For this reason FP and Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce have developed a project to carry out an information campaign through approaching the citizens as food customers. The partnership has recieved funding from European Community for carrying out the campaign that will take place till September 2009 in both Latvia and Estonia.

The information campaign will promote Common Agriculture Policy in radio programs, advertisements in national and local newspapers, in grocery store chains and information stands in Tallin FoodFair and Riga Food fair 2009.

Total eligible cost of the action is EUR 120 516.65

The goal of the project: to develop the professional knowledge, skills and competences of rural entrepreneurs through personal development during international practice in UK, with the purpose to raise their capacities to sustain themselves in rural business environment, and produce high added value products.

The grant for the project: EUR 6 036 .

The goal of the project is to promote renewable energy and environmental protection by facilitating bioenergy usage and production from biomass in Latvia, through cooperation between Latvian, Norwegian and Swedish bioenergy and environmental protection specialists with the purpose to develop high level expertise in bioenergy issues, promotion of bioenergy production in Latvian agriculture sector and development of a bioenergy training/demonstration centre in Latvian Agriculture University Training and Research Farm “Vecauce”.

Project activities:
1. Bioenergy technology and experience transfer: visits of Norwegian and Swedish experts to inform and educate Latvian specialists. 4 informative/training seminars in 4 regions of Latvia (Zemgale, Latgale, Kurzeme and Vidzeme), with the participation of Latvian and Swedish expert, the target audience – potential producers, agriculture specialists, famers, local decision makers – 25 participants in each. Project conference for project conclusions discussion and dissemination, as well as informing the government decision makers – 30 participants, place – Riga;
2. Booklet for potential bioenergy producers: gathering, analyzing and literature studies, booklet development on bioenergy (1000 pieces). The booklet will be distributed to project target audiences – local potential bioenergy producers, agriculture enterprises, municipalities, agriculture education establishments
3. Bioenergy training center development in Latvian Agriculture University Training and Research Farm „Vecauce”: development of training basis and a demonstration site on bioenergy production from agriculture biomass. Norwegian expert (Skjetlein Resource Center) visit to Latvia, particularly Vecauce, to give consultations to Latvian specialists on bioenergy promotion, public education and demonstration center development;
4. Public education on bioenergy production and application potential: public relations activities in the mass media, development and distribution of a booklet to rural public, municipalities, agriculture students (3000 pieces)
5. Project management and administration: the strategic management and coordination will be done by Project Council, administrative management and activities management will be done by Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Project Financial Manager and Project Administrator.

The total amount of project costs: EUR 55 359,98, total amount of grant: EUR 49 823,98.

Projektu atbalsta Īslande, Lihtenšteina un Norvēģija EEZ finanšu instrumenta un Norvēģijas valdības divpusējā finanšu instrumenta ietvaros, un Latvijas valsts ar sabiedrības integrācijas fonda starpniecību.

For many farmers all over Europe, struggling to survive in a rapidly changing agricultural and economical environment, the growing interest for special niche products is appreciated as a lifeline, a possibility to continue farming through changing their production to a specialty product that will find its set of customers. The success of the local/niche products depends on reasonable marketing strategies. Also, the success depends on the competences of the producer to comply with all the European and national requirements regarding producing, documentation and all the other binding procedures in the process.

Overall aim of the project: to promote sustainable development of rural areas by developing the quality and attractiveness of VET and life-long learning systems and practices.

The main objective of the project: to transfer and elaborate Methodological Training Tools in Marketing (MTTM), to facilitate promotion and marketing of local and regional products by enhancing the participation of different stakeholders.

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Leonardo da Vinci grant: Euro 214 590