This paper analyses and compares regional food systems in Latvia and Lithuania from the perspective of sustainable food security and poses three questions: (i) what are the general food system characteristics and drivers of change in Latvia and Lithuania? (ii) how are the regional food systems constructed and performing? (iii) what are the conditions and pathways for regional food systems to become more sustainable?  The paper examines in-depth the food systems in two regions – Pierīga region in Latvia and Vilnius region in Lithuania. The research is carried out within the framework of the EU projects TRANSMANGO and SALSA, and the Latvian Council of Sciences project SINFO. We find that food chain concentration and the interests of big food industries and retailers drive food systems in Latvia and Lithuania while civic and consumer-driven initiatives are becoming more important in stimulating a transition towards sustainable diets. The regional food systems are a complex intertwinement between the agro-industrial, proximity, domestic, and ecological subsystems. The pathways towards more sustainable regional food systems are difficult to negotiate and enforce as they require collaboration among various stakeholders who have different agendas. The long-term prospects of the regional food systems in terms of social and economic sustainability cannot be viewed in isolation from the demographic trends in the region, the steady depopulation in rural areas and efforts in strengthening urban-rural synergies.

Despite the lapse of 30 years since the state system transformation in Poland was started, the rural areas in Poland that used to be occupied by state-owned farms continue to experience many complex economic and social problems. The state reforms, which for example led to the dissolution of all state-owned farms (in Polish, Państwowe Gospodarstwa Rolne, PGR), have had a significant effect on the formation of the institutional system in rural Poland. The existence and then liquidation of PGR affected not only the financial standing of large populations but also instilled in many a sense of entitlement, leading to the so-called learned hopelessness. An investigation into entrepreneurial attitudes shows that as many as 71.60% of the respondents equate ‘being entrepreneurial’ with ‘starting own business’. Despite the difficult situation on the labour market, only 12.35% of the interviewed persons have tried to start their own companies after state-farms were dissolved. The main determinant of such a low level of entrepreneurship among the respondents, in their opinion, was the lack of own funds, as this was indicated by 49.38% of the surveyed population. This attitude is also manifested in the answers concerning expectations towards public administration – 82.10% assumed that the state should be responsible for providing direct financial support. The results of this study into entrepreneurial attitudes as well as previous investigations among residents living in rural areas formely occupied by state farms confirm marginal interest in starting business activity among these populations.

The main goal of rural development is to raise the economic, social and cultural levels of all individuals living in rural areas. Rural development, which is considered to be an important tool in the fight against poverty, increases the quality of life of rural population and improves the work and living conditions of the regions where these people live. With rural development, it is aimed to increase both agricultural and non-agricultural incomes. Undoubtedly, agriculture is the most important source of income for people living in rural areas. However, in recent years, those living in rural areas also generate significant incomes from non-agricultural activities. Rural tourism activities are an important source of income for people living in rural areas. Thanks to rural tourism, entrepreneurs are making investments in rural areas. Thus, income growth is experienced in rural areas and employment is increasing. Rural tourism also makes important contributions to the sustainability of the local culture. On the other hand, rural tourism is an alternative field of activity where farmers can make better use of their free time. Through rural tourism, rural-urban migration can be prevented. This is important for the sustainability of rural areas. The current study primarily discusses the concepts of rural development and rural tourism. The interaction between agriculture and tourism is examined and the benefits of rural tourism are uncovered. The results of the study have shown that rural tourism activities have positive effects on rural development.

In recent years, it is a global trend of avoiding the use of synthetic ingredients for the food products quality enhancement. In this case it is actual task to search for the alternative natural raw materials, which provide the stabilization the products quality during storage. Due to their chemical composition, physiological and functional-technological properties the usage of herbs is a perspective solution of this problem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of natural ingredients based on herbs (powder and extracts) on the rancidity retardation. The antioxidant effect of herb raw-materials (hop, chamomile, nettle) was studied for the low-moisture bakery products with high fat content. These products are the ideal type of “food on the go” with long term of storage, which characterized with increasing popularity among modern consumers. The study was conducted at the Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies labs. The peroxide value of samples was determined by iodometric method (ISO 3960:2017). The results revealed that addition of natural antioxidants to the bakery goods in comparison to products without additives reduced this indicator up to the 37…52 %  for the samples with herbs. It has been determined that hop, chamomile and nettle incorporation have pronounced antiseptic properties also. The use of herbs in the low-moisture bakery products technology leads to the quality stabilization during their shelf life, improvement of nutritional value and it may be more attractive to consumers due to their natural origin.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the changing social structure and function of the Tochikairyoku (Land Improvement Associations) in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, located in North East Japan. This case study was conducted by interviewing executive members of the Iwate Chubu Tochikairyoku and the farming membership working the land and by collecting and examining all available data pertaining to the changes affecting the functioning of this organization. The Tochikairyoku is a non-profit public organization of and for farmers engaged in agriculture or animal husbandry and serves to liaise between farmers and central and local governments. All the costs of management and staff are borne by the members. All decisions to be undertaken must be ratified by the members. The results of the case study indicate that there has been a significant consolidation in the number of Tochikairyoku and farms owing to the dwindling rural population and the ageing of those actively farming the land. Another major factor has been the recent changes in the Japanese Government’s policy that now favours bigger agricultural units over smaller farmers. The Tochikairyoku are instrumental in promoting the new government policies by maintaining irrigation infrastructure and improving the quality of arable land in order to encourage the leasing of land from the smaller farmers to the bigger farm units. The new 2018 Law has effected changes in the election of executive members of the Tochikairyoku to include representatives of agribusiness interests and has introduced a reform of the Tochikairyoku’s accounting practices to make them more transparent.

Today an impact of government on citizens’ daily life is bigger than ever before. The extent to which people support governmental actions is related with their support of the whole political system. The scope of government varies across different states as well as people’s attitudes towards it also vary considerably. The scope of government, according O. Borre and E. Scarbrough (1998), is referred to both the range of government activity and the degree to which governments engage in activities, such as spending on services, taxing, regulating citizens and regulating their behaviour, providing resources for defence, improving the environment and sometimes doing nothing what concerns societal problems. Depending on the role of government in economy and social sphere we can distinguish how small or big the government is. The ISSP Role of Government module data provides a wide range of variables indicating people’s attitudes towards different elements of governments’ actions. Recent research, e. g. a study of Pew Research – The Generation Gap in American Politics (March, 2018) – shows the important difference in generational attitudes towards the scope of government. According to this study two younger USA generations, Millennials and Gen Xers, stand apart from the two older cohorts, Baby Boomers and Silents – especially Millennials (those, who were born in 1981 and later) have increasingly liberal outlook. Thus, the main question of this article - does the same generational divide might be observed in other countries and what are the main differences in generational attitudes towards the scope of government from the cross-national perspective?

Diseases constitute an important economic problem in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) cultivation. Although downy mildew has been counted so far as a minor disease, under intensive cultivation system and short rotation interval, the impact of diseases could increase in the future, especially under predicted more humid northern climatic conditions. This research study is the first report about the severity of downy mildew infection on cruciferous crops in Estonia. During two years (2010 − 2011), downy mildew infection severity was assessed in six different cruciferous crops (B. napus, B. juncea, B. nigra, Sinapis alba, Raphanus sativus, Eruca sativa) in field trials located in Eerika, Tartu County, Estonia. On both study years, four disease assessments were done. Downy mildew infection started a week earlier in 2010, but the overall disease pressure was lower compared to 2011. Based on our field trial results, S. alba, E. sativa and R. sativus plants were significantly more resistant to downy mildew compared to other tested crops. Furthermore, in 2010 downy mildew symptoms were not recorded on two cruciferous species E. sativa and R. sativus. Brassica nigra and B. napus plants were the most susceptible to downy mildew, with especially severe infection in 2011. Based on our two years data, downy mildew can damage foliage on spring oilseed rape (B. napus) and black mustard (B. nigra) in a notable extent. We conclude that downy mildew is an important pathogen, which should be monitored on different oilseed cruciferous crops in Estonia.

The implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC within Eastern European is now becoming of utmost significance. This is especially relevant to the territory of Ukrainian Polessie, which is characterized by specific geological and geomorphological conditions, excessive humidification and significant anthropogenic pressure on all components of ecosystems. In this section, we present a methodology for evaluating the content of specific toxicological substances based on a diversitological approach to the macrophyte composition of reservoirs. At the same time, the possibility to apply diversisologic indicators for the bio-indication of the content of heavy metals in coastal soils and bottom deposits was assessed. The most striking changes in the species composition are manifested at the points of the most significant anthropogenic pressure in the presence of toxic compounds in aquatic ecosystems. Significant variations in view indices were noted when the high concentration of heavy metals was reached in the bottom soil. The most significant influence on the species composition is due to high concentrations of the active forms of zinc and cuprum cations in both coastal soils and bottom deposits, although the excessive maximum limits allowed were only in the second group of substances. The close correlation between the content of all investigated groups of heavy metals in bottom deposits and species numbers, the index of dominance, Shannon Diversity Index, and Pielou’s Evenness Index were established. For Margalef Species Richness Index, close dependencies were established for active forms of cations of nickel, cobalt, zinc and cadmium, for other groups the bonds were weak. For Sørensen–Dice Index weaknesses were found with the contents of active forms of cations of nickel and chromium; for other groups of active forms of heavy metals, except cobalt cations, close ties were established as well.

The research aims of this study were to determine and to evaluate the effect of feed contaminated with different concentrations of fusariotoxins (zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON) on the quality of milk investigate concentration zearalenone in cow milk samples. Feed and milk samples were collected from dairy farms which were the high Total Bacterial Count (TBC) and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in milk. Feed samples were tested by TLC (Romer Labs methods). The zearalenone (ZEA) in the milk was measured by ELISA test, RIDASCREEN® Zearalenon (R-Biopharm AG). The milk qualitative indicators testing was conducted by public enterprise „Pieno tyrimai“ (Lithuania). From 12 dairy cow farms, which have high TBC and SCC, were selected feed samples for detection of fusariotoxins. Average ZEA concentration in feed was 496.25±51 µg/kg (p<0.05), DON average concentration in feed was 65.31±12 µg/kg (p<0.05). Higher amount TBC in milk samples were in those farms where was detection ZEA and DON concentration. As a result, we can assume that the higher TBC in milk samples than 221±20 thous. CFU/ml was find in farms where in feed samples was detected the higher ZEA concentration than 700±50 µg/kg (p<0.05). The highest levels than 650±42 of SCC in milk were found when the feed samples were contaminated ZEA - 700±50 µg/kg (p<0.05) and more. It can also be observed that the higher the ZEA concentration in the sample is, the higher the amount of SCC follows. Comparing concentration ZEA in feed and in milk established percent from 0.01 to 0.31 % (p<0.05). The highest levels of SCC and TBC were found in samples with high concentrations of ZEA. In 16 % milk samples we detected ZEA, concentration was from 0.08 µg/l to 0.4 µg/l.  

Human community, whose behavior is determined by the influence of biological and social systems, the ability to realize and evaluate the results of its activities, orientation, strategic decisions, to ensure the sustainable development of the ecosystem, in a context of increasing the factor of limited resources (energy, materials, information) is transformed into intellectualization public relations and institutions. Rural development in the context of decentralization has led to the search for effective public administration mechanisms. The purpose of the study is to establish a mechanism for improving the territorial communities management technology on the example of Family Homesteads. The research methodology is based on structured interviews and unstructured conversations with the inhabitants of family homesteads, leadership of local self-government and experts in the field of rural development. Activation of the processes of rural development through the implementation of the idea of "Family Homestate" involves the participation of the population in the normative regulation (the adoption of the relevant law); assistance in the development of new settlements in rural areas by changing the status of the land, creating a land bank; activation of activity of public organizations registered in territorial communities, organization of settlements at the level of territorial communities, including the exchange of experience, coordination of activities in the middle of the movement, establishment of positive relations between the local population and immigrants and others like that. The advantages of the practice of public administration of the territory are established with the help of blockchain technology, which allows to reduce administration costs and promote resource participation.