Výzkumný ústav monitoringu a ochrany půdy

What Výzkumný ústav monitoringu a ochrany půdy does

Výzkumný ústav monitoringu a ochrany půdy (VÚMOP, v. v. i.) is a Czech public research institution (veřejná výzkumná instituce) established by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture on June 23, 2006 and registered on January 1, 2007, with a statutory mandate in soil service, land evaluation, and erosion monitoring. In August 2024 it was renamed from 'Výzkumný ústav meliorací a ochrany půdy' to its current designation to reflect a pivot toward monitoring-centric work. The institute operates from its Prague-Zbraslav headquarters and branch offices in Brno and Pardubice, employing 101–250 staff across pedology, hydrology, GIS/remote sensing, soil hygiene, land consolidation, and laboratory analysis functions.

VÚMOP's core product is the Geoportál SOWAC-GIS, an integrated geographic information platform hosting specialized web applications including eKatalog BPEJ (land-ecological unit codes), Limity využití půdy (soil use limits), the Protierozní kalkulačka (anti-erosion calculator), Monitoring eroze (agricultural erosion event portal operated jointly with the State Land Office since 2012), Půda v mapách, and Půda v číslech. Supporting infrastructure includes a DJI UAV fleet (Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced RTK, Mavic 3 Pro, Mavic 3 Multispectral RTK, Mavic 3T thermal, Mavic 4 Pro), in-house-developed automated outflow infiltrometers, and field/mobile rainfall simulators. Its Centrální laboratoře hold 40+ years of accredited analytical tradition in soil, water, and plant material testing, and the institute holds a Ministry of Justice expert (znalecká) designation for pedology, contamination, reclamation, and land consolidation opinions.

The revenue model blends institutional state funding from the Ministry of Agriculture (recurring base), competitive research grants from Czech agencies (NAZV, TAČR) and EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, LIFE, Interreg, EEA/Norway Grants), and fee-for-service revenue from accredited laboratory analyses, expert opinions, consulting (including via the Ministry of Agriculture 'Podpora poradenství' subsidy channel), data provisioning from SOWAC GIS, and custom map printing (approximately CZK 2,500–3,500 per A0 print). Primary customers are Czech state administration bodies, agricultural practitioners, and research institutions; the institute also engages in EU-level research consortia under FAO and SWS partnerships.

Name

Výzkumný ústav monitoringu a ochrany půdy

Legal name

Výzkumný ústav monitoringu a ochrany půdy, v. v. i.

Website

https://vumop.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VÚMOP is a Czech public research institution established by the Ministry of Agriculture, providing soil, water, and landscape monitoring, accredited laboratory analysis, GIS-based decision-support tools, and expert assessments for state administration, farmers, and the research community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural and Environmental Research Services

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Geospatial Data Management & Enterprise GIS (Geodatabases, Web GIS, Spatial Analytics) (EUAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Environmental Reporting, Dashboards & Regulatory Submittals (Automated Reports, e-Reporting) (EUAHAKAL), Farm Data Management & Decision Support Services (FMIS Setup, Data Integration, Analytics) (AFACACAC), Soil & Terrain Mapping Services (EC/EM Scanning, Topography, Zone Delineation) (AFACACAE)

Keywords

• Soil science research
• Agricultural research services
• Geographic information systems
• Environmental monitoring
• Land conservation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Praha

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Institutional State Funding: Core institutional funding provided by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic for public research institution operations. The institute was established by the Ministry of Agriculture and receives ongoing institutional support.
2. Research Grants and Projects: Competitive funding from national research agencies (NAZV - National Agency for Agricultural Research, TAČR - Technology Agency of the Czech Republic), European programs (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, LIFE, Interreg), and Norway/EEA Grants. Projects span applied research in soil science, hydrology, erosion, and land management.
3. Laboratory Analysis Services: Accredited laboratory analyses of soil, water, and plant material offered to scientific institutions, state bodies, private entities, and individual customers. Services include basic soil fertility tests, contamination assessments, and specialized environmental analyses for a fee.
4. Expert and Advisory Services: Znalecká (expert witness) services in pedology and land improvements, consulting on soil protection, erosion control, water management, and land consolidation, as well as specialized assessments and expert opinions for government and private clients.
5. Map and Data Products: Custom map printing and production services from specialized pedological and erosion datasets. Maps are produced in various formats up to A0+ with options for lamination, mounting on KAPA boards, and aluminum framing. Average price for A0 format with lamination and framing is approximately 2,500–3,500 CZK incl. VAT.
6. Data and GIS Services: Provision of thematic datasets from the SOWAC GIS geographic information system, including soil erosion vulnerability data, soil survey data, and hydrological characteristics. Many datasets are freely accessible online via the geoportal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VÚMOP delivers applied research, accredited laboratory analyses, expert witness opinions, consulting, and web-based geographic information services for soil, water, and landscape protection in the Czech Republic. Its flagship commercial deliverable is the SOWAC-GIS Geoportal and its integrated decision-support applications (anti-erosion calculator, erosion monitoring portal, BPEJ catalogue, soil maps and statistics). Supporting offerings include fee-based Central Laboratories for soil/water/plant analyses, expert assessment services (posudková činnost) certified by the Ministry of Justice, advisory and training services for farmers and municipalities, custom map printing, and thematic dataset provisioning from its national SOWAC GIS data assets.

Product overview

Výzkumný ústav monitoringu a ochrany půdy (VÚMOP) is a public research institution established by the Ministry of Agriculture, operating primarily as a provider of specialized web-based geo-information platforms and analytical services for soil, water, and landscape management in the Czech Republic. Its core product is the Geoportál SOWAC-GIS, a comprehensive geo-information system serving as the primary vehicle for transferring research results into practice. Built around this platform are multiple specialized web applications: the eKatalog BPEJ (electronic land evaluation catalogue), Limity využití půdy (soil use limits), Protierozní kalkulačka (anti-erosion calculator), Monitoring eroze (erosion monitoring portal), Půda v mapách (soil in maps), and Půda v číslech (soil in statistics). VÚMOP also operates Centrální laboratoře (accredited central laboratories) providing soil, water, and plant material analyses, alongside advisory services, expert assessment (posudková činnost), data provisioning, map printing, and a specialized library. The overall offering functions as an integrated suite of research-backed digital tools, laboratory services, and professional consulting targeted at state administration, farmers, and the academic community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOWAC-GIS: Geographic Information System for Soil and Water Conservation - a geoportal providing thematic data on soil, water, and landscape protection in the Czech Republic.
• Geoportál SOWAC-GIS
• Protierozní kalkulačka
• Monitoring eroze
• Centrální laboratoře

Products and services

• SOWAC-GIS Geoportal (Geoportál SOWAC-GIS) Thematic geoportal focused on soil, water, and landscape protection in the Czech Republic. Serves as the primary vehicle for transferring scientific results into practice, providing map projects and integrated specialized web applications for soil mapping, soil statistics, the BPEJ electronic catalogue, soil use limits, anti-erosion calculation, and erosion event monitoring. Most data and applications are freely accessible online; some datasets and specialized services require registration. Target users include state administration bodies, agricultural practitioners, research institutions, and the public.
• Central Laboratories (Centrální laboratoře) Accredited laboratory services with over 40 years of tradition in soil analyses, offering analyses of soil, water, and plant material including basic soil fertility tests, contamination assessments, and specialized environmental analyses. Service offerings include 'Základní rozbor' (basic analysis covering grain size, soil reaction, cation exchange capacity, nutrient content, carbon) and 'Rozšířený rozbor' (extended analysis adding skeletal content, risk elements, and risk substances), notably tailored for lease (pachtovní) contract use. Clients include scientific institutions, state bodies, private entities, and individual customers.
• Advisory and Training Services (Poradenství, vzdělávání) Advisory and training services covering soil protection, water management, landscape planning, soil quality assessment, anti-erosion measures, irrigation planning, drainage evaluation, fertilization recommendations, and interpretation of soil analyses. Delivered to farmers, municipalities, and professional organizations, often via the Ministry of Agriculture's accredited advisory system under subsidy program 9.F 'Podpora poradenství v zemědělství'.
• Expert Witness and Assessment Services (Posudková činnost) Authorized expert (znalecká) assessment services in land reclamation and soil science, including soil quality evaluation, physical-chemical properties, soil valuation, contamination protection, erosion and devastation control, drainage system reconstruction, revitalization, recultivation, peatland protection and use, water regulation in soil and landscape, comprehensive land consolidation, and water protection from non-point pollution. Authorized under a Ministry of Justice decision covering the fields of economics, nature protection, water management, and agriculture (meliorace a půdoznalství).
• Data Provision Services (Poskytování dat) Provision of thematic datasets derived from the SOWAC-GIS geographic information system, including soil erosion risk data, soil survey data, hydrological characteristics, and related spatial data processing services. Many datasets are freely accessible online via the geoportal; some data and specialized services require registration or fee-based access. Target clients include government bodies, research institutions, agricultural practitioners, and private entities.
• Custom Map Printing Services Custom map production and printing services from specialized pedological and erosion datasets. Maps are produced in various formats up to A0+, with optional lamination, mounting on KAPA boards, and aluminum framing. Average price for A0-format quality paper maps with lamination and framing is approximately 2,500–3,500 CZK incl. VAT; final price depends on selected parameters.

Quantifiable outcome

• SoilPASS AI contamination assessment tool featured by the European Commission in its official communications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic (Ministerstvo zemědělství)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVÚMOP was established by and maintains a primary institutional relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry provides the institutional funding mandate and defines research priorities aligned with national agricultural policy. VÚMOP performs statutory tasks for the ministry including BPEJ database management and soil monitoring.
• Státní pozemkový úřad (State Land Office, SPÚ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on land consolidation (pozemkové úpravy) project proposals, joint operation of the Czech agricultural erosion monitoring system (since 2012), and implementation of BPEJ into the Czech land registry. VÚMOP provides technical expertise and methodologies for SPÚ's land consolidation and soil protection programs.
• Český úřad zeměměřický a katastrální (COSMC, Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on integrating land evaluation (BPEJ) into the Czech land registry and spatial data systems.
• Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVÚMOP participated in the SWS EUROPE 2026 conference presenting its perspective on spring revitalization on agricultural land.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVÚMOP received a Moldovan delegation as part of an FAO program focused on Land Degradation Neutrality, indicating collaboration in international soil conservation knowledge sharing.
• Czech Universities and Research InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVÚMOP cooperates with Czech universities (České vysoké učení technické, Česká zemědělská univerzita) and research institutions in joint research projects, knowledge transfer, and scientific collaboration.
• Česká akademie zemědělských věd (ČAZV, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVÚMOP collaborates with the Pedology Section of ČAZV and the Czech Pedological Society in publishing the Informační listy journal and sharing research findings with the pedological community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI): German federal research centre for cultivated plants and soil science, operating under the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Comparable mandate around soil, plant, and land resource research with a similar public-institutional funding model to VÚMOP.
• INRAE: France's national research institute for agriculture, food and environment. Like VÚMOP, INRAE combines soil science, hydrology, GIS, remote sensing, and laboratory analytics to deliver statutory research and policy-relevant data products to the French government and agricultural sector.
• Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF): German Leibniz Institute researching agricultural landscapes, including soil, water, and land-use change. Similar applied-research profile combining field experiments, modeling, GIS and advisory outputs for agricultural policy and practitioners.
• Wageningen University & Research (Wageningen Environmental Research): Dutch research institute with a soil, water and land-use mandate analogous to VÚMOP's. Both operate as statutory research bodies producing national environmental/soil data, GIS products and policy advisory services for their respective governments and farming communities.
• Thünen Institute: German federal research institute under the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture covering rural areas, soils, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Closely comparable to VÚMOP as a national-scale applied research body serving the German agricultural ministry, with similar soil, land-use and policy advisory roles.
• Agroscope: Swiss federal research institute for agricultural sciences, focused on crops, animal production, food and environmental resources. Operates a comparable mix of statutory research, laboratory services and applied advisory outputs for government and farmers.

Emerging players

• Climate FieldView (Bayer): Digital agriculture platform aggregating farm data, satellite imagery and decision-support tools for farmers. Functionally comparable to VÚMOP's Půda v mapách, Půda v číslech, Protierozní kalkulačka and SOWAC-GIS stack, but commercially packaged and pan-European rather than Czech-statutory.

Broad incumbents

• European Environment Agency (EEA): EU agency producing pan-European environmental datasets and indicators, including soil, water and land-cover data that overlap with VÚMOP's SOWAC-GIS scope. Comparable in mission (environmental monitoring, dashboards, regulatory reporting) but with a continent-wide remit rather than a national mandate.
• Esri: Global leader in GIS software whose ArcGIS platform underlies VÚMOP's SOWAC-GIS and Půdní typy web apps. Comparable in enabling web-GIS, spatial analytics and decision-support workflows for government and agriculture, though Esri is a commercial platform vendor rather than a research institution.
• Joint Research Centre (JRC) – European Commission: EU's in-house science service producing EU-wide soil, land and remote sensing datasets (e.g., LUCAS, European Soil Data Centre). VÚMOP collaborates with EU programs and contributes SoilPASS AI to EC communications, so JRC functions as the broader incumbent whose EU-level data assets set the standard for what VÚMOP delivers at national level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vumop.vvi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vyzkumny-ustav-monitoringu-a-ochrany-pudy-v-v-i

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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