Time capsules to pay tribute to the Vitapric program 10. Dec. 2025

In the Vitapric program, which was named after the the world's first functional food, the paprika cream created by Albert Szent-Györgyi, researchers from the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Environmental Management at the University of Debrecen have developed technological and biological innovations that then enabled the HUNOR Hungarian Astronaut Program to successfully germinate radish, wheat, and paprika seeds on the International Space Station. 

- It is not a part of everyday practice in the life of a university to be able to send its research to be conducted in space. Although our researchers have been working for several decades on how to grow plants in space, the opportunity is there now to test this project under real-life conditions. At our university, there are quite a few potential future research projects and possibilities considered that may seem like bold ideas at present, but then, suddenly, they become reality, just like it happened in this case. On board the ISS, it was proved that the theory of our researchers is indeed viable. It is this great achievement and success that we wish to commemorate through these memorial capsules. However, we are determined to continue our research efforts, and not only in the field of peppers. This is how we would like to contribute to the future of humanity-  Zoltán Bács, Chancellor of the University of Debrecen, in his ceremonial address.

The university executive announced that Tibor Kapu would be awarded the title of honorary associate professor by the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen for his outstanding work in the Vitapric program. The research astronaut is going to receive the award at the graduation ceremony of the faculty on Saturday. Later on in his address, Zoltán Bács touched upon the development investments to be implemented at the Böszörményi úti campus in the next couple of years, including the construction of a new dormitory and student center building, as well as what is going to be called Hortoversum, to be established at the initiative of the faculty. 

- As early as at the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, there were already experiments carried out at the University of Debrecen, conducted on samples that had been in space. Then, in the 2000s, DESPACE was established at the university with the intention of bringing together the space-related experiments conducted at the institution, helping to establish links between the sciences. A lot of the uninitiated think that space-related research is only useful in outer space, but these experiments do have a direct impact on our everyday lives and generate tangible results to life on Earth. The modified plants created here require little water while they produce high nutritional value, which is very useful for crop production struggling with today's climatic conditions,” said László Csernoch, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs and leader of the HUNOR project at the University of Debrecen.

According to László Stündl, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science and Environmental Management, the success of the Vitapric program is due to the professional dedication and perseverance of the staff members of the faculty. 
 

- The Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Debrecen is proud to have an extremely broad educational and research portfolio. Sometimes, this can be a heavy burden and a serious challenge in terms of education, further training, expert advice and research: trying to meet the challenges posed by our rapidly changing world. The Vitapric program is an example of the persistent and professional work of our colleagues recognized all over the world. Yet this is just the beginning of the road to the stars. I am fully confident that this is the first step that will create connections and opportunities for other organizational units of the university to join and get involved, while it will also exert serious influence on the future development of the domestic agricultural food industry in the fields of basic and applied science,” said László Stündl, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science and Environmental Management.

Professor Emeritus Miklós Fári, professional coordinator of the Vitapric research project, emphasized that the capsules placed in the ground convey a message to future generations and researchers. 

- We have put wheat, corn, vegetable, and ornamental plant seeds in the containers to show future generations what we represented in this era and why we were interested in these plants. We placed implements and various pieces of equipment in the capsules that were made using 3D printing, the most advanced technology, in collaboration with the University of Pécs, displaying the competence of today's Hungarian scientists, researchers, and engineers. The third part of our message is our vision for the future; our thoughts on how to achieve sustainability by solving problems, and how science can contribute to all of this. We believe that the most important tool for this is cooperation. Seeing what everyone sees, but thinking what no one else thinks: we are the representatives of this old philosophy,” said Miklós Fári.  

Invited to the 4th Plant Breeding Memorial Day and Conference, Bertalan Farkas, Hungary's first astronaut, was also present at the placement of the time capsules. The brigadier general reminisced how he had been delighted to join the researchers at the University of Debrecen several years ago. 

- The most important issue now is that the HUNOR program should continue. It is important for our country and for our young people, the university students. I am confident that the international recognition achieved by Hungarian experts will definitely support the cause of future Hungarian spaceflights. I am also certain that food science in the future, especially if we look toward the Moon or Mars, will be about food research, products and developments created by researchers, in which the University of Debrecen can surely be a useful member,” said Bertalan Farkas.

Just like on previous occasions, the 4th Plant Breeding Memorial Day and Conference was held this year with several objectives in mind. Apart from reviewing scientific strategies related to climate change, drought tolerance and protection from increased biotic and abiotic stress, which concern the biological and genetic foundations of plant growing, gardening, forestry and green surface management in Hungary, the current professional event also focused on formulating the main principles of an action program titled Reducing the risks of climate change to water management and increasing profitability through (precision) plant breeding and crop rotation. Furthermore, the participants of the meeting proposed and initiated the establishment of a National Laboratory for Extreme Environment and Space Agriculture as well.

Press Center - ÉE