Vocational education in all countries provides a specific learning system to their students and students are more motivated to take practical training for their further development. Agriculture-based vocational educational institutions have been facing problems of losing its students since 1998. To promote survival of these schools, a non-agriculture based curriculum was provided. Nowadays, in order to support agriculture-based vocational education, there is a need to do research on the prospects and needs of this type of schooling in Latvia. There is a need for new methods and models of curricula, based on practical needs of students, in order to promote management and marketing skills for future farmers.

Agrifood systems are facing significant challenges, science and innovation are key to shift the trajectory towards ensuring sustainability and resilience. Thus, scaling assumes a critical role in agricultural research for development (AR4D). Scaling consists of a continuous process in which innovations are tailored, used, and embedded into societal dynamics adapted to various contexts, aiming to create widespread positive impacts. This systematic literature review explores scaling within the context of AR4D, with a particular focus on the role of social capital. Using bibliometric and factor analysis methods, we identified the intellectual structure in the field of scaling, revealing the knowledge domains and disciplines that have determined their emergence and growth as a scientific discipline. Then, we analyzed the role of social capital in the scaling literature. Our results showed that the field of scaling is composed by four distinct literature clusters: the innovation and adoption of agricultural technology, the economics of technology adoption, sustainability in agricultural innovations, and the emergence of scaling as a research field. Disciplines such as sustainable agriculture, systemic thinking, technological transitions, and technology adoption have contributed to the development of the field. The results indicate that the explicit consideration of social capital in the scaling literature within AR4D is limited despite the importance of relationships, trust, and reciprocity values in the process of scaling. This study highlights the continuous growth and multidisciplinary nature of scaling as a research field in AR4D, reflecting its complexity. International agricultural research centers and universities from developed countries have significantly advanced this field, also underlying the importance of locally rooted, and participatory research. Future research on the creation, development, and strengthening of social capital in scaling processes can contribute foster intentional and responsible scaling of AR4D innovations.

This paper traces the growing interest in the development of Criteria and Indicators for sustainable forest since the declaration of the 'Forest Principles' at the Rio Conference 1992. Several processes are underway in the different regions of the world to define sets of criteria and indicators that can be used to assess the social, economic, and ecological sustainability of forest management. Some have focused more at national level, while others have emphasised information needs at the forest management unit level. In an attempt to produce a generic 'master set', the Center for Internetional Forestry research (CIFOR) has carried out several tests to compare the different sets of criteria and indicators currently existence. At the forest level, ecological criteria have been found much easier to apply than social ones as the latter often require an in-depth understanding of areas beyond the intermediate boundaries of the forest management unit. In an attempt to help people in different areas adapt the generic hierarchy of criteria and indicators to their own conditions, CIFOR is developing a computer programme, CIMAT, which allows for the addition of local knowledge and an iterative development of locally-specific criteria and indicators. In spite of the work still needed, the importance of defining a comprehensive but practical set of criteria and indicators lies in the fact that such a measurable and comparable methodology would build public confidence in the issue of forest sustainability.

The content of reducing sugars can be 30% higher if modified amylase is added to scald. Investigations were carried out with the rye-flour and fine flour scald. Photometrical method was used as a standard method for the determination of reducing sugars. Enzymes were inactvated using the advanced method. Results show, that the amount of reducing sugars is 1.8% lower in rye-flour and 2.1% lower in fine flour compare to the results obtained using the standard method.