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Agricultural land is an important natural resource exploited for agricultural production to provide food for the population. The pressure on agricultural resources has increased in the world, as the population grows and non-food land uses increase. In Latvia, the utilized agricultural area (UAA) has decreased since 1991, and in 2020 it was 2.3 mln. ha or 36% of the total area of the country, while the forest area increased, and in 2020 it was 3.1 mln. ha or 48% of the total area. In 2019 in Latvia, the unfarmed an...

The commercialization of innovations in the food industry faces many risks. Only one in ten products successfully reaches supermarket shelves. In particular, the Latvian fish processing industry faces significant difficulties on the path to a successful launch of innovative products still depending on the production of one type of product ? canned fish. Continuing the study on the possibilities of using the fish species available in the country, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, in 2018-2019, de...

Organic production is an overall system of farm management and food production that combines best environmental and climate action practices. Although various research studies estimate that the demand for organic products will increase in the world, farmers are reluctant to switch to this more environmentally friendly way of farming. In Latvia, organic farming developed rapidly after joining the EU in 2004 owing to the support policies implemented by the European Union (EU) and Latvia. In 2004, there were 1043 cer...

Organic production has become a highly specialized agricultural system, which requires specific professional education, knowledge and technologies. The global demand for organic products is projected to increase in the future. In Latvia, the output of organic agricultural products continues increasing, yet the current output as well as the growing processing and sales capacity is not able to meet the demand for organic products by consumers, which is expected to increase over the next years. Therefore, the aim of ...

The development of rural areas is important for the economy of any country. In Latvia, the development of rural areas depends on economic growth in the key industries for the rural areas ? agriculture and forestry. Accordingly, it is important to use the various support instruments of the European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for rural development, which include financial support not only for agriculture but also for forestry. Therefore, the overall aim of the present research is to assess the use o...

Climate change, Paris agreement and following strategies for sustainable environment are key direction in 21st century, in order to have an environment and economy to live in for this and next generations. This topic is on the agenda of several high-level task forces at United Nations (UN) and the European Commission (EC). While some definitions and terms are still blurred and unclear, there are already several measurement indicators, which are monitored. One of 17 UN sustainable development growth (SDG) goals, nu...