The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has prepared the informative report on the Latvian Bioeconomy Strategy until 2030 (LIBRA), which was presented to the Government on Tuesday, December 19.
Latvia has become the first EU-13 Member State to publish its national Bioeconomy Strategy.
Bioeconomy covers those parts of economy that use renewable bio-based resources for a sustainable and effective production of food, feed, industrial products and energy.
Bioeconomy includes agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, food industry, wood industry, as well as parts of chemical, biotechnological and energy sectors. Bioeconomy sectors are the basis for the development of national economy, they boost the rural viability and have significant growth potential for the creation of well-salaried work.
Bioeconomy Strategy provides for the development of knowledge-based bioeconomy in Latvia that enhances the export and added value of bioeconomy sectors. Latvia’s vision of the bioeconomy strategy – the bioeconomy sectors of Latvia are innovation leaders in the Baltic States in preserving natural capital, increasing its value and efficiency as well as its sustainable exploitation.
In Latvia, innovative approaches for the efficient and sustainable exploitation of natural resources are developed and introduced in the bioeconomy industries in order to provide growth of the national economy, providing a higher value-added, promoting exports and employment. This shall be achieved while simultaneously balancing economic interests with ensuring of environmental quality and preserving and enhancing biodiversity.
The strategic goals of the bioeconomy development are divided into three main groups:
- advancement and retention of employment in the bioeconomy sectors for 128 thousand people,
- increasing the value added of bioeconomy products to at least EUR 3,8 billion in 2030,
- increasing the value of bioeconomy production exports to at least EUR 9 billion in 2030.
To achieve the Strategy goals, cross-sectoral approach and involvement of all sectors are needed.
Various stakeholders, like sectoral associations, research institutes and interministerial working group members from the Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Welfare and Cross-sectoral Coordination Centre were involved in the development of the Strategy. The technical development of the Strategy was carried by the Latvian University of Agriculture. A strong cooperation was developed with the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia. The Office assisted in the organization of workshops and conferences to transfer the Nordic good practice in bioeconomy.
The Government’s decision states that in order to promote bioeconomy development in Latvia, the Ministries have to take into account the fields of action of the Bioeconomy Strategy while revising and developing their policy planning documents (including EU and other funding instruments, like Rural Development Programme 2021-2027 and State Research Programmes).
More information on LIBRA at the Government’s website The informative report on the "Latvijas Bioekonomikas stratēģija 2030".