Projects of University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
Innovative cultivation of the strictly protected species Arnica montana using hydroponic techniques
| Status | In progress |
|---|---|
| Acronym | ARNIHID |
| Summary | Mountain arnica (Arnica montana), also known locally as brđanka or gorska moravka, is a strictly protected medicinal plant species of exceptional pharmacological value, whose natural populations are threatened by habitat loss, overharvesting, and climate change. The aim of this project is to introduce Arnica into hydroponic cultivation under greenhouse conditions in order to develop a sustainable production model that will simultaneously meet market demand for standardized raw material and reduce the need for uncontrolled harvesting from natural habitats, thereby contributing to the conservation of natural resources. The project includes sampling of local Arnica montana populations at multiple locations across the Republic of Croatia, propagation of seedlings under controlled conditions in growth chambers, and monitoring of plant growth and development in different types of hydroponic systems using nutrient solutions of different compositions. During the study, morphological analyses and chemical profiling of the harvested plant material will be conducted to assess quality in relation to cultivation conditions. The results obtained will serve as a basis for developing guidelines for efficient, standardized, and sustainable Arnica cultivation using modern hydroponic techniques applicable for both scientific research and commercial purposes. |
| Line of financing |
Nacionalni plan oporavka i otpornosti, Mehanizam za oporavak i otpornost RRF (NextGenerationEU) |
| Duration | 01.10.2025. - 30.09.2028. |
| Budget amount | 120.000,00 EUR |
| AFZ role in project | |
| Web page | http://arnihid.agr.hr |