial carrier developed during Nargiza Akhmetalina’s UJEP scholarship from March to May 2026.

Another important point of discussion concerned the current state of the budget and the mechanism for financial support of activities from May 2026 to September 2027 having one-year project extension within the same budget. The current financial balance for each team was presented. Since the Ukrainian partners cannot independently cover the expenses of Mil5, it was decided that only the remaining funds from Mil1–Mil4 would be used during the final stage of the project.

The newly appointed project accountant, Mrs. Ludmila Lackova (UJEP), introduced a table with the projected budgets for each team in the event that Financial Report 4 is approved by the NATO SPS MYP coordinator. She also emphasized the need for caution when preparing the interim financial reports for Mil5 in accordance with the NATO SPS MYP Guide.

The next Project Progress Meeting No. 12 is scheduled for October 23, 2026.