The Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, is launching a new round of the photo challenge “On the Road to Knowledge.” Building on the success of last year’s competition, the initiative aims to showcase the diverse places and activities connected with the studies, research, and professional travels of FTZ students and staff.

How can we ensure plant health in the face of climate change, increasing pest pressure, and stricter regulations? These pressing challenges are at the core of the international summer school Plant Health under Pressure: Environmental Shifts and Legal Responses, hosted by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

In recent years, Laos has been facing a rapid increase in plastic waste. According to a World Bank study, plastics account for up to 24% of municipal waste, with 95% of plastic pollution coming from just ten single-use items. Despite the growing volume of waste, collection and recycling capacities lag behind—an estimated 40–60% of waste remains uncollected. This situation has direct impacts on the environment, public health, and the local economy. The National Plastic Action Plan 2024–2030 therefore emphasizes reducing plastic consumption and systematically improving waste management. In response, a new project focusing on this issue has been launched. During a two-week mission in the provinces of Savannakhet and Thakhek, a team from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU Prague), initiated data collection that will serve as the foundation for realistic and sustainable plastic management solutions.