Sustainable Agriculture – Opportunities, Solutions and Practical Steps for the Development of the Sector
On 16 September, the webinar “News in Latvian Agriculture – EU Funds, Finance and Sustainable Development” took place, bringing together representatives of the agricultural sector to discuss current issues in the sector, European Union funding opportunities and practical solutions for more sustainable farming.
The webinar was organised by the Latvian Agricultural Organisation Cooperation Council (LOSP) in cooperation with the Sustainability Cluster. The event featured Guntis Gūtmanis, Chairman of the Board of LOSP, Uldis Augulis, Minister of Agriculture, and Armands Gūtmanis, Chairman of the Board of the Sustainability Cluster.
Sustainability – not only an environmental issue
Opening the webinar, Guntis Gūtmanis emphasised that sustainable agriculture should not be viewed solely through the prism of restrictions and environmental requirements. An equally important aspect is the financial sustainability of farms – their ability to generate income, develop and remain competitive in the long term. This approach was also one of the key principles underpinning the development of the sustainability guidelines.
During the webinar, Minister of Agriculture Uldis Augulis provided an overview of the current situation in Latvian agriculture, including challenges caused by weather conditions, support measures, production costs, fuel and fertiliser prices, as well as the importance of agricultural processing and exports. The discussion also covered the upcoming European Union funding periods and the need to strengthen agricultural production and competitiveness in Latvia.
Particular attention was also paid to drainage and water resource management, which are becoming increasingly important in the context of changing weather conditions. The discussion highlighted the need to ensure the effective functioning of both farm-level and nationally significant drainage systems.
Six pillars of sustainable farming
The central part of the webinar focused on the presentation by Armands Gūtmanis of the “Guidelines for Achieving Sustainability Objectives in Latvian Agriculture”, developed as part of the project “Informing Latvian Agricultural Professionals and Developing Guidelines for Achieving Sustainability Objectives in Agriculture.”
The guidelines identify six interconnected areas of sustainable agriculture:
Renewable energy resources – as a tool for energy independence, cost resilience and replacing fossil resources.
Carbon farming – strengthening soil fertility and production resilience through appropriate management practices.
Financial sustainability of farms – linking investments to production costs, yield stability, cash flow and long-term competitiveness.
Soil conservation – focusing on soil health, organic matter, crop rotation and the use of data.
Water resources – reducing the risks associated with excessive moisture, drought and deterioration of water quality.
European Union funding instruments – linking funding to measurable improvements and the needs of individual farms.
Importantly, the guidelines are not designed as a one-size-fits-all solution for every farm. Small, medium-sized and large farms require different approaches, taking into account their production models, capital availability, soil and water conditions, as well as their technological and data capacities.
From the idea of sustainability to practical farming
The webinar particularly emphasised that sustainable technologies should be selected based on the specific needs and economic rationale of each farm. For example, before investing in renewable energy, a farm should assess its energy consumption, seasonal loads and opportunities to use generated energy for self-consumption. Similarly, carbon farming measures should begin with an assessment of fields and soil conditions.
The guidelines also promote the wider use of data in decision-making – from soil analyses and yield data to records of seed material, fertilisers, energy and other resources. At the same time, it was emphasised that the implementation of sustainability requirements should not create unnecessary additional administrative burdens for farmers.
Preparing for future opportunities today
The importance of the guidelines is particularly relevant in the context of the upcoming European Union funding periods. During the webinar, it was emphasised that farms should start considering their development models in advance – what their main challenges are, what investments are needed and how sustainability solutions can contribute to improved economic performance.
As a practical approach, Armands Gūtmanis highlighted three key areas of consideration: how the farm manages its finances, what its customers will want to purchase in the future, and what the development plan of the business is. A clear development plan enables farms to identify suitable financing and innovation solutions more purposefully.
Therefore, sustainable farming is not only about what a farm does today, but also about how it prepares for the years ahead – changing market requirements, resource costs, climate risks, technological development and funding opportunities.
Continuing the work towards sustainable agriculture
The “Guidelines for Achieving Sustainability Objectives in Latvian Agriculture” have been developed as a practical resource to help view sustainability in conjunction with competitiveness, production resilience, food security and the financial viability of farms. The recommendations encourage the use of existing data and tools, while adapting solutions to the capabilities of individual farms.
At the conclusion of the webinar, participants were invited to review the full guidelines and provide their comments and suggestions for further improvement. The guidelines are also intended to serve as a basis for continued discussions with representatives of the agricultural sector.
The guidelines were developed as part of the project “Informing Latvian Agricultural Professionals and Developing Guidelines for Achieving Sustainability Objectives in Agriculture” (Project No. EKII-9/26). The project is financed by the Emission Allowance Auctioning Instrument.
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