BSC

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.

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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.

h1-before News h1-after

Workshop 1 held in Practice Cases BSC icon-clock 01 / 03 / 2024

The PLUS Change workshops have begun in Practice Cases, starting with Three-Countries Park (Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands) and Kaigu Peatland (Latvia). This first round of workshops brings together relevant stakeholders to introduce the project and start discussions on key land use challenges in each of the Practice Case areas.

 

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Report of the year 2023 Talis Tisenkopfs icon-clock 02 / 01 / 2024

A retrospective summary of the activities of BSC pursued and accomplished in 2023.

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Launch of the project RestPoll BSC icon-clock 01 / 12 / 2023

RestPoll is a new project which aims to permanently restore and connect pollinator habitats in Europe. The project began in October 2023 and will run for 4 years. It aims to provide society with tools to reverse wild pollinator declines and to position Europe as a global leader in pollinator restoration.

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Meet Yuliia, ERASMUS+ Internee at the Baltic Studies Centre BSC icon-clock 16 / 11 / 2023

We are pleased to introduce Yuliia Hodnieva, an ERASMUS+ Internee who has recently joined the IN-HABIT project team at BSC after her academic journey from Nitra (Slovakia) to Riga.

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New researchers join the BSC team BSC icon-clock 10 / 09 / 2023

This year, the BSC team has been joined by two researchers - Dr.geogr. Maija Ušča and Dr.sc.ing. Elīna Dāce.

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Research position in an EU project on data economy in European food systems BSC icon-clock 15 / 11 / 2022

BSC is looking for PhD student or a PhD degree holder to be employed in the EU Horizon Europe project "Pathways towards a fair, inclusive and innovative Data Economy for Sustainable Food Systems" (Data4Food2030).

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h1-before Team h1-after

Tālis Tisenkopfs

Dr.sc.soc., Senior researcher, Board member

Specialises in rural development, small farms, agro-food systems and innovation 

E-mail: talis.tisenkopfs [at] bscresearch.lv

Miķelis Grīviņš

Dr.sc.soc., Senior 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

Anda Ādamsone-Fiskoviča

Dr.sc.soc., Senior researcher

Specialises in science and technology studies and social studies of agriculture and food

E-mail: anda.adamsone-fiskovica [at] bscresearch.lv

Sandra Šūmane

Dr.sc.soc., Senior 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

Emīls Ķīlis

Ph.D., Senior researcher, Director

Specialises in social studies of science, technology and expertise

E-mail: emils.kilis [at] bscresearch.lv

Ilze Mileiko

Mg.sc.soc., Research assistant

Specialises in qualitative research methods, teaching, and innovative food supply chains

E-mail: ilze.mileiko [at] bscresearch.lv

Oksana Žabko

Ph.D., Research assistant

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.

E-mail: oksana.zabko [at] bscresearch.lv

Elīna Dāce

Dr.sc.ing., Mg.sc.soc., Senior researcher 

Specialises in circular bioeconomy, waste management, environmental life cycle assessment, and systems’ modelling. Also interested in greenhouse gas emissions, climate change adaptation and policy scenarios. 

E-mail: elina.dace [at] bscresearch.lv 

Maija Ušča

Dr.geogr., Researcher

Specialises in studies of agriculture, food systems and short food supply chains.

E-mail: maija.usca [at] bscresearch.lv

Lūcija Ceicāne

Project administrative officer

E-mail: lucija.ceicane [at] bscresearch.lv

Miks Brasliņš

Project Assistant

E-mail: miks.braslins [at] bscresearch.lv

h1-before PROJECTS h1-after

FoSSNet

Pan-European Food Systems Science Network (FoSSNet)   

2024 - 2028 

Keywords: Education, social sciences, interdisciplinary, gender equality, food Systems, food systems science, transition, sustainability, inclusivity, FOKIS, knowledge and innovation systems 

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RestPoll

Restoring Pollinator habitats across European agricultural landscapes based on multi-actor participatory approaches

2023-2027

Keywords: pollinators, restoration, agricultural landscape transformation, conservation, co-designing, biodiversity, living-lab network, pollinator-friendly policies

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PLUS Change

Participatory land use strategies: Meeting biodiversity, climate and social objectives in a changing world

2023-2027

Keywords: Climate research, Transformations, Systems Change, Behaviour Change, Governance, Land Use Modelling, Interventions, Planning and Policy

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PREMIERE

Preparing multi-actor projects in a co-creative way

2023-2027 

Keywords: agriculture, rural development, fisheries 

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DATA4FOOD2030

Pathways towards a fair, inclusive and innovative data economy for sustainable food systems

2022-2026

Keywords: digitalisation, food, data economy, sustainability, monitoring

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CODECS

Maximising the CO-benefits of agricultural Digitalisation through conducive digital ECoSystems

2022-2026

Keywords: digitalisation, farmers, sustainability, demonstration, technology assessment

 

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Strengthening of the Capacity of Doctoral Studies at the University of Latvia within the Framework of the New Doctoral Model

Strengthening of the Capacity of Doctoral Studies at the University of Latvia within the Framework of the New Doctoral Model

2022-2023

Keywords: support of young scientists, renewal of academic staff

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CIRCLE

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Promoting collaboration for sustainable and circular use of bioresources across agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture

2021-2024

Keywords: circular economy, bioresources, cross-sectoral collaboration, business models, interdisciplinarity

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CUPP

Critical Understanding of Predictive Policing

2021-2024

Keywords: law enforcement, digitalisation, public sector, police, innovation, citizens

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GreenHort

Elaboration of environment-friendly crop growing technologies identified by the Green Deal and their implementation in horticultural production in Latvia

2021-2023

Keywords: green deal, innovation, horticulture, sustainability, technological solutions, soil fertility, greening, participatory research

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EKIP

Enacting user-centred knowledge and innovation partnerships for smart and sustainable territorial development

2020-2021

Keywords: knowledge partnerships, sustainable food systems, digitalisation, rural-urban linkages, participatory approach, cross-sectoral knowledge, responsible research and innovation

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COCOREADO

Connecting consumers and producers to rebalance farmers' position through ambassadors trainings

2021-2025

Keywords: Supply chain management, knowledge transfer, creativity management

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IN-HABIT

Inclusive health and wellbeing in small and medium size cities

2020-2025

Keywords: Sustainable planning, Gender in urban planning and development,  Social innovation, Innovation and diversity, Inclusive Health and Wellbeing, Partnerships, Disadvantaged neighborhoods, Small and Medium Size Cities

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SYSTEMIC

An integrated approach to the challenge of sustainable food systems: adaptive and mitigatory strategies to address climate change and malnutrition

2020-2023

Keywords: Food security, climate change, food production, consumption, nutrition, and public health

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DESIRA

Digitisation: Economic and Social Impacts on Rural Areas

2019-2023

Keywords: regional development, rural development studies, social studies of science and technology, digital social innovation, scenario labs, socio-cyber-physical systems, responsible research and innovation

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SINFO

Social Innovation in Food Provision: Pathways to Sustainable Production and Consumption

2018-2021

Keywords: social innovation, food provision, governance, sustainability, diets

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ROBUST

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Rural-Urban Outlooks: Unlocking Synergies 

2017-2021

Keywords: rural, urban, interaction, synergies, governance

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AGRILINK

Agricultural knowledge: linking farmers, advisors and researchers to boost innovation

2017-2021

Keywords: innovation support services, participatory innovation, micro-AKIS, transdisciplinarity, living labs, farmers, policies, advisors

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TRUST

Innovations in Non-timber Forest Products: Towards Rural Development and Sustainability

2017-2020

Keywords: wild products, innovations, rural development, sustainability

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TOOLS2SEA

Policy tools for Baltic Sea nutrient management

2018-2020

Keywords: policy instruments, nutrient management, Baltic Sea Action Plan, future scenarios

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PLAID

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Peer-to-peer learning: accessing innovation through demonstration

2017-2019

Keywords: innovation, agriculture, knowledge exchange, commercial farms, demonstration activities

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SALSA

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Small farms, small food businesses and sustainable food security

2016-2020

Keywords: food and nutrition security, sustainability, food chains, small farms, small food businesses, food systems, transdisciplinarity, multi-actor, systemic, advanced spatial analysis, policy, EU, Africa

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SUFISA

Sustainable finance for sustainable agriculture and fisheries

2015-2019

Keywords: food and nutrition security, sustainable finance, food supply chains, risk management, credit markets, agricultural policies

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TRANSMANGO

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Assessment of the impact of drivers of change on Europe's food and nutrition security

2014-2018

Keywords: assessment, global drivers of change, food and nutritional security, scenarios, pathways

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GLAMUR

Attēlu rezultāti vaicājumam “glamur”

Global and local food chain assessment: a multidimensional performance-based approach

2013-2016

Keywords: local food supply chains, global food supply chains, EU policies, sustainability, real costs of food, performance, multicriteria, access to food

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RETHINK

Rethinking the links between farm modernisation, rural development and resilience in a world of increasing demands and finite resources

2013-2015

Keywords: farm modernisation, rural resilience, prosperity, knowledge and learning networks, governance

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SUPURBFOOD

Attēlu rezultāti vaicājumam “supurbfood”

Towards sustainable modes of urban and peri-urban food provisioning

2012-2015

Keywords: short food supply chain, urban and peri-urban agriculture, recycling, sustainability, policy, city-region, developing countries

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SOLINSA

Attēlu rezultāti vaicājumam “solinsa”

Agricultural knowledge systems in transition: towards a more effective and efficient support of learning and innovation networks for sustainable agriculture

2011-2014

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PUREFOOD

Urban, peri-urban and regional food dynamics: towards an integrated and territorial approach to food

2010-2014

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FOODLINKS

Attēlu rezultāti vaicājumam “foodlinks”

Knowledge brokerage to promote sustainable food consumption and production: linking scientists, policymakers and civil society organizations

2011-2013

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ETUDE

Enlarging the theoretical understanding of rural development

2007-2009

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IN-SIGHT

Strengthening innovation processes for growth and development

2006-2008

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SINER-GI

Strengthening international research on geographical indications: from research foundation to consistent policy

2005-2008

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COFAMI

Encouraging collective farmers marketing initiatives

2005-2008

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SUS-CHAIN

Marketing sustainable agriculture: an analysis of the potential role of new food supply chains in sustainable rural development

2003-2006

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PUBACC

Analysing public accountability procedures in contemporary European contexts

2001-2004

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Transforming rural communication

Transforming rural communication

2001-2003

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Making Agriculture sustainable Role of farmers networking and institutional strategies

Making agriculture sustainable: role of farmers networking and institutional strategies

1997-2000

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h1-before PUBLICATIONS h1-after

Media articles BSC icon-clock 31 / 10 / 2023

Some of our studies have been reflected in mass media. Here are some sources where our studies have appeared. 

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Academic publications BSC icon-clock 21 / 09 / 2023

BSC has published multiple academic articles during last decades. Click "Continue Reading" to get more information.

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Handbook "Cooperation for Smart and Sustainable Territorial Development" Sandra Šūmane icon-clock 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.

 

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Policy recommendations BSC icon-clock 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.

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Research reports BSC icon-clock 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.

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h1-before Contacts h1-after

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