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The primary trends defining the paths toward sustainable development in rural areas of Bulgaria underscore the significant influence of human resources., and the priorities are oriented towards stimulation of the vocational training and science based skills, obtained through appropriate education and specialized training, and leading to success in the development and management of the local economy. The tendency, related to the problem is highlighted as the shortage of adequately educated and skilled entrepreneurs capable of harnessing technological advantages in agricultural production and implementing innovative technologies. The goal of our study is related to investigation and summarization of basic tendencies in this aspect, within Bulgarian agricultural enterprises, the emphasis lies on the crucial connection between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, particularly highlighting the importance of educating and training agricultural producers. The education and practical application of scientific knowledge by those engaged in agriculture are vital components for achieving success and ensuring the sustainability of economic endeavours at the local level. By promoting education and training for individuals involved in agricultural activities in the agrarian sector, the agriculture guarantees its sustainable and efficient development, which without doubt reflects on the increase of the sustainability of the rural territories, as a whole. The results of the study formulate guidelines, conclusions and recommendations related to recognition of the need of ensuring the proper education and training of agricultural producers, especially in the realm of environmentally friendly practices and innovative technologies. In conclusion, the synthesized research findings provide insight into the tendencies in basic strategic documents supporting knowledge, as well as data for the educational status in the Bulgarian agrarian sector regarding the potential and significance of the human factor. Future guidelines for the study in the sphere of human resources are outlined in the modern agriculture and the Bulgarian rural territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the transformative effect of the digital innovations in the agrarian sector (in particular ruminant breeding) by tracking both the opportunities, and the challenges, which they represent for the sustainable development of the modern agriculture. Integration of digital technologies in cattle-breeding becomes more and more common, offering potential solutions for increasing of the efficiency, productivity and ecological sustainability. The change towards digitalization brings different challenges, varying from problems related to accessibility to concerns, related to data security and ethical consequences. Based on the existing literature and empirical evidence, this research provides complete analysis of the current conjuncture of the digital innovations in livestock industry, assesses the potential benefits from them and explores the barriers preventing their broad acceptance. The conclusions contribute to nuanced understanding of the role, which the digital technologies play in shaping the future of the sustainable agriculture and the rural areas in Bulgaria. The implemented retrospective analysis shows that the problematic agricultural holdings can be encompassed by digitalization only if serious financial investments are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture poses new challenges related to the increase of the need of sustainable development of the agrarian sector, and rural territories, respectively. The use of large amounts of chemical preparations in agriculture inevitably hides a number of possibilities for dangers, both for all mankind and for the natural environment. The main goal of this article is to analyze and evaluate the current state of use of pesticides and fertilizers in Bulgaria, as part of the agro-ecological indicators affecting the climate and natural ecosystems. As a result from the research carried out we found that the levels of pesticide use in Bulgaria are below the average, but the last years are marked by a tendency for gradual increase of the areas of the used quantities of nitrogen fertilizers, manure and organic fertilizer, and a deficit in the Phosphorous balance in soil was noted. We need lowering of the degree of ecological risks related to use of pesticides and fertilizers in Bulgaria. This way the results will be multiplied for achieving higher level of economic, social and ecological sustainability in the development of individual rural territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is oriented towards Leader approach and its contribution to the sustainable development of rural territories in Bulgaria. The upgraded model for decentralized and integrated development of rural regions has been implemented in Bulgaria since 2014. The goal of the study is to trace and analyze the actual contribution and the effect from the work of the local initiative groups and the implementation of the approach on a local and national level, and identify the problems and derive the solutions for optimization of the processes, aiming at achieving greater sustainability in the territorial development of rural regions. The main hypothesis is that the approach is universal and sustainable instrument for development of rural regions, but its full potential has not been completely deployed under the conditions in Bulgaria, yet. To this end, the implementation of the strategies for development of pre-selected local action groups is analysed, depending on certain criteria. Empirical data have been summarized and the opportunities for increase of the efficiency of the acquired European funds on territorial scale have been substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All strategic documents related to the development of agriculture and its sustainable management in Bulgaria focus on the primary role of the human factor, with priorities aimed at stimulating generational renewal and transferring of experience and skills, leading to the success of agricultural holdings. However, the trend related to the advanced age of most agricultural producers and the lack of sufficiently educated and competent entrepreneurs to use the advantages of technology in agricultural production stands out as a problem. The aim of our research concerns the study and generalisation of main trends in this regard in Bulgarian agricultural holdings, emphasising the importance of several main factors for sustainability and their interrelationship, namely: family - non-family workforce, gender, age and education of farmers. The age and education of people working in agriculture are significant factors in the success and sustainability of the sector. By promoting education and training and bringing the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs into the agricultural sector, agriculture ensures its continued success and growth. The combination of age and education also contributes to the development of specific skills and knowledge in agribusiness. Research methods used in the study include: general scientific research methods, summary and synthesis, logical method, tabular and graphical presentation of characteristics and trends. The analysis is based on empirical evidence - observation, interview, case studies from the practical activity of agricultural holdings and shared experience from producers. The results of the research can be systematised in several directions: influence of the family - non-family workforce factor on the management process; importance of the gender of the employed in the agricultural sector; age ratio and its benefits; awareness of the need for appropriate education and training of farmers. In conclusion, the summarised studies create an idea of trends in the Bulgarian agricultural sector regarding the importance of human factor and outline future directions for research in the field of human resources in modern agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the specific features of some behavioural aspects of organizational management. It offers a slightly different interpretation by focusing on rational behaviour, which, in our opinion, is a major factor and a key driver of more efficient communication and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing drought-resistance varieties is a major goal for bioenergy crops, such as poplar ( Populus), which will be grown on marginal lands with little or no water input. Root architecture can affect drought resistance, but few genes that affect root architecture in relation to water availability have been identified. Here, using activation tagging in the prime bioenergy crop poplar, we have identified a mutant that overcomes the block of lateral root ( LR) formation under osmotic stress. Positioning of the tag, validation of the activation and recapitulation showed that the phenotype is caused by the poplar Ptab ZIP1-like ( Ptab ZIP1L) gene with highest homology to bZIP1 from Arabidopsis. Ptab ZIP1L is predominantly expressed in roots, particularly in zones where lateral root primordia ( LRP) initiate and LR differentiate and emerge. Transgenics overexpressing Ptab ZIP1L showed precocious LRP and LR development, while Ptab ZIP1L suppression significantly delayed both LRP and LR formation. Transgenic overexpression and suppression of Ptab ZIP1L also resulted in modulation of key metabolites like proline, asparagine, valine and several flavonoids. Consistently, expression of both of the poplar Proline Dehydrogenase orthologs and two of the Flavonol Synthases genes was also increased and decreased in overexpressed and suppressed transgenics, respectively. These findings suggest that Ptab ZIP1L mediates LR development and drought resistance through modulation of multiple metabolic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful managerial communication is one of the most widely spread and complex problems of social organizations. It also determines the effectiveness of the management process. The managerial skills are of key importance for the positive communication and successful realization of management activities. These skills are instrumental for the development and improvement of the new social and economic relationships in our society, which functions under the conditions of the increasingly globalizing 21st century economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing drought-resistance varieties is a major goal for bioenergy crops, such as poplar (Populus), which will be grown on marginal lands with little or no water input. Root architecture can affect drought resistance, but few genes that affect root architecture in relation to water availability have been identified. Here, using activation tagging in the prime bioenergy crop poplar, we have identified a mutant that overcomes the block of lateral root (LR) formation under osmotic stress. Positioning of the tag, validation of the activation and recapitulation showed that the phenotype is caused by the poplar PtabZIP1-like (PtabZIP1L) gene with highest homology to bZIP1 from Arabidopsis. PtabZIP1L is predominantly expressed in roots, particularly in zones where lateral root primordia (LRP) initiate and LR differentiate and emerge. Transgenics overexpressing PtabZIP1L showed precocious LRP and LR development, while PtabZIP1L suppression significantly delayed both LRP and LR formation. Transgenic overexpression and suppression of PtabZIP1L also resulted in modulation of key metabolites like proline, asparagine, valine and several flavonoids. Consistently, expression of both of the poplar Proline Dehydrogenase orthologs and two of the Flavonol Synthases genes was also increased and decreased in overexpressed and suppressed transgenics, respectively. These findings suggest that PtabZIP1L mediates LR development and drought resistance through modulation of multiple metabolic pathways., (© 2016 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)