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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

Improving skills for Smartfarming as an innovative tool for rural development and economic growth

LLP LdV TOI project 2013-1-CY1-LE005-03114

International Conference

Smartfarming Practices in Latvia

Limasol, 27.10.2015.

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

Content

• General information about Latvia• Agriculture Production and Marketing in

Latvia• Union “Farmers Parliament”• SuperFood Berries in Latvia• Good practice examples

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

Athens, 30.09.2014.

• Area-64 589 km2

•Population -2,013 million (2013)•AGRICULTUREEcon. active farms - 85,9 thousand Average size - 31.9 ha Average age ~56 years

Some Data on Latvia...

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

Production and Marketing in Latvia

• Recent years increased production (since 2010 increased 22,2 %), growing export( 2014-19,8% from total export, but declined for 6% in comparison with 2013) – agriculture as export industry, possibilities for development;

• The farms strongly benefit from production of products with added value (food industry role in GDP increased for 18,3% from 2008-2013) ;

• Developed supportive legislation for promotion of home producers (since 2009 from from 365 to 1 031;

• Increased role of farmers’ cooperation (LKPS Latraps, KS Musmaju darzeni etc.) ;

• Importance to use effective production, marketing, promotion methods and channels;

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT:• Uncompetitive in comparison to other EU countries- the lowest financial

support for agricultural production per ha in EU and Geopolitical situation – Russian market (In 2013 the food items covered 37.9% from the total volume of exports to Russia, consisted: 50.3% of milk and dairy products, 24.5% other food items, 10.5% sausages and similar food , 5.4% of fresh fish, 4.2% fruit and nuts, 3.1% meat and subproducts and 2% vegetables.)

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

UNION “FARMERS PARLIAMENT” • Non-governmental organization• Membership – 867 farms and agricultural businesses • - a large part of Latvian commercial farmers • All kinds of rural production; Mostly family farms• Cultivate 500 000 ha; Produce: 46 % grain and 53%

rapeseed of the total Latvian production • 33% of members - in animal husbandry • Members employ 4000 people• Provision political lobbing, consultancy, training activities,

projects – agriculture/research• 4 projects for training in Marketing (SmartFarmer, FarmInc,

Marlo, ELMA-TP” (developed online training platforms)

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

MANA SAIMNIECĪBA IR MANS BIZNESS

https://webmail.garmtech.net/index.php/mail/viewmessage/getattachment/folder/INBOX/uniqueId/2328/mimeType/aW1hZ2UvanBlZw==/filenameOriginal/823d377dcc52794c137ab6a0aa0e8da9/attachmentId/5

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

400 FRUITS AND

BERRIES IN LATVIA

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

SuperFood Berries in Latvia

• strawberries• raspberries• blueberries• black currants• red currants• sea buckthorn• gooseberries• cranberries• cloudberries• red bilberries• bilberries

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

Challenges for the production of SuperFoods:

Production: • Higher production, packing costs and realization costs• Weather conditions of Latvia require a lot of patience, attention and

resources• Cultivate a natural way, without using any chemical protective

equipment.• Knowledge of the specific cultivation of plants, how to increase yields• Labour shortage

Marketing: • Lack of awareness among buyers• Marketing and promotion activities for persuading of customers • Marketing techniques

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

PASTRY

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

MEDICINE

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

Smoothies

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

EXCURSIONS

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

PICKING UP ACTIVITIES

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

CRANBERRY FESTIVALS

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LifelongLearningProgramme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!