To achieve the goal of the Latvia 2030 strategy – to be the leader in the EU in terms of preservation, replenishment and sustainable exploitation of natural capital –, it is required to address the role of the bioeconomy in Latvia. In order for the Bioeconomy Strategy of Latvia 2030 (LIBRA strategy) of Latvia to be sustainable and ensure efficient use of natural resources, it is necessary to apply an integrated approach to knowledge-based growth as well as to symbiotically integrate the other areas into agriculture, forestry and fisheries, observing the basic principles of a circular (sustainable) economy. Accordingly, under the Bioeconomy Strategy of Latvia 2030 the rural areas and regions have prospects for development. The research aim is to identify the proportion of the bioeconomy in the economy of Latvia at municipality level.

This study is devoted to the research of human resources as a main source of sustainable regional development in Latvia. It is focused on two key concepts of human capital and migration. The aim of the study is to explore return migration geographies by looking at young return migrants as a resource and preconditions for sustainable regional development essential to Latvia. Return migration to the regions of Latvia is examined by two main research questions. What are the most recent return migrant characteristics in Latvia? How does return migration of young Latvians translates into regional geographies of return migration? Drawing on most recent available statistical data we elaborate on the return migration trends in Latvia, look at particular geographies of return migrants to the regions of Latvia. Findings show that return migrants are working age accompanied with their offspring’s, majority not married and return from another European country to the capital and other largest cities and surrounding municipalities. Even more, only ethnicity and country of previous residence serve as return migration predictor.

The population of Latvia is increasingly interested in the production of garlic both for self-consumption and for sales in the market. The research puts forward the following hypothesis: garlic production is affected by economic and production factors of diverse significance. The research aims to examine the factors affecting the production of garlic in Latvia. The specific research tasks are as follows: (1) to give the characteristics of garlic production in Latvia; (2) to identify and assess the factors affecting the production of garlic in Latvia. The research has found that in Latvia, garlic was grown in small areas as an auxiliary crop, mainly in Zemgale region representing 54 % of the total garlic area as well as in Pieriga region (16 %), as garlic is a resource-intensive crop and sensitive to weather conditions and soil composition. Consequently, soils tests have to be done and a number of garlic varieties have to be field-tested for several years before starting growing this crop in order to identify the best variety for the field and the best garlic growing technology. Five most significant factors affecting garlic production in Latvia were as follows: (1) large financial investments are needed to start growing garlic (expert rating 0.84), (2) quality and availability of planting material (0.66), (3) soil composition (0.50), (4) weather conditions (0.47) and (5) labour intensity (0.44). In the analysis period of 2013−2016, Latvia annually imported approximately 900 t of garlic, i.e. more that the country produced this commodity. The Netherlands and Spain were the most significant importers of garlic into Latvia, accounting for more than 85 % of the total imports of garlic.

Anniversary edition introduces with wide activity spheres of the Faculty of Environment and Civil Engineering of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies during 25 years. Already five years landscape architects have their own home – Valdeka palace that is inspiring students and teachers with its extraordinary aura and environment. Landscape architecture specialty according to the number of students is second largest in the Faculty of Environment and Civil Engineering right after Civil Engineering speciality. The work of landscape architects in Latvia is becoming more and more recognized. Implemented projects are awarded in national competitions – Latvia Building Year`s Award, Building of a Year in Latvia etc. However, the work does not stop there. All together we should work on development of legislative documents and standards, as well as on public educations and involvement in improvement of our everyday landscape. Therefore we all – professional landscape architects and entrepreneurs, as well as Latvia Association of Landscape Architects, teaching staff and students should work in one team to realize our dream of a beautiful Latvia, a home that inspires and provides support.

The authors of this paper report a new finding of Nymphaea tetragona Georgi in Latvia. In Latvia, the species was first reported by E. Ozoliņa in a publication issued in 1951; however, this record was not supported by herbaria material, thus it was considered doubtful. In 2017, Nymphaea tetragona was found in the north-western part of Latvia, in Ances purvi un meži Nature Reserve, in a transitional mire with elements of spring fen developed in an interdune depression. Careful investigation of the collected herbaria proved that Nymphaea tetragona is present in Latvia. The species was repeatedly found in the same location also in 2018. Thus, its presence in the flora of Latvia is proved. | Īsajā ziņojumā ietverta informācija par jaunu vaskulārās augu sugas – mazās ūdensrozes Nymphaea tetragona Georgi – atradumu Latvijā. Mazā ūdensroze konstatēta 2017. gada ekspedīcijās. Atradne atkārtoti apmeklēta un suga konstatēta arī 2018. gadā. Pierādīta šīs sugas esamība Latvijas florā.

The European Union has set a target of at least a 27 % share of renewable energy consumption by 2030. This objective has resulted in a surge in the production and consumption of wood pellets. The global production of pellets was approximately 31 million t in 2017, and Latvia was the third largest producer of wood pellets in Europe. Latvia shipped 90 % of its total wood pellet production abroad and consumed only about 10 % of the total in its domestic market. The research aim is to examine the production of wood pellets and identify opportunities for the expansion of wood pellet production in Latvia. The research found that in the period 2008- 2017, the production of wood pellets increased four-fold in Latvia (to 1166 thou. t in 2017) and the consumption of wood pellets increased almost nine-fold (from 16 thou. t in 2008 to nearly 140 thou. t in 2017). However, the total consumption of wood pellets was low in Latvia, as there were No industrial consumers of this product. Households were the main consumers of wood pellets in the domestic market; therefore, almost the entire quantity of wood pellets was exported from Latvia to industrial consumers in Europe. Besides, wood pellets were also imported in order to be re-exported. Based on expert interviews and a SWOT analysis, the research designed the following strategies for the expansion of wood pellet production in Latvia: the expansion of torrefied wood pellet production, the promotion of wood pellet consumption by households and enterprises and the entry of new markets for the purpose of reducing the dependence of the wood pellet industry on the current export markets.

The annual Report on Migration and Asylum in Latvia provides comprehensive information on the most significant changes implemented and planned for the decision makers of migrant policy, its implementers, representatives of local governments and non-governmental organizations, researchers and residents of Latvia who are interested in the processes of the migration and asylum policy in Latvia from January to December 2018 and early 2019. The Report contains information gathered from migration policy makers, implementers, as well as published studies and media analyses.

The main research objective is to identify and analyse significant economic sectors subject to potential disruption from the distributed ledger technology (DLT) within the economy of Latvia. The tasks are: 1) to identify sectors subject to disruption from DLT in line with global technological developments, business readiness trends and distributed ledger use cases; 2) to identify sectors generating the most significant output within the economy of Latvia; 3) to analyse interconnections of global trends related to DLT and the areas of potential disruptions to the identified sectors within the economy of Latvia. The research concluded that economic sectors with the most significant output within the economy of Latvia are all subject to disruption from distributed ledger use cases and global DLT trends in the short, medium or long term.

Recognition and perception as well as the image of a destination plays a significant role in choosing a specific destination for a potential journey. The destination image includes different attributes − tangible and verifiable destination attributes, as well as more intangible aspects as perceptions of a more psychological nature and emotions related to particular destination. The aim of the research was to study differences in the recognition and perception of Latvia as a tourism destination in different segments of potential European travellers in Latvia’s target markets and how they affect their intentions to visit Latvia. The research involved data of three face-to-face surveys conducted in different places of Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The questionnaire was conducted to evaluate the recognition and the perception of Latvia as tourism destination as well as to find out the respondents' intentions to visit Latvia within the next three years. As tool for data analyses SPSS software was used by applying descriptive statistics, data correlation and crosstabulations. Main results and findings are intended for organisations that are responsible for tourism image development in Latvia, to optimize marketing communication with different tourist segments in countries mentioned above.

The research proves that the first year students lack independent learning skills and they have insufficient prior knowledge in science subjects and mathematics. It is especially important to solve this problem when educating the prospective specialists of the science and technology area. The need to develop young adults’ creative thinking skills is also topical. The effectiveness of the laboratory works in chemistry of the future biologists and optometry specialists was researched implementing the learning outcomes-based approach. The aim of the research is to find out how the depth of cognitive learning affects the first year students’ learning. The research is focused on students’ constructivist learning and the development of their logic-mathematical thinking. Tests checking the students’ knowledge were developed applying a modified Bloom’s taxonomy. These tests were used to check the students’ knowledge and skills after doing the laboratory work. The research participants were 74 biology and optometry first year students. The test results provide a feedback for students and thus create a possibility to adjust the teaching-learning process. SPSS programme was used for statistic processing of the research findings. It can be concluded that only one third of the students are able to demonstrate the skill to analyse and evaluate attaining the learning outcomes that correspond to the university requirements. Questions of logic-mathematical character, noticing the causes of possible mistakes and evaluation of one’s own work create the main difficulties for students. Learning outcomes are closely connected with the depth of the students’ cognitive activity, as it is proved by statistically significant differences among high performing, middle performing and low performing students.