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The aim of this study is to identify opportunities for the development of the Latvian forest sector and to assess competition. Nowadays, the development and sustainability of natural resources is of great importance. The forest resource in Latvia is valued as the most important national natural resource. It is therefore necessary to identify and analyse the factors influencing its development. The study included an analysis of the Latvian forest sector exports. The research methodology includes theoretical concepts and a framework of factors influencing the forest sector. The aim of this paper is to analyse the export performance of the Latvian forest sector and to present data on the export of forest sector products, collected within the framework of the study, depending on the degree of processing of the product, as well as to determine the breakdown of partner countries for forest sector exports. The study involved surveys of companies in the sector and expert interviews. The data from the study show that Latvia's forest sector exports have great potential. The largest share in the forest sector's export structure is occupied by primary processing products, followed by further processing products, which overtake the position of logs and by-products. The total value of Latvia's forest sector exports, like the total value of the country's exports, has tended to increase. The analysis of the data obtained will allow an understanding of the factors influencing the development of forestry exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, biotechnology has provided a motor for environmentally sustainable production and for the development of a diverse range of innovative products. The potential economic and environmental benefits of biotechnology have created a growing strategic interest in bioeconomy. Bioeconomy combines highly research and knowledge intensive economic activities in agriculture, forestry and the food sector with the innovative use of renewable raw materials for material and energy use. This paper aims to study the potential for the further development of bio-based sectors in Latvia and main challenges the development of innovations in bioeconomy faces in Latvia and Baltic Sea Region countries. In this study, the authors have analyzed current situation in Latvia regarding bioeconomy development and have identified innovations fostering sustainable use of natural resources. The research finds out that bioeconomy innovations in the traditional biobased sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries, renewable energies, food and feed, pulp and paper, goes in line with the principles of sustainable development and thus it effects development of sustainable use of natural resources. This paper reviews the support systems for innovations in bioeconomy in EU and Latvia and studies the potential for the further development of bio-based sectors in Latvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify opportunities for the development of the bioeconomy in Latvia, assessing its role in the development of the agricultural sector. Nowadays, the development and sustainability of natural resources are of great importance. The bioeconomy can be considered as one of the oldest sectors of the economy, which life sciences and biotechnology can transform into one of the most modern sectors of the economy. From a number of perspectives, one of Latvia's development opportunities is the more sustainable and efficient use of natural resources. The bioeconomy provides a combined approach to integrating knowledge-based economic growth, social welfare and environmental protection in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, respecting the principles of the circular economy. The aim of this paper is to provide information on a study carried out to investigate and analyse the development perspectives of the bioeconomy and organic farming in Latvia. The research methodology includes theoretical concepts and a framework of factors influencing the bioeconomy. The study uses the Delphi method, collects data from expert interviews and surveys, uses the Porter's hypothesis method, and analyses the competitiveness of organic farming enterprises in Latvia based on Porter's five forces method. The development of the bioeconomy is mainly related to the production and efficient processing of bioresources. Rural areas and regions are therefore the ones with the greatest potential for development. Research data show that the growth of the bioeconomy will contribute to the development of Latvia's rural areas and regions and that Latvian organic farming enterprises have great potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the previous research by author conducted in 2016 [1], the indicators characterizing natural resources in Latvian rural municipalities were analysed, looking for connections with the overall territorial development and growth. The study concluded that there are significant differences in the development of municipalities, using the complex territorial development index (TDI) and analysing the available natural resources, such as forests, agricultural land areas, receiving EU funding, etc. The municipalities with the highest TDI values did not have significant natural resources. Their development was mainly determined by their location - close to the capital Riga, which is the largest economic centre in Latvia, thus forming a distinctly monocentric spatial structure. The positions of the Latvian government regarding regional policy, which are included in the National Development Plan 2021-2027, are oriented towards the promotion of polycentrism, thus forming the basis for sustainable and balanced development of all territories. Policy makers point out that the fact that growth has not been territorially balanced, as inequality is still high and the growth of remote regions lags behind the Riga region, creates significant long-term risks. This study analyses whether there have been changes in the five-year period, both in terms of the overall territorial development of rural municipalities, as well as in evaluating the changes in natural resource indicators, raising the issue of the effective use of natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public procurement is the acquisition of products and services needed for the public sector and involves significant public budget resources. Incorporating environmental requirements into public procurement promotes both the goals of sustainable development and the principles of the circular economy. Green public procurement practices are becoming increasingly important, not only in the world, but also in Latvia. Therefore, in 2017, the Latvian Bioeconomy Strategy 2030 was approved, which envisages the development of green procurement as an important factor for the implementation of this strategy. Therefore, the aim of the present research is to study one of the sections "Replacement of non-renewable resources with sustainable bioresources in public procurement" for the implementation of the strategic goal of the Latvian Bioeconomy Strategy 2030 "Attractive business environment for entrepreneurship in bioeconomy" in Latvia. The study found that since 2017, a system of regulatory enactments has been established in Latvia, which provides for certain groups of goods and services to which green procurement is mandatory in public procurement and groups of goods and services to which green public procurement is applicable on a voluntary basis. These product groups include important products produced and processed and services provided in the bioeconomy sectors. In general, the introduction of green public procurement procedures and requirements in Latvia is to be assessed positively, as in 2017-2020 the total amount of procurement has increased 3.1 times from EUR 282 million to EUR 867 million and in 2020 accounted for 17% of the total amount of public procurement. In turn, mandatory and voluntary green public procurement of goods and services has increased 3.2 times in the analysed period and accounted for 77% of the total amount of green public procurement, which promotes the development of bioeconomy in Latvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the national policy and development documents of Latvia, forest, along with other natural resources, is defined as an important strategic resource for the sustainable overall development of the country and the development of a diverse and exportintensive economy. At the same time, the need to exploit forests sustainably, reducing the risks to the quality of the natural environment posed by human activities, is emphasized by the documents. The research question is as follows: Are forests in Latvia overexploited and what factors affect the forest owner activities? The research examined the exploitation of wood resources in the country in the period 2007-2018 and found that the main factors that affected the forest owner activities were the economic crisis, the situation in the timber market, timber prices and climatic conditions. Analyzing statistical data on forestry and logging in the country, the research found that forests in Latvia were exploited sustainably. A correlation analysis revealed that the socio-economic factors that were strongly related to the exploitation of wood resources in the country and that could be employed in identifying (1) timber production in stateowned forests; (2) timber production in the other forests and (3) changes in the area logged were as follows: (1) the number of persons employed in the wood and wood products sector; (2) the number of persons employed in forestry and logging, and (3) the financial performance of businesses operating in the wood and wood products sector. Based on the correlation analysis results, three parabolic regression equations, which could be used to predict trends in the factors examined, were constructed. The research employed general scientific research methods, statistical analysis and mathematical methods, data provided by the Central Statistical Bureau, statistical data and public reports provided by the State Forest Service as well as legal acts and policy documents of the Republic of Latvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart development is a quite new tendency introduced in regional and territorial planning focusing on innovations, effective use of resources and knowledge based economics. Therefore there is no methodology elaborated jet how to characterise the smart territorial development progress in municipalities on Latvia. The National Research Program EKO-SOC-LV is established to create knowledge base on sustainable development processes of the state and society, and to elaborate a theoretical justification for sustainable development strategies and action policies through diverse scientific research. One of the aims is to analyse processes of rural and regional development and possibilities within the framework of economy in Latvia. During this research program smart territorial development measuring approach was elaborated. This article describes the methodology how to assess and evaluate the progress and level of smart territorial development. In this approach the smart territorial development includes four dimensions - smart people (active, skilled and educated), smart economics (innovative, knowledge intense, high-tech industries), smart use of nature resources and smart governance (inclusive, active in communication and effective in use of e-services). Each dimension is characterised by numerous indicators - 19 in total. The methods used in research are: monographic, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, statistical analysis methods, cluster analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]