Seminar, discussion: "Soybean in Latvia. Can we grow it and is it equivalent to imported soy?"

On March 1, the association “Farmers' Council” in cooperation with project partners is organizing and inviting farmers and interested parties to attend the seminar: “Soybean in Latvia: can we grow it, and is it equivalent to imported soy?” The seminar will take place at the Latvian Rural Consultation and Education Center, Rīgas Street 34, Ozolnieki. Starts at 10:00.

Sanita Zute, Senior Researcher and Head of the Field Plant Breeding and Agroecology Department of the Institute of Agroresources and Economics: “Growing soybeans in Latvia is a challenge that ten years ago would have seemed suitable only for backyard gardens. Last year, soybeans were already grown on more than 250 ha of large-scale production fields in Latvia. Our experience is still being formed, and we have to find answers to many questions: how to grow more, with better quality, more profitably, how to process, how to use the obtained harvest most efficiently, etc. The fourteen cooperation partners that make up the EIP working group of this project are united by a common goal – to find solutions for the effective cultivation and use of local protein-rich feed raw materials, as well as to share the knowledge gained during the project implementation. This is the second public event of the project after the Country Days in Stende in August 2018, where we will talk about the experience of the project participants in soybean cultivation, the first lessons learned, inviting everyone interested to join the discussion.”

In the first part of the seminar, AREI Stende Research Center's leading researcher Inga Jansone will inform about the project's tasks in evaluating soybean agrotechnology and findings. In the continuation of the seminar, SIA “AKCP” agronomist-consultant Aigars Šutka will talk about soybean cultivation in Latvia, opportunities and weaknesses, as well as practical recommendations. AREI Stende Research Center's leading researcher Vita Šterna will present: “Soybean, its processing and obtained products, as well as their potential use. The value of soybean grown in Latvia.”

Andris Miglavs, an expert from SIA “Edo Consult”, will inform about the competitiveness of local soybeans in the context of cultivation costs and quality. Sergejs Virts, the owner of Z/s “Rubuļi” and Kārlis Ruks, the owner of z/s “Jaunkalējiņi”, will share their practical experience in soybean cultivation. Sanita Zute, the leading researcher and project manager of AREI Stende Research Center, will inform about the findings of the first year of the project, as well as inform about the tasks for the next period. At the end of the seminar, a discussion is planned on the importance of soybeans in pig farming, with the opinion of Dzintra Lejniece, the director of LCAA.

Seminar duration: 4 hours.

Apply by February 28 by phone 67027044 or by e-mail: office@zemniekusaeima.lv

PRes_The Farmers' Parliament invites you to a seminar on soybean cultivation in Latvia_27.02.2019.