The article examines the peculiarities of the process of formation of natural science knowledge on Ukrainian territory at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries in the world context, highlighting the role of the Kyiv Polytechnic Society of Engineers and Agronomists at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. The research was carried out with the help of methodological tools, in particular, the application of the principles of historicism, objectivity, comprehensiveness and continuity, as well as the main research methods (problematic, systemic-structural, comparative, retrospective, etc.).

The progressive path of the development of agricultural education in some European countries, which began with the creation of departments at universities with theoretical assimilation of knowledge and organization of research work, is highlighted. The established agricultural schools, departments, faculties and courses approved branch education and science in a special status at universities, which had an effective impact on the further development of practice and the creation of specialized institutions of higher education.

The formation of agricultural education and science on Ukrainian territory took place thanks to the educational activities of the Lviv (horticulture school) and Chernivtsi (botanical garden and chemical laboratory) universities, the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (class of rural and home economics), and later the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (agricultural department). The Kyiv Polytechnic Society of Engineers and Agronomists actively participated in the process of accumulation, dissemination and popularization of agronomic knowledge. Thus, thanks to the public initiative, individual educational and scientific institutions, a synergy of new knowledge took place, which intensified the development of natural science, agronomy and agriculture.

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