National Research and Development Institute for Soil, Agrochemistry and Environment (ICPA)

<p>The mission of ICPA is to promote basic, strategic and applied research, survey and long-term monitoring in soil and agrochemistry fields. This mission implies high quality contribution in developing knowledge on soils and environment. In the same time, trained scientists and engineers are involved in providing services, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of Romania, and to upgrading the quality of life.<br /> Several strategic aims support this mission:<br /> o nation-wide inventory (classification, mapping) and quality monitoring of the soil as natural basic resources;<br /> o fostering research for a deeper understanding and a better prediction of different processes implying soil, land and plant nutrition;<br /> o collecting, interpreting and providing data on soil, land and plant nutrition;<br /> o developing research for better knowledge of the pedogenetic processes and sound understanding of the soil functions;<br /> o providing independent expertise;<br /> o developing and using new technologies, as well as maintaining scientific facilities;<br /> o ensuring connection with user communities and effective know-how transfer<br /> o training and maintaining skilled staff ("centre of excellence") in soil science, agrochemistry, environment and related fields (environment, GIS, RS, modeling, DSS, etc.);<br /> o encouraging public understanding of soil and environment, by dissemination of information on human impact.</p>