Proven values and innovations at three AREI stands at Riga Food 2020

The Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics (AREI) invites food professionals and visitors to the international food exhibition “Riga Food 2020”, where they will have the opportunity to get acquainted with new products and stable food values at three stands – the Innovation Stand, the Latvian Fisheries Industry Stand and the National Food Stand. AREI stands will be located in Hall No. 2, from September 9 to 12 at the International Exhibition Center Ķīpsala, Riga, Ķīpsalas Street 8.

"Everything is changing at a tremendous speed these days. What was fashionable yesterday is now in the trash as useless. But the agricultural and food industries are both a stable value and one of the most progressive industries in the world. Amazing technological progress! And not so much to produce more, but to be better for the consumer and more environmentally friendly. If not too many years ago it was believed that wheat for good white bread could not be grown in Latvia, now we also grow it for refined pasta. The new varieties created by AREI also have excellent nutritional value and taste. Similarly, canned fish was not once considered a "delicate food". But look at what Latvian fish production looks like now! If you taste it, you will be amazed at the nuanced and interesting flavors. It is not for nothing that the Japanese, who are spoiled with fish products, sell our sprats gourmet "And now, when the virus has forced us to reevaluate many things and crystallize our core values, we can be proud of our agricultural and food sector, which is not only able to fully provide the country's population with healthy food, but also to export and bring additional real money to the country," says Assoc. Prof., Dr. oec Ingūna Gulbe, Head of the Agricultural Market Promotion Department of the AREI Technology Transfer Center.

Innovation stand exhibition The ERDF project “Hairy barley variety “Kornelija” - high-value whole grain raw material for the development of niche and functional products” KC-PI-2017/43 will be presented (www.kornelija.lv) the results of technological experiments obtained so far with an offer to Latvian food and grain raw material producers to cooperate in variety research and grain testing for the development of new niche and functional products. For the first time in the history of AREI, a cereal variety bred in Latvia has been registered with the Community Plant Variety Office and the hairy barley variety 'Kornelija' has obtained plant breeder's rights protection in the EU (Community) territory.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to taste special whole grain barley scones and fried grains, which resemble popcorn and are a great and healthy snack. Cornelia The project team offers a collaboration opportunity for seed growers, farmers and processors to learn about naked barley Cornelia, to test them in their own conditions to judge their suitability for cultivation, processing and food production. The variety is early, with coarse grains and an increased content of crude protein and β-glucans, as well as the biochemical composition of the grain. The grains of the 'Kornelija' variety can be used both as a source for obtaining healthy food and in animal feed. So far, cooperation is already underway with Cēsis bread, Lielezers bakery, Bears, Cannabis, Grain power, Little Bears porridge, LLPTF, Latvian Baker, Color pasta, Horticulture Institute, Natural delicacy, Milzu!, SKY, Creative bread laboratory Ramala.

The second cannabis variety 'Pūriņi' will be presented. According to the decision KAT1-20-02 of the State Plant Protection Service, Seed Control Department of 27.02.2020, the cannabis variety 'Pūriņi' (Cannabis sativa L.) is included in the Latvian Plant Variety Catalogue as a conserved variety of field plant genetic resources. Local Latvian hemp seeds are used to make tasty and healthy food products – hemp butter, gruel, hemp milk, oil, etc., as well as to obtain a phosphorus-containing organic compound – fetiņa, which is used in medicine for anemia and metabolic diseases. Fiber is obtained from hemp stalks, which is used for making threads, ropes, in construction, and paper production. At the exhibition, it will be possible to purchase the products of AREI's cooperation partner z/s “Kotiņi”.

Supported by the Ministry of Agriculture At the National Food Stand This year, Jaunpils Dairy, Mosenc, Gaļas nams Ādaži, Maiznīca Dona, Top food, Valežs, Aloja Starkelsen will participate with the products of large Latvian producers.

AREI implements European Maritime and Fisheries Fund project, within the framework of which Latvian fish industry companies – Karavela, Banga Ltd. and Verģi, will participate in the international exhibition Riga Food 2020 this year with new products, as well as various culinary surprises created from the products of these companies. You will be able to taste freshly fried sprats, unusually presented fish snacks from canned and smoked fish and seafood.

All stands will offer the opportunity to learn about issues related to agriculture and food, the values created by scientists, as well as evaluate innovations in the food industry created by manufacturers.