Mladen Fruk

Mladen Fruk was born on 1 February in Zabok. I have lived my entire life in the small Zagorje municipality of Radoboj. I completed both my primary and secondary education in Krapina. After finishing grammar school, I enrolled at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagreb, where I obtained the degree of Graduate Engineer of Agronomy, specializing in fruit growing, viticulture, and winemaking.

After graduating, I was employed at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagreb as a professional associate in the Department of Fruit Science. During my employment at the Faculty of Agriculture, I published more than ten scientific papers on fruit production, as well as pests and diseases in fruit growing. I participated in numerous projects, the largest of which was financed through the LIFE Programme, which supports projects that have a direct impact on reducing negative effects on the climate and the environment.

Due to limited opportunities for career advancement, in 2017 I took up a position at the then Croatian Agricultural and Forestry Advisory Service, which was integrated into the Ministry of Agriculture in 2019 as the independent Directorate for Professional Support to Agricultural Development. I have been the head of this directorate, serving as its Director, for more than four years.