Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing

The Institute of Hop Research and Brewing in Žalec is a research, developmental, advisory and educational organization. It was founded in 1952 on the initiative of hop growers. Its principal functions are research and recommendations in the fields of hop growing, brewing and the production of medicinal and aromatic plants. Moreover, the research fields are complemented by application projects aimed at agriculture, the effects on the environment, as well as the development and preservation of the countryside. "RG for Plants, the Soil and the Environment at IHP Žalec" (0416-004) operates at the institute. The principal research in hop growing is centered on hop breeding, agricultural technology, physiology, nutrition, the protection of hops against diseases and pests and the related prognosis and signs of diseases and pests, as well as the application of chemical solutions used for the protection of plants. The institute maintains a very rich gene bank of wild accessories, hop varieties and medicinal plants. It performs preliminary experiments and assesses the production potential of hop as well as of medicinal and aromatic plants. In addition, it monitors resistance to chemical solutions used in hop growing and is involved in the study of technology designed for the first stage of hops processing. It makes analyses of production costs and prepares business plans and investment projects for hop growing and for the other branches of agriculture. In accordance with the necessities of trade, it officially determines the laboratory quality of hops. In the hop fields of its own experimental property, it comparatively studies various techniques of hops production, tests hop agricultural machinery and educates hop growers. In the field of brewing, it assesses the brewing value of hop varieties and hop products, and in particular their effect on the quality of beer. It determines the technological value of brewer's barley varieties and of the other raw materials used in the production of beer. It controls the quality of raw materials and of beer and issues relevant certificates. In the field of pedology, it prepares expert’s detailed reports on the necessities of irrigation, hydromelioration, agromelioration, recultivation and sanitation of plots of land, whose value it also assesses. It performs a prognostic signaling service also for the fields of fruit growing, viticulture, as well as for the production of vegetables and other field produce.