Regulation of GMO in Latvia Baiba Rivza, Isaak Rashal, Full members of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Prague, 2014

-A non-profit scientific organisation, where scientists, basing on voluntary principles, are unified, representing the following branches – agriculture, rural economy, veterinary science, food science, engineering sciences, wood processing -Established in Currently there are 120 full members, 22 honorary members 2 Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (LAAFS)

The main tasks of the LAAFS are: To recommend and to coordinate development directions in fields of agriculture, forestry, rural development, etc., to identify problems of these fields and to provide solutions for solving the problems; To take part in elaboration of normative acts and policy planning documents in the afore-mentioned fields; To cooperate with Latvian Academy of Sciences, Latvian Council of Science, ministries, Latvian University of Agriculture, scientific institutions, enterprises, and other non-governmental institutions in the field, inter alia in international level; To develop research in the afore-mentioned fields, to organize conferences, seminars and exchange of scientific information. 3

There are five units. 4 GENERAL MEETING PRESIDIUM PRESIDENT BAIBA RIVZA Academician, prof., Dr.habil.oec. Phone: Vice- presidents and scientific secretary IRINA PILVERE Prof., Dr.oec. ISAAK RASHAL Prof., Dr.habil.biol. SCIENTIFIC SECRETARY UNITS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Head DAINIS LAPINS Prof., Dr.agr. AGRARIAN ECONOMICS SCIENCES Head IRINA PILVERE Prof., Dr.oec. FORESTRY SCIENCES Head TALIS GAITNIEKS Prof., Dr.silv. ENGINEERING SCIENCES Head KASPARS VARTUKAPTEINIS Prof., Dr.sc.ing. FOOD AND VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCES Head ANITA BLIJA Asoc. prof., Dr.sc.ing. Structure of the Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences

The Protocol of Intention with Ministry of Agriculture and Latvian Academy Sciences – signed annually 5

Activities of LAAFS (1) To participate in development of scientific priorities Research priorities 2010 – 2013 (2014 – 2020) -Local resources research and sustainable utilization -Energy and environment -Innovative materials and technologies -National identity -Public health -Sustainable development of state and society 6

Activities of LAAFS (2) Per year: -10 meetings of the LAAFS’s members -11 field trips -One General Conference 7

International Cooperation 2008 – 2010 – Baiba Rivza was the president of European Academies of Science Applied to Agriculture, Food and Nature 8

Conference 2008 Renewable Energy Resources, Production and Technologies (Latvia) 9

Publications 10

-Science Development in the Environment of World Financial Crisis (May 28 – 30, Latvia) 11 Conference 2009

International Cooperation - The EURopean AGricultural Research Iniative (EURAGRI) 2013 – XXVII Members Conference Framing the challenges of European agricultural research - Innovation, stakeholder involvement and the supply and production chain (Lithuania, Vilnius) 2012 – XXVI Members Conference BIO-ECONOMY AND ITS CONTEXT - the Role of Agriculture (Austria, Vienna) 2011 – XXV Members Conference Agriculture – related research and innovation in a changing world (the Czech Republic, Prague) 12

Together with the Latvian Academy of Sciences cooperation with the Womentor, developing common project proposals for promoting mentoring in Latvian rural areas 13

Projects’ implemented (1) From 2014 – ERA-Net project “Tackling the Challenges in the Implementation of Sustainable and – Multifunctional Forestry through enhanced Research Coordination for Policy Decisions” (SUMFOREST) founded under the EU 7 th Framework Programme. 14

Projects’ implemented (2) From 2014 – thematic partnership “Innovation. Creativity. Equality” of the Swedish Institute – a thematic partnership between Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus and Poland about innovation-development in SME linked to female-dominates sectors. 15

Projects’ implemented (3) Capacity Building of Latvian Academy of Sciences and Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and Elaboration of International Project Proposals (2011 – 2013), financed by the European Structural Funds 16

Projects’ implemented (4) Evaluation Research „Active Labour Market Policy Measure „Training for Gaining and Maintaining Labour Skills, in Case the Employer is Municipality”, Results Assessment” (2010 – 2011), as a part of the ESF Project. 17

Projects’ implemented (5) Foresight Specialists Network Application for Rural Development Policy Support and Improvement of Data Basis for Agricultural Scientific Research Projects and Devices (2006 – 2009), financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia 18

RURAGRI project (6) Facing Sustainability: New Relationships Between Rural Areas and Agriculture in Europe 19

Cooperation partners in Latvia (1) Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia ( Latvian Academy of Sciences ( 20

Cooperation partners in Latvia (2) Key research institutions in the field of agriculture and forestry sciences: Latvia University of Agriculture ( Latvian Academy of Sciences Division of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences ( 21

Cooperation partners in Latvia (3) Key research centres in the field of agriculture: LUA Institute of Agrobiotechnology; LUA Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences; Latvia State Institute of Fruit Growing ( State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute ( State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute ( LUA Research Institute of Agriculture ( Latvian Plant Protection Research Centre ( Agriculture Science Center of Latgale ( Pure Horticultural Research Centre ( ; LUA Study and Research Farm «Vecauce» ( ; Institute of Biology of the University of Latvia ( ) 22

Global Challenges Increase in population; Pandemic; Food crisis; Land use Water Energy Genetic resources Urbanization Climate change 23

Food Crisis Until 2050, need to raise food production by 70% 80% of food must be produced in the land that is already being used for agricultural production (because the land is a limited resource) 24

The main challenge is to increase productivity per ha by using less water and by creating a safe environment Question – How to ensure it? 25

Challenges in Latvia (1) Our scientists looking forward to use traditional breeding methods with conjunction of modern genetics and biotechnology approaches (but not- GMO) to create new local varieties, which: increased crop yield, are adapted to fast changing abiotic and biotic stresses, improving quality of products, including of healthy food. 26

Challenges in Latvia (2) There already existed good collaboration between academic (university) scientists and agricultural applied oriented scientists. Nevertheless, much more efforts are necessary to introduce innovative solutions in agronomic practice and create not only strong collaboration between scientists, but also to create a strong chain between scientists, entrepreneurs and society. 27

Regulations of GMO in Latvia Law on Circulation of Genetically Modified Organisms (15 November 2007); Environmental Protection Law (15 November 2006); Plant Protection Law (17 December 1998); Law on the Supervision of the Handling of Food (19 February 1998) 28

To implement the law a number of Ministry Cabinet regulations are in force: No 784 of 22 September 2008 "Procedures for the Contained Use of Genetically Modified Organisms and Issuance of a Permit"; No 1078 of 22 December 2008 "Methodology for the Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms«; No 453 of 19 May 2009 "Regulation regarding the State Fee for Preparation of the Risk Assessment's Opinion of Genetically Modified Organisms"; No 457 of 26 May 2009 "Regulation regarding the Procedures by which Genetically Modified Organisms Shall be Released into the Environment or Placed on the Market, the Procedures for Monitoring and Issuance of Permits, as well as the Procedures for the Provision of Information Regarding the Circulation of Genetically Modified Organisms and Public Involvement in the Decision Taking Process"; No 783 of 22 September 2008 «By-law of the Monitoring Council of Genetically Modified Organisms» No 189 of 21 May 2002 “Labour Protection Requirements when Coming into Contact with Biological Substances”. 29

GMO – free zones in Latvia 30 GMO – free zones Source: Near to all, out of few Latvian regions adopted allowed by the low 5-year or even longer ban of GMO crop growing.

Obstacles of the introduction of GMOs in Latvia (1) Society negative attitude to GMO crops growing, as well to use of GMO containing food and feed; Danger to environment; Very high additional expenses. 31

Society’ attitude in Latvia (2012)

Society’ attitude in Latvia Diena, NRA,

Society’ attitude in Latvia Dienas Bizness, Latvijas Avīze,

GMO-free sweets in Latvia Russia Ukraine

GMO–free cheese in Latvia Mocarella from Germany

GMO-free muesli, made in Latvia

GMO-free dumplings in Latvia Reinis Ornicāns, RIMI advertising

Obstacles of the introduction of GMOs in Latvia (2) Farmers may incur the following costs (in Latvian conditions): informational costs to avoid dissemination of Genetically Modified (GM) products in sowings of other farms; costs of elimination of distribution of GM plants during their pre-processing, storage and transportation; costs for marking GM products on their presence in the corresponding item; costs of laboratory sampling and analyses; additional expenses for personnel training; expenses of maintenance of the state supervising departments; expenses for insurance of sowings of GM cultivated plants (Vanags, Turka, 2010). 39

Obstacles of the introduction of GMOs in Latvia (3) Growing of GM cultivated plants becomes profitable in a set territory if the net income gained by the grower of GM cultivated plants per unit of area exceeds the net income per unit of area in the case of growing conventional cultivated plants. 40

Thank you for your attention! 41