As part of the Rural Development Programme of the Ministry of Agriculture, Széchenyi István University is developing the infrastructure related to dairy and medicinal herb processing at the Campus of Albert Kázmér Faculty Mosonmagyaróvár. The nearly one-billion-forint project includes the creation of a smart garden for educational, demonstration, and research purposes, the expansion of the dairy processing facility’s technology, and the implementation of demonstration programmes. Diseased trees that need to be removed will be replaced with fruit trees, medicinal and spice plants, as well as ornamental and garden trees.

The goal of the Rural Development Programme of the Ministry of Agriculture is to implement demonstration programmes and develop the necessary infrastructure for knowledge transfer and information dissemination. Through the demonstration programmes of Széchenyi István University, agricultural and food industry businesses and organisations can gain practical knowledge and experience beyond traditional methods by applying modern production techniques and economic management models. Farmers will be introduced to innovative technologies, plant species and varieties, environmental protection methods, business management, organisational strategies, and marketing solutions, enabling them to optimise production, reduce pollutant emissions, and effectively adapt to sustainability requirements and the expected impacts of climate change.

As part of the Rural Development Programme, the University is developing the dairy processing demonstration facility at the Campus of the Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosonmagyaróvár. The project aims to encourage traditional food production technologies, promote the sustainable cultivation of medicinal and spice plants used in folk medicine, and demonstrate automated digital process control and quality assurance systems.

The investment is being carried out at the Lucsony Street site of Széchenyi István University’s Albert Kázmér Mosonmagyaróvár Campus (Photo: András Adorján)

At the site of the dairy processing facility, Lucsony utca, Mosonmagyaróvár, the institution is establishing a diverse medicinal and spice garden and an orchard using modern horticultural technologies. Forty raised beds will be planted with oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme, mint, lavender, and basil, along with the planting of fifteen fruit trees. The harvested plants will be processed in a newly renovated greenhouse equipped with a medicinal herb dryer and a seedling nursery.

The demonstration courtyard will be designed as a so-called "smart garden," featuring raised beds integrated with a digital remote monitoring system, a weather monitoring station-controlled irrigation system, a rainwater collection system, and composting units. The structure and operation of the smart garden will be accessible online via tablet devices and VR equipment through a camera system.

The University will also expand the existing technology of the dairy processing facility to ensure full supervision and digital traceability of raw materials—such as raw milk, medicinal herbs, and fruits—as well as semi-finished and finished products.

To implement the development, a complete rehabilitation of the area is necessary. This includes the demolition of buildings and fences, landscaping, pavement construction, the installation of public lighting and new parking areas, the renovation of the greenhouse, and the removal of approximately fifty diseased trees. The area primarily contains tree species such as sumac, poplar, pine, and maple, many of which have been damaged by disease, mistletoe, and ivy. These will be replaced with new plantings.

The project’s outcomes will provide comprehensive knowledge on dairy production processes supplemented with plant-based ingredients for educators, researchers, students, and those involved in middle and higher education, as well as small-scale producers and businesses in horticulture and food processing. The garden and facility will operate according to a circular economy model to minimise energy consumption and waste production.