Only less than one percent of the territory of Latvia is occupied by broadleaved (trees having relatively wide flat leaves) forests. The aim of the research is to assess forest vegetation in the island of Upursala of Cirišs Lake. The data is collected in four forest areas of the island. Totally 12 plots, each with an area of 200 m² (20 x 20 m) have been created. In each plot, the accounting of growing trees and deadwood is carried out. The vegetation is measured in each forest area – the projective vegetation cover and cover of each plant species by tree, shrub, herb and moss layer are determined. The research founds that the average stock of growing trees on the island of Upursala is 565.8 m³ ha⁻¹. The average amount of dead wood is 108 m³ ha⁻¹, it consists mainly of fallen deadwood. Totally 45 species are listed in the vegetation plots, of which seven are determinants of European broadleaved forests. The largest number of determinant species of European broadleaved forests has been observed in stands with mixed forests (aspen – small-leaved lime – pedunculate oak, aspen – Scots pine – pedunculate oak and Scots pine – Silver birch – aspen). It can be argued that these stands will become the European broadleaved forests in the future.

Canopy litterfall is a vital component of forest ecosystems, facilitating nutrient and organic carbon transfer to the soil. Understanding litterfall dynamics in forests is crucial for assessing carbon fluxes at the national level and refining carbon balance estimations. However, information about aboveground litterfall dynamics in old-growth forests remains scarce. The aim of the study was to characterize the annual litterfall carbon input in coniferous old-growth forests on drained and undrained organic soils. In total, 12 old-growth Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) forests stands with the age range of 146–171 years were selected. Using cone-type litter traps, we obtained data on litterfall volumes over a one-year period. Our findings reveal that old-growth forest annual carbon input from litterfall exceeds estimates of mature forest stands aboveground litterfall. In drained sites, mean annual litter carbon input reached 2.80 ± 0.29 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, while in undrained sites, it amounted to 2.17 ± 0.17 t ha⁻¹ yr. Basal area and deadwood showed a close positive correlation with annual litter carbon input, underscoring the peculiarities of late successional forest stand carbon dynamics. Total stand basal area as easily measurable forest inventory parameter was the best predictor of annual litter C input for practical application.

Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) is a minor but prospective fruit crop due to the value of fruits and suitability for processing. Research aimed to clarify the incidence of quince leaf and fruit diseases depending on the year and plantation and determine the critical periods of diseases. The study was conducted from 2017 to 2019 in eight commercial Japanese quince plantations across different regions of Latvia. The incidence (%) of leaf and fruit spots and fruit rot was assessed several times during vegetation period. Considerable rot development was observed in only the first year of the study. The incidence of fruit rot in the middle of 2017 ranged from 0.7 to 11.7% depending on the plantation, while in 2018–2019 did not exceed 2% in any of the plantations. The critical period of fruit rot development was determined in the middle of fruit development and time closer to ripeness. Development of fruit spots increased closer to ripeness. In 2017, the incidence of fruit spots fluctuated from 0.7 to 44.0%, in 2018 – 7.7 to 46.0%, and in 2019 – 0.7 to 24.0%, depending on the plantation. The incidence of leaf spots reached high levels at the end of the vegetation periods (21–100% depending on year and plantation). The most critical periods of leaf spot development were the end of fruit development and full ripening of fruits. Determination of the critical periods of quince disease development could be used to create an effective and environmentally friendly disease control system.

Sambucus nigra has garnered attention in the food industry for its natural colouring and antioxidant properties, mainly due to its high content of anthocyanins, other polyphenols, and vitamins. These bioactive compounds not only contribute to the nutritional impact of food products, but also make it possible to replace synthetic additives that meet the current consumer demand for natural and functional foods. This study provides an overview of the bioactive compounds in Sambucus nigra (black elder) fruits, highlighting their potential health benefits and toxicity concerns. It examines the effect of different processing technologies on the phenolic and cyanogenic glycoside composition of elderberry, emphasizing the need to balance microbial decontamination with the sensory quality and nutritional value of food products. The study also reviews the mechanism of ultrasonic inactivation of microorganisms and the potential of fermentation to reduce toxic compounds in Sambucus nigra fruits, thus contributing to the improvement of food safety and nutritional quality, emphasizing the importance of considering the potential limitations of ultrasound and the use of combined methods to increase efficiency while minimizing the negative impact on both the product and the consumer. Additionally, the study discusses the significance of selecting appropriate processing methods to ensure the safety of elderberry products, given the presence of potentially harmful cyanogenic glycosides and lectins, which can be mitigated through heat treatment and fermentation.

Melon seeds have been recognized as a nutritional powerhouse, offering a range of essential vitamins and fatty acids that play a critical role in maintaining and enhancing our health. This study aims to analyse the fatty acid profile and water-soluble vitamins in melon seeds in order to highlight the importance of incorporating melon seeds into our diets, not only as a source of nutrients but also as a means of promoting overall health and well-being. It delves into the rich nutritional profile of melon seeds, underscoring their valuable contribution to a balanced diet. Water soluble vitamins C, PP and B1 were detected in melon seeds in this study. Regarding fatty acid profile, PUFA C18:2 was the most abundant (35.31%), followed by MUFA C18:1 (25.83%), although other unsaturated and saturated fatty acids were also determined. This comprehensive analysis of melon seeds’ nutritional benefits encourages further exploration of their potential in enhancing diet quality and supporting long-term health objectives.

Nowadays, when the economic development of countries is more and more influenced by knowledge-based, innovative entrepreneurship, particular attention is paid to the application and protection of intellectual property. Enterprises can acquire intellectual property rights in various ways externally and such rights can also be generated by enterprises internally: they launch and subsequently produce new or improved products and services (research and development) and ensure the protection of intellectually intensive products (patents, trademarks, computer software, etc.). Thus, it is important to study the valuation and accounting of intellectual property rights. The aim of the research is, on the basis of the studies of intellectual property rights accounting policy in Latvia, to identify the shortcomings related to the valuation and accounting of intellectual property rights and to develop recommendations for their elimination. The following research tasks are subject to the aim: to study IPRs concept, regulatory framework and statistical data, to valuate accounting policy for IPRs; to identify shortcomings related to the valuation and accounting of IPRs; to develop recommendations for the elimination of identified shortcomings. The results of research enable to draw a conclusion that the requirements of the laws and regulations of Latvia do not prevent from the capitalization of intellectual property rights as intangible assets; however, it is necessary to revise and improve some requirements. In the conclusion of research, the authors have elaborated recommendations for the elimination of identified shortcomings.

A social security system must provide social security and support for all members of society, regardless of their age or financial situation. The elderly and disabled may face various health problems, physical and mental decline which may make them dependent on other people or on professional care. People with financial means lack the care they need; for example, older people who may not have family carers or who do not want to use commercial care services. In this case, an additional support system is needed to provide care for those with financial resources. A social program should be available so that these people can receive help from the state or the municipality. As life expectancy increases and older people become a larger demographic group in society, it is essential to provide adequate care and support for this group of older people. This includes medical and health care, as well as social care and emotional support. In this context, the state and society have a responsibility to provide appropriate care services and resources to ensure the dignity, comfort, and security for older people if they can afford private care. In old age, people deserve to live with dignity and quality care, regardless of their financial situation or social status. This requires care and attention by both the state and society to establish and maintain systems that guarantee that the needs of older people are met.

This study explores the impact of climate change, social capital, and gender differences on the resilience of smallholder farmers in South Asia. Analysing data from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan from 2000 to 2020, the researchers have found that climate change significantly reduces agricultural productivity, while social capital acts as a crucial support mechanism. The paper summarizes gender-sensitive interventions in the improvement of adaptive ability and equality in the agriculture sector. It describes innovative farm-level practices and policy measures at various levels to strengthen resilience from environmental challenges. This approach gives room for researchers to find how the elements of climate change, put together with social capital and gender disparities, influence agricultural resilience. The present analysis recaps gender-sensitive interferences aimed at improving adaptive ability and equality in the agriculture sector, describing ground-breaking farm-level performs and policy measures to strengthen resilience against environmental tasks. Data shows that the climate change has a negative impact on agricultural output; therefore, any rise in temperature, change of precipitation, and extreme weather events worsen susceptibility. Social capital is also an essential part in resilience, being a source of resources, information, and support networks that can be drawn on. It calls for the interaction with the opposite gender and gender-sensitive interventions that increase adaptive ability and equality between men and women in agriculture. This study reveals that agri-diversification is pivotal for conservation agriculture enhancing climate resilience in South Asia.

Social protection for families with children is one of the priorities Latvia has highlighted in its strategic planning documents. Moreover, the priority being advanced for several planning periods indicates on the necessity to improve social security and foster the birth rate in the country. The research aim is to develop priority scenarios for possible improvement of social protection for families with children in Latvia. The authors put forward four scenarios for the improvement of social protection for families with children in Latvia, of which the experts in the field recognised the replacement of the personal income tax relief for children with a larger family state benefit as the priority. This would ensure fairer support for all families with children, including those on low incomes. Also, increasing the minimum wage and reducing the shadow economy would improve the social protection of families with children. Evaluating the criteria of population interests, the experts recognised the increase of family social security as more important than the increase in the number of children in the family, as the increase of social protection would contribute to the increase in the number of children in families thereof.

One of the promising areas of creating a competitive market environment is the development of organic production. Under martial law, organic producers faced not only problems related to the export of organic products, but also other challenges caused by the military actions of the aggressor. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of the war on the export of organic products by domestic agricultural enterprises. The article reveals the general state and changes in the dynamics of export of organic agricultural products by domestic organic producers; the challenges faced by producers of organic products in the conditions of martial law are presented; the impact of the war on the export of organic agricultural products by producers of organic products is determined; the forecast of the value of agricultural products exported by Ukraine for the period until 2025 was made (with the help of retrospective and statistical research methods); directions for supporting exporters of organic products for their development in the future are given. As a result of the authorsʼ research, it should be noted that export operations of organic products will increase, which will allow to ensure the strategic goals of Ukraine regarding development in the market environment.