From a firefighting robot to smart solutions for cities and the countryside to sustainable cosmetics. This year at Země živitelka,CZU will present projects that showcase the wide range of topics the university addresses and, above all, how its research translates into practical solutions.
Visitors to the 52nd edition of the agricultural fair, which will take place in České Budějovice from August 20 to 25, 2026, will also learn about methods for detecting the illegal trade in animal products, as well as research on plant health and plants’ ability to cope with changing climate conditions. The event will also feature projects led by the students themselves. All of the faculties will be represented at the CZU stand during this year’s Země živitelka, and each will showcase something different. Take a look at what each day has to offer.
Thursday: Smart Landscape and a Roof Showdown Under a Thermal Camera
On Thursday, the Faculty of Environmental Sciences will present the unique Smart Landscape 2030+ project, which is transforming the Karlovy Vary Region into a model area of sustainable, climate-resilient, and data-driven landscapes. The project addresses not only climate change but also the region’s transformation following coal mining. The project’s outcomes are being tested in real-world locations—from post-mining spoil heaps to city centers.
Smart Landscape integrates climate, water, landscape, and urban modeling into a single system, creating a digital twin of the entire region. This will be linked to real-world sensors, a hydrological model, and climate simulations. The project also brings together scientists, municipalities, schools, companies, landscape architects, and water managers.
Experts have long been focusing on topics such as rainwater management and urban adaptation to climate change. At the exhibition stand, they will therefore demonstrate how a green roof cools a building and its surroundings.
Visitors can see for themselves the temperature difference between a black roof and a green roof, as well as how rainwater is utilized on different types of roofs. They can expect temperature measurements using a thermal camera, comparisons of different roof types, demonstrations of blue-green infrastructure, and experiments for both children and adults.
“On our interactive model, you’ll be able to compare three types of roofs—a conventional roof, an extensive green roof, and a rooftop garden. Using a thermal camera, you’ll discover differences in their surface temperatures and learn how green roofs help cool cities, retain rainwater, and increase their resilience to climate change,” explains researcher Tereza Hnátková.
Friday: What DNA Reveals About Seized Airport Shipments?
On Friday, the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences will demonstrate the practical applications of molecular genetics to visitors. In the university stand, they will be able to examine various types of biological samples and animal materials—such as feces, tissues, scales, skulls, or items similar to those typically seized during border inspections.
“We’ll explain why it’s often impossible to tell just by looking at a processed product or piece of meat which animal it came from, and how DNA helps us with identification. We’ll guide visitors through the process, from sample collection and laboratory analysis to comparing the obtained genetic information with databases and evaluating the results,” says researcher Barbora Černá Bolfíková.
Genetic testing helps uncover illegal wildlife trade, protect endangered species, and support the work of government agencies. The research is also important for health protection, as pathogens that cause infectious diseases can spread across borders along with meat and other animal products.
In this effort, scientists collaborate, for example, with the Customs Administration during inspections at Václav Havel Airport in Prague to determine which animal species are actually hidden in the transported meat and other products. “Visitors will learn right at our stand exactly what we found in the confiscated luggage and which discoveries surprised us the most,” says Barbora Černá Bolfíková.
Saturday: Sustainable Cosmetics as a Student Business
On Saturday, the Faculty of Economics and Management will take over the programme. It will present the student project LESS, which combines entrepreneurship with an emphasis on sustainability and an environmentally friendly approach. The students have embarked on the development and production of natural cosmetics, translating their knowledge from the classroom into a real-world business project.
LESS demonstrates that a good student idea doesn’t have to remain just on paper. Visitors will learn how a sustainable product can be created, from the initial idea all the way to its public presentation. The project also illustrates how CZU integrates education, entrepreneurship, and sustainability with practical experience.
Sunday: Data from the Forest and Modern Architecture
Sunday’s program will be dedicated to the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences. The faculty will present the film Buildings with the Scent of Wood, which traces the journey of wood from the forest to contemporary architecture and showcases specific completed projects.
“Our faculty has long demonstrated that it conscientiously fulfills the so-called third role of a university—we are socially responsible, we translate scientific and research findings into practice, we support innovation, and we actively contribute to sustainable development. We are also successfully bridging the gap between academia and the professional world, and this film is a prime example of that—for which we thank our partners in the field,” says Radim Löwe, Vice Dean for External Relations at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences CZU and the film’s academic advisor.
The researchers from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences will also present the PROLES map application and portal, which provides insight into current and future forest damage in the Czech Republic.
“The map application provides access to a wide range of data on damage to Czech forests since 2000 caused by dozens of harmful factors, such as wind, snow, ice, forest fires, drought, insects, fungal pathogens, and rodents. Until now, this data has been available only in the form of various reports—for the first time, it is possible to interactively track trends in forest damage using maps and graphs, thereby gaining a better understanding of the changes taking place,” explains Professor Tomáš Hlásny, the portal’s coordinator.
According to him, the data reveal increasing damage to spruce trees caused by various species of bark beetles, but also, conversely, a decline in butterfly caterpillars. The rapid increase in the number of fires and a slight decrease in snow damage, in turn, reflect the growing impact of climate change.
The app also includes an assessment of forest damage using remote sensing. “The data has been available since 2018, when the bark beetle infestation reached its peak. Anyone can find a forest they know here and see how its condition has changed year by year,” says Professor Hlásny.
Monday: How to Protect Plants in the Era of Climate Change?
The Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources will introduce visitors to plant pathology and modern approaches based on integrated and biological plant protection. The goal is to use chemical protection—that is, pesticides—only as a last resort.
“Above all, we strive for the best possible prevention or, where appropriate, biological control, which is a very broad concept. From macroorganisms, such as insect predators—which I plan to show live there—a digital microscope will bring the details of live insects into focus—we’ll also show visitors some microscopic organisms, nematodes, and other pests,” promises Marie Maňasová from the Department of Plant Protection.
Experts from FAFNR will also offer advice on how to care for plants in the face of climate change, as extremes and prolonged periods of drought become more frequent. “This, too, can be addressed preventively, whether through proper site preparation or plant breeding. It is precisely through breeding that we can make plants resistant to drought and high temperatures. Just as with humans, immunity is important in plants as well,” says Dr. Maňasová.
This year, CZU is also participating in the competition for the prestigious Golden Ear award, which the Ministry of Agriculture presents annually to the best exhibits at the fair. A complete granulated feed mix for breeding rabbits, designed to meet the requirements of the circular economy, will be competing for the award.
“It is made from organic ingredients consisting exclusively of byproducts from the agri-food industry. It is an environmentally friendly feed for female rabbits and baby rabbits,” notes Associate Professor Lukáš Zita, co-author of the formula.
Tuesday: A Firefighting Robot with Experience in a War Zone
Fans of engineering and modern technology are in for a treat on Tuesday. The Faculty of Engineering will present the unique Hecthor II firefighting robot, which was developed through a collaboration between academic research and industrial development. The robot has proven itself even under extremely demanding conditions in Ukraine, where it assists in rescue operations amid the rubble left behind by Russian attacks.
The experiences of Ukrainian firefighters are also incorporated into the device's further development. The robot’s designers are continuously modifying and refining it based on insights gained from real-world deployment.
“We’re constantly receiving new ideas. For the manufacturer, deploying the robot in such conditions is invaluable. We’re gathering very valuable data on how the machine performs in a war zone,” says Petr Hnízdil, founder and director of development at ProLab Engineering, a spin-off company at the Faculty of Engineering CZU, responsible for the robot’s development.
The current version of Hecthor II has a reinforced structure and can operate even in flooded areas. In addition to firefighting, it can also serve as a means of transport or a mobile power source. Thanks to its powerful drive system, the manufacturers claim it has been able to pull a 25-metric-ton tanker uphill.