News

The submission of applications for the Small Grants Competition for innovative grassland product ideas and their implementation, organised by the Latvian Fund for Nature and partners, is now closed.

28 applications have been received.

The grassland resources have opened up a great flight of ideas, which are at the same time linked to the aim of the competition - to promote the management of natural grasslands and their integration into entrepreneurship.

The applications cover a wide range of grassland product and service categories, from food products and grassland tourism services to technical innovations that would tangibly improve the marketability of existing products.

Most of the innovations submitted are designed to fulfil educational, nature conservation and ecotourism functions.

There is a strong focus on promoting healthy lifestyles in Latvian society.

The evaluation of grant applications has started.

The Commission, consisting of the Latvian Fund for Nature, the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre and the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, will finish its work at the end of January, when the winners will be announced!

On 13 December, Latvian beef cattle breeders gathered in Ķekava at the Dole folk's house for a seminar on sustainable livestock farming practices. The seminar was organised by the Latvian Fund for Nature in cooperation with KS Latvijas Liellops.

The main topic of the seminar was regenerative or regenerative animal husbandry. It is a sustainable farming practice, integrating nature and production interactions - both the farmer and nature benefit. It is based on improving soil health, ecosystem diversity and sustainability and offers solutions for climate change mitigation, food security and sustainable land management.

Participants had the opportunity to learn from practitioners – Mārcis Peterhof (Kuršmala Ltd) and Airi Külvet (Puutsa Farm, MTÜ Liivimaa Lihaveis (Estonia)) about regenerative or regenerative livestock farming practices - different types of winter grazing, including bale grazing and summer rotational grazing and the use of beef cattle production, with the aim of farming in an environmentally friendly way and reducing production costs at the same time.

Livestock farmers were also informed about the results of feeding cattle on grass-based forages. And there was also an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the sector.

During the lunch break, participants had the opportunity to taste the beef products offered by KS Latvijas Liellops.

On 12 November, the Latvian Fund for Nature together with the association "Young Chefs' Movement" (Jauno pavāru kustība) held the seventh masterclass on natural meadow products, this time at the Vidzeme University of Technology and Design. The aim of the masterclass was to raise young professionals' awareness of the products that can be obtained from Latvia's natural grasslands and the wide range of culinary uses for these products.

The Masterclass was preceded by an educational seminar for 2nd and 3rd year chefs about Latvia's natural grasslands and their products. It ended with a short sprint competition with prizes. The Young Chefs Movement then introduced themselves, highlighting their participation in various festivals and other events and inviting future chefs to join in and participate.

The practical part was followed by a masterclass, which was conducted by experienced chefs - Artūrs Trinkuns from the restaurant "Barents" and Markus Žamoidiks from the restaurant "B7".

Nature offers products, ideas and exciting possibilities - don't be afraid to experiment! This was repeatedly stressed by the workshop leaders. Young people had the opportunity to cook their own different meals using products from natural meadows: lamb, sheep's milk and yoghurt and honey. A member of the association, farmer Pēteris Langrāts from the farm "Siliņi", showed how to use both wild and cultivated plants in cooking and decorating.

The masterclass used lamb and honey from the "Priežukalns" farm and sheep's milk products from Iluta Straģe's "Piena aitas bio" farm.  These producers manage natural meadows and their products are labelled "Natural Meadow Product".

Natural grasslands are the most threatened habitats in the European Union and in Latvia, and depend on human activities for their survival. Over the last century, the area of natural grasslands has declined rapidly and now covers only 0.9% of Latvia's territory (compared to more than 30% about 100 years ago). Natural grasslands provide us as a society with many different benefits, which can be described in a few words as ecosystem services that are very important for the well-being of society.

Today, nature conservation is looking for innovative ways to integrate nature conservation into farming. One such innovation is the Latvian Fund for Nature's "Grassland Product" label. This label is used to mark products produced in natural grasslands.

Masterclasses for future chefs are organised within the EU LIFE-IP LatViaNature project with the aim of supporting entrepreneurship for sustainable management of natural grasslands.

Latvian Fund for Nature in cooperation with Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre and other partners of LIFE-IP LatViaNature project invites natural grassland* managers to participate in small grant competition "Implementation of innovative grassland product ideas". The aim of the competition is to promote the management of natural grasslands and their integration into entrepreneurship.

The competition is open to both legal and physical persons who are owners, legal holders or holders of natural grasslands. Applicants should submit ideas for innovative products or services originating from Latvia's natural grasslands, with business potential and public demand.

Entrants may create a completely new product or service from the grasslands or make a significant improvement to a product or service already on the market. The funding per project idea is between EUR 1 000 and EUR 5 000, with 100% support. If approved, the project idea must be implemented within 6 months of the signing of the contract.

Inga Muižniece, LatViaNature Project Manager at the Latvian Fund for Nature: "Natural grasslands are one of the most threatened habitats in Latvia, with only 0.9% of Latvia's territory remaining. Their conservation and restoration is directly dependent on human economic activity, which can be both aimed at preserving natural values and economically beneficial. The Latvian Fund for Nature has already created a brand "Grassland Product" in the LatViaNature project to unite and support natural grassland managers who produce products or offer services with added conservation value. With this competition, we invite natural grassland managers to value their grasslands as a diverse resource, to look beyond the traditional and to let their ideas take flight to create innovative products."

Ieva Saleniece, Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, LatViaNature Project Manager: "The competition will allow to appreciate natural diversity also from the economic point of view, to receive financial support in the implementation of innovative ideas. At the same time, it raises awareness among entrepreneurs and the public about natural meadow products and their importance for the conservation and restoration of natural grasslands, as well as for our health. In this way, LatViaNature is looking for new models of cooperation with landowners and entrepreneurs, because only together - the state, private landowners and the public - can Latvia's nature be preserved."

The competition is part of the LIFE-IP LatViaNature project and has a total funding of EUR 50 000.

*natural grasslands = EU protected grassland habitats / biologically valuable grasslands

On 5 November, in cooperation with "Zemnieku Saeima" and "Baltic studies centre" we held a seminar "Online tools and direct selling: lessons from the CODECS and DESIRA projects" in Sabile.

 Researchers from the Baltic Studies Centre shared insights and research results on the use of digital tools in the direct marketing of beef. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about the most common challenges in this area, based on observations from the CODECS and DESIRA projects. The event looked at farmers' current practices and identified the main barriers to successful digital marketing, as well as discussing the benefits, costs and typical knowledge acquisition pathways of using digital tools.

Finally, after the discussions, we visited the farm "Drubazas" and learned about the experience of the farmer Ģirts Dzērves in managing natural meadows in the Abava valley.  Ģirts' motto: meadow should be seen as a resource. He raises cattle of the Galloway breed and welcomes tourists to his farm. "Drubaza's beef and tourism services have been awarded the 'Grassland Product' label.

The event was organised within the framework of the CODECS and LatViaNature projects.

On 28 October, the Latvian Fund for Nature together with the association "Young Chefs Movement" (Jauno pavāru kustība) held a masterclass for future 3rd year chefs of Liepāja Technical College to raise awareness of young professionals about products from natural meadows of Latvia.

The day started with an educational seminar by the Latvian Fund for Nature on Latvia's natural meadows and their products, and ended with a competition and prizes. The Young Chefs Movement then talked about themselves, highlighting their participation in various festivals and other events, and inviting aspiring chefs to join in and participate.

The practical part was followed by a masterclass for 16 aspiring chefs by experienced chefs - Roberts Ozoliņš from the upcoming bakery "ROBread" and Kristaps Lieldaudzietis from the restaurant "Goldingen Room".

The young people had the opportunity to cook their own different meals using beef from natural meadows. The beef used in the masterclass came from LTD "Rukši", which manages natural meadows and labels its products with the "Grassland Product" label.

The masterclasses for future chefs are organised within the EU LIFE-IP LatViaNature project with the aim to support entrepreneurship for sustainable management of natural grasslands. 

On 14 October, in order to raise young professionals' awareness of products from Latvia's natural meadows, the Latvian Fund for Nature together with the association "Young Chefs Movement" (Jauno pavāru kustība) organised a masterclass for future chefs at the Saldus Technical School.

The day started with an educational seminar on Latvia's natural meadows and their products. It ended with a short sprint competition with prizes. The Young Chefs Movement then introduced themselves, highlighting their participation in various festivals and other events and inviting future chefs to join in and participate.

The masterclass was led by experienced chefs - Edgars Ķiģelis, senior chef at the "Whitehouse" restaurant in Riga, and Žanis-Raivo Behmanis, chef at the "Kopa" restaurant in Kuldīga.

 The masterclass was prepared using beef from SIA "Rukši" and several types of goat's cheese from home producer Alice Zariņa. These producers manage natural meadows and their products are labelled "Grassland Product".

The masterclasses for future chefs are organised within the EU LIFE-IP LatViaNature project with the aim of supporting entrepreneurship for sustainable management of natural grasslands.