The POMATO project was recently presented as part of the yearly course “Man and the environment” at the Slovenian Third Age University. Delivered by Tomaž Rijavec from JSI, the lecture formed part of a broader educational programme addressing a wide range of environmental topics and was used as an opportunity to introduce participants to current research challenges supported by the European Commission.

Within the 60-hour course, one lecture was dedicated to research problems funded at European level. In this context, POMATO was presented as one of the featured examples, helping participants understand how collaborative research projects contribute to addressing important societal and environmental issues. The presentation offered a general overview of the project, its aims and goals, and its relevance in the field of plant health.

A key focus of the lecture was the challenge posed by plant pathogens, and the importance of research efforts aimed at improving their detection, management, and control. Using POMATO as a case study, the session helped explain why plant health matters not only for agriculture, but also for sustainability, food systems, and environmental resilience.

Presented online and in Slovenian, the activity contributed to the broader dissemination of the project by reaching a local audience through an educational setting. It also showed how POMATO can serve as an accessible example of European research and innovation in action, connecting scientific work with public learning and awareness.

By bringing project results and research themes into lifelong learning programmes, this activity supported wider public understanding of plant health challenges and the value of coordinated European action in addressing them.