Baltic Studies Centre (BSC) is a private non-profit research institute specialising in studies of sustainable rural and regional development, agro-food systems, farming, knowledge production and innovations.
About
Baltic Studies Centre (BSC) is a private non-profit research organisation in the field of social sciences. Since establishment in 1991 BSC has carried out over 40 research projects including 15 EU Framework Programme projects. The areas of BSC expertise include sociology, sustainable agriculture, food supply chains, innovation networks, peri-urban agriculture, community development, public policy analysis, science and technology studies.
BSC undertakes action oriented research strategies and cooperates with producers’ organisations, policy makers, municipalities, SMEs, and other research and advisory organisations nationally and internationally. This helps to focus the research on the needs of practitioners and enhance practical innovations.
A video about BSC's dissemination, exploitation, communication and outreach activities can be found here.
Blog 
First CIRCLE face-to-face meeting in Riga
12 / 06 / 2022
On June 9-10, 2022, the CIRCLE project consortium met in Riga for the first face-to-face meeting to discuss the ongoing research and plan the next steps.
In-Habit in the renovated Āgenskalns market
16 / 05 / 2022
At the beginning of May, the In-Habit project held a meeting at the reopened renovated Āgenskalns market in Riga.
ESRS2022 congress satellite event on circular bioeconomy in Riga: Call for papers
16 / 03 / 2022
In cooperation with the European Society for Rural Sociology (ESRS) the Baltic Studies Centre organises an ESRS2022 congress online satellite event "Rethinking circularity: an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral perspective on circular practices in bioeconomy” on June 21-22, 2022.
Welcoming address by Talis Tisenkopfs at the first online meeting with the COCOREADO ambassadors
20 / 01 / 2022
The EU-funded COCOREADO project launches a European training network of 40 ambassadors of fair and novel food chains. The ambassadors will be trained and supported in their innovative ideas and initiatives. The ambassadors’ training programme is coordinated by the Baltic Studies Centre.
Autumn school-hackathon “Collaboration for smart and sustainable territorial development”
04 / 11 / 2021
BSC in cooperation with BA School of Business and Finance and the masters programme in sociology of the University of Latvia, invites the master and doctoral students to the online autumn school-hackathon “Collaboration for smart and sustainable territorial development”.
New network of pan-European ambassadors to change food systems
10 / 09 / 2021
From 14th of September 2021, EU Horizon project COCOREADO starts to develop a pan-European ambassadors’ network. The project opens a call to select individuals passionate about food and agriculture who would bring forward the project’s ambition of rebalancing the food supply chain and reconnecting farmers and consumers in Europe. The 40 selected people, ambassadors, will take part in the project’s training program aimed to enable them to facilitate sustainable changes in food systems.
Team
Dr.sc.soc., Senior researcher
Specialises in rural development, small farms, agro-food systems and innovation
E-mail: talis.tisenkopfs [at] bscresearch.lv
Dr.sc.soc., Researcher
Specialises in sustainable food systems and food practices in Latvia, rural development and innovation. Also interested in education and methodological questions
E-mail: mikelis.grivins [at] bscresearch.lv
Dr.sc.soc., Researcher
Specialises in science and technology studies and social studies of agriculture and food
E-mail: anda.adamsone-fiskovica [at] bscresearch.lv
Project administrative officer
Specialises in technical assistance and sustainable spaces of work
Dr.sc.soc., Researcher
Specialises in rural innovation, agricultural knowledge systems, informal learning, short supply chains and small farm development strategies
E-mail: sandra.sumane [at] bscresearch.lv
Ph.D., Researcher
Specialises in social studies of science, technology and expertise
E-mail: emils.kilis [at] bscresearch.lv
Mg.sc.soc., Research assistant
Specialises in qualitative research methods, teaching, and innovative food supply chains
E-mail: ilze.mileiko [at] bscresearch.lv
Mg.sc.soc., PhD candidate; Research assisstant
Specialises in the sociology of work, especially in the assessment of the skills imbalances to the labour market’s needs and adult education opportunities, social policy evaluations, as well as masters the principles of the circular economy.
PROJECTS
PUBLICATIONS
Academic publications
01 / 06 / 2022
BSC has published multiple academic articles during last decades. Click "Continue Reading" to get more information.
Handbook "Cooperation for Smart and Sustainable Territorial Development"
30 / 12 / 2021
BSC has published a handbook [in Latvian] about directions for development and cases of sustainable food systems, digital solutions, and rural-urban interlinkages.
Policy recommendations
30 / 12 / 2021
Many of our studies have been practically oriented and have had policy recommendations as one of outputs. Here are some of the policy recommendation documents.
Research reports
31 / 08 / 2021
In our studies we have been participating in a large number of research projects. Here are the links to most of research reports. Click "Read more" to continue.
Media articles
05 / 07 / 2021
Some of our studies have been reflected in mass media. Here are some sources where our studies have appeared.
Partners
