New natural meadow products are to be developed in Latvia

Bath teas made from meadowsweet, meadow ice creams, collecting seeds from natural meadow plants – these are just some of the ideas supported by the Latvian Nature Fund and the LIFE-IP LatViaNature project’s small grants competition for innovative meadow product ideas. A total of 28 applications were submitted from across Latvia, but ten product ideas will receive grants ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 euros. These new innovations will complement the existing range of more than 30 products and services bearing the “Natural Meadow Product” label.

The priority of the competition was to support innovative products or services derived from Latvia’s natural meadows, which have business potential and are in demand amongst the public. The supported projects include both entirely new natural meadow products and services, as well as significant improvements to products and services already on the market, which are labelled with the “Natural Meadow Product” mark. Six projects will be implemented in Vidzeme, and four in Kurzeme.

Thanks to grant funding, the range of products from Latvia’s natural meadows will be expanded to include bath teas, herbal brooms and mats made from meadowsweet, pancakes, hinkali and chebureki filled with beef from cattle reared in natural meadows, as well as meadow-flavoured ice creams and sorbets in a variety of new flavours. A new meadow-based service in Latvia will be the hire of beehives. The collection and sale of seeds from natural meadow plants – which is so vital for the restoration of natural meadows – will also be developed, and the seeds will be collected using technology that is new to Latvia.  The competition has also supported an educational service for children and young people, which will enable them to learn about natural meadows through play.

Funding has also been allocated to the technological innovations submitted, which will improve the availability of meadow products and services to consumers – product dryers, freezers and production equipment. To extend the peak visitor season, support will be provided for the development of meadow tourism sites.

“The applicants whose projects have been supported have developed their business ideas with a view to preserving and restoring natural meadows, whilst at the same time seeing new opportunities for utilising meadow resources in business. The new products and services will be labelled with the “Natural Meadow Product” mark and will expand the range of high-quality local products available to consumers,” says Inga Muižniece, manager of the “Natural Meadow Product” brand.

The grant applications were assessed by a committee comprising representatives from the Latvian Nature Fund, the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre and the Nature Conservation Agency.

The grant competition forms part of the process of developing the “Natural Meadow Product” label created by the Latvian Nature Fund. The competition is being organised as part of the LIFE-IP LatViaNature project.