Pursuant to Cabinet Order No. 502 approved on 9 August 2023, "Regarding the State Research Programme 'Research and Sustainable Use of Local Resources for Latvia's Development' 2023-2025", the Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Latvian Council of Science, is announcing an open call for project applications to implement the research programme.
The overarching objective of the programme is the sustainable and rational use of natural resources, increasing their added value in changing environmental conditions, which is to be achieved through the implementation of two sub-programmes:
1. Sustainable use of agricultural, including fisheries, resources for the production of safe, high-quality, and healthy food in Latvia
2. Innovative forest management and new forest services, products, and technologies for Latvia's growth
Minister of Agriculture Didzis Šmits: “Sustainable management of natural resources while producing food and other products significant to society has become particularly challenging, both in adapting to changing climatic conditions and in striving to achieve the sustainability goals set by the international community. Even on a European Union scale, environmental and climatic conditions are significantly different and variable, reinforcing the need to develop research activities at a national level to provide Latvia's farmers, foresters, and food producers with knowledge based on scientific findings, preparing them and providing competitive advantages for future operations.”
The programme implementation period is from 2023 to 2025 with total funding of 5 million euros.
The goals, tasks, results, specific criteria, as well as the organisation of the competition and project applications can be viewed on the Latvian Council of Science website in the section “Information for implementers”.
The deadline for submitting project applications is 2 October 2023. Project applications must be submitted via the National Research Information System (www.sciencelatvia.lv).