Meeting with the representatives from Bio-based Industries Consortium

On 16 of January, 2020, the meeting with representatives from Biobased – industries consortium (BIC) Nelo Emerencia and Marco Rupp as well as the Vice President GR III European Economic and Social Committee Mindaugas Maciulevičius was held at the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development.

Nelo Emerencia manages the Programming activities of BIC. He graduated as Chemical Engineer at the Delft University of Technology. During his career, he acquired expertise in engineering & operations, economics & planning, marketing, communication & public affairs and Education & Innovation.

Marco Rupp manages Public Affairs & Governmental Relations at BIC. He graduated as economist. During his career, he gained a strong public affairs expertise, holding management positions in consultancies and corporate representations as well as the EU Institutions. BIC representatives are working with community of research and industries, as the partnership of both areas is the focus for BIC organisation.

Nelo Emerencia and Marco Rupp presented the mission and functions of the BIC as well the opportunities for bioeconomy development in Lithuania. Marco Rupp presented the platform for Regions and bio-based projects. The event gathered representatives from different organisation of Lithuania and covered a lot of discussion.

It was the first visit of BIC representatives aimed at introducing BIC activities and identifying the field for the common work together in future. Another meeting focused on discussion about the concrete collaboration activities on the scientific and industry level is planned.

VMU Academy of Agriculture researchers were visiting milk farms in Finland

On January 7-11, 2020 Assoc prof. Jolita Greblikaitė and lecturer Rolandas Rakštys (Vytautas Magnus University, Academy of Agriculture) were visiting milk farms at Finland, Tampere region. This visit is a part of the project with the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture, devoted to typical farms models‘ creation, their scientific and economic evaluation and grounding. Researchers were visiting one big farm (250 cows) and one middle siza farm (40 cows) in Finland. The interest spheres of the visit were related with technological, ingineering, finansial and economic decisions in milk farms. The futire development of the farms and milk sector in Finland was discussed.

Conference “Young Scientist 2020”

Dear students,

We are kindly inviting you to participate at the students‘ conference „Young scientist 2020“. The conference will be held on 23 of April, 2020.

Important dates:

*Registration to the conference till 29 of March, 2020

*Please register here: Registration

The final conference program will be announced later.

For further information:
Administrator for studies Daiva Raižytė e-mail: daiva.raizyte@vdu.lt

International Scientific Conference “Sustainable Bioeconomy Development 2020: From Thinking Globally to Acting Locally”

Virtual conference will be hosted on 25 June, 2020. Online registration to conference is extended until 31 May 2020.

The conference is organized by the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy and the Faculty of Economics and Social Development of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.

The conference is dedicated to interdisciplinary scientific discussions and new ideas related to the following topics: Sustainability as a Key for Bioeconomy Challenges; Bioeconomy for Rural Development; Innovation to Investments, Markets and the Bio-Based Sector. Important topics of the conference are instruments to support sustainable bioeconomy in rural areas and seizing the opportunity for rural areas.

Papers that fulfil the requirements can be published in the scientific journal “Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development”.

Conference programme

On behalf of
Organising Committee of International Scientific Conference „Sustainable Bioeconomy Development 2020: From Thinking Globally to Acting Locally“

Visit to Slovakia for HORIZON 2020 programme

In 12-12 November, 2019 assoc. prof. Jolita Greblikaite and lecturer Rolandas Rakstys (Facultyr of Bioeconomy Development) were participating in HORIZON 2020 event „2020 SOCIETIES BROKERAGE in Bratislava, Slovakia.. The event eas dvoted for presenting particular Horizon 2020 programmes as well as particular tips and new rules of new Horizon programme were presented. The event was important in terms of managing and writing proposals (new rules). Brokerage meetings were held as well. Participant were from different countries: Project managers, researchers, administrative staff.

Erasmus+ training visit at Delft University of Technology

On 4-8 November, Vytautas Magnus University Faculty of Bioeconomy Development Entrepreneurship Laboratory administrator Deimena Montvydaitė was visiting Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands) as Erasmus+ training visit. During the visit, D. Montvydaitė participated in “TU Delft International Staff Exchange Event”, organized by TU Delft Guest Centre. The event brought together representatives of universities from different European countries: Sweden, Finland, France, Spain, Austria, Turkey, etc. The main goal of the Event was to share the knowledge and experience from different universities in order to learn from each other. The major topics, discussed during the training, were: Admission and Student Exchange, International Partnerships, Strategic Development, Corporate Policy Affairs, Global Engagement & Strategic Partnerships, Entrepreneurship, Student Drop Out, Working with Alumni Relations to reach the goals of university etc.

In the Event there was considered the latest admission processes at TU Delft, trends in admission over the past years and general admission developments within the Netherlands. All the participants shared their experience form different universities and discussed the issues on student admission. Talking about international relationships, there were debated trends and developments within international partnerships, preferred partnerships and international cooperation. In the Event there was also presented the main strategic principles of the TU Delft and further elaborate on the process of getting to the strategic framework. In the field of global engagement, there were discussed the issues related to developing and implementing a global engagement framework/strategy, managing (strategic) partnership programmes and creating global impact. Representatives of the universities shared their experience in the strategic and global engagement fields as well. During the Event, participants were introduced to The Delft Centre for Entrepreneurship, which provides education programs at bachelor and master level and contributes to PhD training as well as other teaching programs. What is more, The Delft Centre for Entrepreneurship has the vision to be a global leader in entrepreneurship and innovation research and education. In terms of students drop out, there was highlighted the aim at quality, not quantity and the importance to make sure that students’ choice for university is thought through. More interactivity and dialogue in the study choice process, was discussed. Talking about engagement of the alumni community, there was held a debate about alumni role in strategic decisions and communicative processes. In all the sessions participants discussed their own universities strengths as well as problem areas and searched for solutions while sharing different experiences. Beside the knowledge learning, the Event included campus tour, that allowed participants to get a closer look at individual units’ work spaces of TU Delft.

Erasmus training visit at Delft University of Technology and participation at “TU Delft International Staff Exchange Event” provided an opportunity to explore the different cultures of different universities, to share the experience and to gain knowledge on current issues, as well as to establish contacts for potential future cooperation.

Erasmus visit to Croatia

Assoc. Professor Jolita Greblikaite (Faculty of Bioeconomy Development) was teaching under Erasmus+ mobility programme at University of Dubrovnik, Croatia during 29-31 November, 2019. The co-operation between institutions was already established earlier. Prof. Ivona Raguz is a member of the scientific International conference „Rural Development 2019“. Profesors from Dubtovnik University are actively working as visiting profesors. The International conference of Economics „DIEM“ is organised each year. It includes and management themes.

Presentation of scientific research results in the international scientific conference in Lisbon

Researchers of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Research Institute for Bioeconomy professor V. Vitunskienė, associate professor D. Makutėnienė, lector N. Ramanauskė and PhD student E. Besusparienė participated in the 29th Eurasia Business and Economics Society (EBES) international scientific conference, which was held on 10–12 October, 2019 in Portugal, Lisbon. It was attended by scientists from 52 countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Poland, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, etc.), who presented their research results in the fields of Accounting, Audit, Banking, Investment, Marketing, Growth and Development, Political Economy, Public Economics, etc.

Scholarsof the Research Institute for Bioeconomy made presentations on bioeconomy development issues. The presentation by prof. V. Vitunskienė was ,,Spatial Concentration of Biomass Production Activities in the European Union“, assoc. prof. D. Makutėnienė presented ,,The Impact of Agriculture on the Natural Environment in Terms of Resource Use and GHG Emissions“, lect. N. Ramanauskė presented the paper prepared together with prof. V. Vitunskienė ,,Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Biomass Self-Sufficiency in the European Union“. PhD student E. Besusparienė presented the results of the empirical research from the part of the dissertation devoted to the modelling of fertilizer tax and made presentation ,,The Assessment of Factors Affecting Fertilizer Use on Family Farms in Lithuania”.

Participation in the conference was financed by the Research Council of Lithuania from European Social Fund under the Operational Programme for EU Structural Funds Investments for 2014–2020, by the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development and by EU Erasmus+ Programme. PhD student participation in the conference funded by the Research Council of Lithuania under the support for PhD student academic travel.

VISIT TO SLOVAKIAN AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY IN NITRA

Prof. Astrida Miceikienė from the Research Institute for Bioeconomy (Faculty of Bioeconomy development) visited Slovakian agriculture university in Nitra on 30/09/2019 – 04/10/2019. She came to this University for teaching visit and participated in the celebration of 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Faculty of Economic and Management. This events attended 480 guests from 16 countries, 30 partner faculties and university and 27 business partners http://www.fem.uniag.sk/en/news-reader/items/celebration-of-the-60th-anniversary-of-the-foundation-of-the-fem-sua-nitra/

Astrida Miceikienė taught master students on the topics of tax and taxation of Lithuania and EU. During the visit the professor met with the researchers from the Faculty of Economics and Management, guests of the Faculty and discussed opportunities for cooperation. She presented study programs of the Faculty of Bioeconomy development and the possibilities for exchanges studies at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. During the stay at the Faculty the possible cooperation in research, the inter-university cooperation within the framework of the Erasmus + program establish and strengthen the scientific cooperation were discussed with Dean of the Faculty prof. Elena Horska. Astrida Miceikiene was presented research fields at Faculty of Bioeconomy development, projects and research journals.

What factors could speed up the bioeconomy development? Have scholars around the world found the answer?

Climate change, depletion of biological resources worldwide, provision of food, clean water, energy to humanity becoming an increasingly hot issue – all of this urges for the innovations inherent to bioeconomy and offering an integrated approach towards economic development, social and environmental sustainability in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture.

Currently, the European bioeconomy market accounts for about EUR 2.4 trln using about 2 bln tonnes of biomass for production and creating jobs for about 22 mln people. According to the forecasts by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), bioeconomy is expected to become the core principle of the European economic development by 2055.

In the week of Global Climate Strikes, on 26 – 28 September, scholars from 28 different countries all over the world gathered in Kaunas to address the global climate change issues and explore the options. For 3 days, 200 global experts were discussing the topical questions in this field proposing social and economic innovations to speed up the process at the International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2019: Research and Innovation for Bioeconomy” hosted by Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU Agriculture Academy).

“We have arrived at the conclusion that social innovations are as important as technology innovations, as the former would enable including the entire society into bioeconomy development. However, the issue we are facing today is that social capital is declining in rural areas, and this has been confirmed both by Lithuanian and foreign scholars. We therefore must work together to explore the methods to help improve the situation,” firmly states prof. Vilma Atkočiūnienė at the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of VMU Agriculture Academy, who is one of the event organizers.

The scholar has noted that the event held at the international scale has doubtlessly provided its participants with new ideas for research, expanded the boundaries of understanding of the importance of bioeconomy, encouraged them for more active international collaboration.

The Business and Science Forum “Bioeconomy Development as the Prerequisite of Long-Term Competitiveness and Wellbeing” was also held during the Conference and involved discussions among representatives of the state, research institutions, business, farmer self-governance organizations. The discussions were aimed at finding answers to the question of strengthening collaboration between economy developers, society, and align it with the environmental expectations, and how social innovations may contribute to improvement of viability of regions.

Discussion of the small farm issues proposing the tools for preserving their sustainability was under particular focus during the conference. The participants were analysing the economic, social and environmental aspects of development of small farms, discussing about the contribution of small farms into the efforts towards sustainability in the agricultural and food sectors in Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Romania, Serbia, and Moldova.

Commenting on the country’s bioeconomy situation, Rimantas Sinkevičius, Chairman of the Committee on Economics at the Seimas, has noted that, today, everyone must feel responsible for the future, because each of us is facing the challenges of climate change and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Therefore, there is no doubt that the only right path for sustainable development of humanity lies in promotion of bioeconomy and lengthening the chain of use of natural resources, generating the maximum possible economic and environmental effect.

“Alas, Lithuania is not yet among the leading countries able to present plenty of bioeconomy development outcomes. As you are eye witnessing the huge piles of logs or grains to be exported, you are realizing that we are still far from understanding what bioeconomy actually is,” claims R. Sinkevičius.

Prof. Astrida Miceikienė, Dean of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of VMU Agriculture Academy and Chair of the organizing committee of the Conference “Rural Development 2019: Research and Innovation for Bioeconomy” has noted that it is not a coincidence that bioeconomy development is currently one of the topical issues across the globe, as the societies are facing increasingly more challenges related to climate change. Moreover, the stocks of fossil natural resources are becoming depleted inevitably. Bioeconomy covers sustainable production of renewable biological resources and processing of the resources and waste flows into added-value products: food, fodder, industrial products of biological origin, bioenergy. Agricultural, forestry, fishery, food, pulp and paper production, as well as a part of chemistry, biotechnology and energy industries could participate in development of this branch.

“Bioeconomy is not an autonomous economy sector – it is a multi-dimensional mechanism involving not only agriculture, industry, but also the service sectors and consumers. It is therefore necessary to bring education of the society into the focus,” claims A. Miceikienė.

As a result, in terms of the content, the conference consisted of several segments: agro-innovation and food technologies; biosystem engineering and environmental sustainability; multi-functional method of sustainable exploitation of biological resources; social research and innovations in bioeconomy, aimed at sustainable changes and wellbeing in rural areas.

During the conference, the world-renowned scholars such as Karlheinz Knickel, Germany, Davide Rizzo, France, Talis Tisenkopfs, Latvia, delivered their presentations at the Conference. More than 100 research evidence-based presentations were delivered in total at the conference on different relevant topics.