The establishment and long-standing operation of the Research Station of Medicinal Plants (RSMP), located in the village of Berezotocha, Lubny District, Poltava Region, demonstrate its recognition as an institution of not only scientific but also social significance. Through the work of its team of researchers and technical staff, the station has affirmed – and continues to affirm – the importance of further developing the scientific field of medicinal plant cultivation. In the sociocultural space of the Poltava region, the station’s founding and development were made possible by dedicated enthusiasts, primarily P. I. Havsevych (1883–1920), with the support of the authorities. It is clear that the societal need for such an institution coincided with the government’s urgent efforts to address the shortage of industrially manufactured medicines.

In the context of the material analyzed in this article, it is emphasized that the station’s activity consists of two interrelated components: scientific research and representational engagement.

The scientific research component is evidenced in reports detailing the study of intraspecific and interspecific diversity, and the selection of economically valuable populations and forms of three species of medicinal plants (as of 2010). In the following year, researchers developed new high-yielding varieties of eight medicinal plant species. These developments responded to the need to significantly increase raw material yields by 10–15% above standard levels and to ensure a high content of pharmaceutically active substances (PAS) (as of 2011). The final report (2013) emphasizes that the research also focused on improving cultivation techniques for seven traditional medicinal plant species.

The representational component of the RSMP’s activities is illustrated by its participation in international scientific conferences (2006, 2014, 2016) and national scientific-practical conferences for young scientists (2013, 2015, 2017). Notably, the 2016 international scientific conference was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Research Station of Medicinal Plants.

It is important to note that over more than 100 years of operation, the RSMP team has conducted a wide range of comprehensive scientific research in the fields of resource science, plant introduction, breeding, seed production, seed science, mechanization, agrochemistry, crop production, and phytochemistry.

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