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 presentation video about BSC can be found here. Please also see a video on BSC's dissemination, exploitation, communication and outreach activities here.
News 
Monthly “Long Breakfast” at the Co-creation Kitchen RE CEP TE
07 / 05 / 2025
Project assistant Sanija Stangute interviews Rūta Ausma, manager of AUSTRA café, about organising the “Long Breakfast” at the Āgenskalns co-creation kitchen — an initiative carried out as part of the IN-HABIT project.
Integrating social sciences in pollinator conservation: BSC’s contribution to RestPoll
07 / 05 / 2025
In this interview blog, Senior Researcher Anda Ādamsone Fiskoviča discusses BSC's role in the Restpoll Project, outlining research activities, key collaborations, and future directions.
Toward sustainable land use: Interview with BSC researchers on the PLUS Change project
11 / 04 / 2025
BSC researchers Elīna Dāce and Maija Ušča discuss their experience working within the PLUS Change project and outline its aims and approaches to promoting sustainable land use.
Food system stakeholder perspectives on data economy: Insights from Data4Food2030
01 / 04 / 2025
An overview of the seven data economy challenges identified by BSC researchers in discussions with food system stakeholders within the Data4Food2030 project.
Introducing BSC's first working paper: What is the problem with predictive policing?
18 / 03 / 2025
BSC Working Papers serve as a platform for disseminating the preliminary research findings and initial ideas of BSC researchers. These working papers are unfinished drafts that have not yet been fully developed to meet the rigorous standards of peer-reviewed journals.
Postdoctoral research opportunity at Baltic Studies Centre
17 / 03 / 2025
Looking for a place to do your postdoctoral research? Baltic Studies Centre (BSC) offers an opportunity to develop a post-doctoral research project in social and environmental sciences as part of Latvian Council of Science’s upcoming call for research applications under the 1.1.1.9. activity “Post-doctoral Research”.
Team
Ph.D., Senior researcher, Director
Specialises in social studies of science, technology and expertise
E-mail: emils.kilis [at] bscresearch.lv
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
Dr.sc.soc., Senior researcher, Board member, Head of the scientific council
Specialises in science and technology studies and social studies of agriculture and food
E-mail: anda.adamsone-fiskovica [at] bscresearch.lv
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
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
Dr.geogr., Researcher, Board member
Specialises in studies of agriculture, food systems and short food supply chains.
E-mail: maija.usca [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
MSc in Agriculture, Research assistant
Specialises in organic agrifood production and agroecosystem management, use of botanicals as biocontrol products in plant protection. Also interested in medicinal and aromatic plants production, small-farm systems, and social farming.
E-mail: jessica.girardi [at] bscresearch.lv
MSc, DipM, Research assistant
E-mail: deniss.vasiljevs [at] bscresearch.lv
Dr.geol., Project administrative officer
Specializes in working with various financial support instruments for research ideas
E-mail: agnese.kukela [at] bscresearch.lv
Project Assistant
E-mail: lucija.ceicane [at] bscresearch.lv
Project Assistant
E-mail: miks.braslins [at] bscresearch.lv
Project Assistant
E-mail: irina.ugorenko [at] bscresearch.lv
Project Assistant
E-mail: sanija.stangute [at] bscresearch.lv
Project Assistant
E-mail: eva.abolina [at] bscresearch.lv
Project Assistant
E-mail: annija.danenberga [at] bscresearch.lv
PROJECTS
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PUBLICATIONS
Academic publications
20 / 05 / 2024
BSC has published multiple academic articles during last decades. Click "Continue Reading" to get more information.
Media articles
20 / 05 / 2024
Some of our studies have been reflected in mass media. Here are some sources where our studies have appeared.
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.
Partners
