The Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, focuses on education and research in chemistry, particularly on the chemistry of natural compounds occurring in major agricultural crops and foodstuffs, environmental and food contaminants, as well as on the chemistry of fuels, lubricants, and other specialized areas of applied chemistry.
Research Activities
The department’s research is primarily focused on natural compounds with antioxidant activity, especially phenolic substances, natural pigments, and carbohydrates, as well as on the determination of trace and risk elements in agricultural products and foods.
Other research areas include the analysis of milk and dairy products, plant and animal fats, and the development of biofuels and alternative energy sources. At present, we are conducting a research project funded by the NAZV program focusing on colored wheat and barley varieties, as well as two projects supported by the Rural Development Program (PRV) dealing with udder health in dairy cows and ammonia levels in cattle barns.
Teaching Activities
The staff of the Department of Chemistry provide teaching in chemistry courses across the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences of CZU Prague. Teaching covers general, inorganic, analytical, and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and a range of applied chemistry disciplines. At FAFNR, chemistry courses are also offered in English.
The department is the guarantor of the doctoral study program “Agricultural Chemistry”, within which it provides teaching in special analytical chemistry, natural compound chemistry, and special biochemistry of plants and animals. In addition to its core educational activities, the department also supervises the faculty’s training brewery, operated under the Educational Center for Agricultural Product Processing.
Consulting and Cooperation with Practice
The Department of Chemistry maintains long-term cooperation with both Czech and international institutions, including: the Dairy Research Institute Prague, the Research Institute Kroměříž, the National Centre for Agricultural and Food Research, v. v. i., the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, the University of Sumatera Utara in Medan (Indonesia), the Colorado School of Mines (USA), the University of Turin (Italy), the University of La Réunion (France), and the University of Agriculture in Krakow (Poland).
