Institute of Energy Systems and Environment (Riga Technical University) in cooperation with Nordic Council of Ministers’ organized conference on bioeconomy potential in the Baltic and Nordic countries „Is Biotechonomy Development Attractive for Nordic Countries and Baltic States?” that was held on 26th of April in 2016 in the Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering. Conference has been organized in the framework of a project „Development of bioeconomical model for sustainable use of biological resources in order to reduce climate changes and improve adaptation capacity (BIO-CLIMATE)” that is supported by European Economic Area Financial Mechanism.

In total 61 participants were present in the conference and 140 more watched live conference broadcast online. This indicates that huge attention is paid to bioeconomy development. Einārs Cilinskis, member of the Saeima and Environmental Engineering PhD student, presented that bioeconomy is essential to reach objectives of the European Union (EU). As Latvia is the EU member state, then bioeconomy needs to be implemented in national documents, strategies, legislation etc.

Professor Dagnija Blumberga indicated that biotechonomy has a high potential in the Baltic States. For example, in Latvia scientists are working on innovative ideas, but entrepreneurs can implement these innovative ideas in their companies to produce high added value products for consumers. In order to achieve this biotechonomy development program (strategy, action plan etc.) and biotechonomy market should be created. Therefore, system dynamic models for biotechonomy development have been developed.

Jukka Teräs, senior researcher in Nordregio, introduced everyone to the bioeconomy development in Scandinavian countries. He emphasized that attention should be paid to development of clusters and industrial symbiosis.

Results of system dynamic model that has been created within project was presented by professor Andra Blumberga, professor Gatis Bažbauers and project partner Pål Ingebrigt Davidsen  who helped with creation of a system dynamic model and result analysis.

Model has been created for two sectors:  agriculture and forestry. 33 products that can be obtained from forestry resources and 66 products from agricultural resources have been modeled. Moreover, each national economy sector has been taken into consideration.

After presentation discussions took place. Conference participant Jānis Vašuks, owner of “Dendrolight Latvija”, shared his experience in producing high added value product from bioresources. Discussions show that support from state institutions and society is necessary to ensure biotechonomy development.

Presentation is available here:

Einārs Cilinskis

Dagnija Blumberga

Jukka Teräs

Pål I. Davidsen 1st presentation

Pål I. Davidsen 2nd presentation

Gatis Bažbauers

Andra Blumberga

On 17th February 2016 Institute of Energy Systems and Environment in corporation with Sustainable Development Committee of The Latvian Parliament are organizing seminar “Biotechonomy. Natural resources and options for their use”.

During the seminar an overview about biotechonomy development opportunities in Latvia and its economic and technological aspects. Insight in use options of bio-energy resources in Latvia, the rational use of bio-resources in order to obtain products with high added value, as well as bio-resource residuals recycling ideas.

Detailed seminar program available here.

Language: Latvian

Time and place: 12:00 – 16:00, RTU Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering, Āzenes iela 12/1, room 115

Seminar is free of charge.

Online registration here.

Live broadcast: tiesraides.rtu.lv

For more information visit bioclimate.rtu.lv and videszinatne.lv.

 

Seminar has been supported by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism project “Development of bioeconomical model for sustainable use of biological resources in order to reduce climate changes and improve adaption capacity (BIO-CLIMATE)” (No. 2/EEZLV02/14/GS/033).

In the end of September has also ended first activity of the project – the existing natural economy analysis, Bioeconomy fields` developments strategy analysis and evaluation on influence on climate change. The aim of activity, which was also achieved, was to find out the existing Latvian bioeconomy field situation, including influence on climate change and possible development scenarios. This activity was done by scientific personal of Institute of energy systems and environment.

RTU Institute of energy systems and environment in close collaboration with System dynamic group of University of Bergen has begun development of system dynamic model. Representatives of institute have gone into mission to University of Bergen to discuss main project guidelines and operational principles.

Until the end of October will be developed projects second activity, which is Research of technological aspects of biological resources’ use, in which, based on the results of the first activity, will be evaluated possible technical solutions.