Phase 2 of Danish-Latvia fertilizer normative project started in Autumn 1999. Contracting authority of Project - the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Contractor - the Danish Agricultural Advisory Center. Subcontractor - Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Institutions from Latvia - the Latvia Agricultural Advisory and Training Center, Skriveri Research Center, Agrochemical Research Center as well as experts from Latvia University of Agriculture, Priekuli, Stende Plant Breeding Stations and Malnava Agriculture College.

The author gives a broad overview on history of wheat breeding in Latvia (Priekuli Plant Breeding Station and State Stende Institute of Cereal Breeding) in some times (1923-1939, 1940-1945, 1945-1990). The aims of wheat breeding were: (1) to grow wheat varieties suitable to conditions of Latvia; (2) to evaluate and to characterize foreign variety usefulness to conditions of Latvia. The main directions of wheat breeding: (1) testing and evaluation of the foreign varieties in conditions of Latvia; (2) investigation of local material collected from different regions of Latvia; (3) breeding (random) work with wheat material; (4) crossings. Data on winter wheat varieties comparison, crop yield and quality, and established varieties are given in tables.

The arcticle gives a comparison between diesel fuel used in Latvia and western countries. So far Latvia has ignored environmental concerns and EU standards.

The doctoral thesis has been elaborated from year 2004 till 2009 in the Faculty of Food Technology of Latvia University of Agriculture and in Food and Veterinary Service (FVS), including the Laboratory of Food and Environmental Investigations of the National Diagnostic Centre. The aim of the doctoral thesis – to develop scientifically justified criteria for evaluation of the microbiological quality of foods prepared in public catering establishments of Latvia. To achieve the aim of the thesis the following tasks were set: to investigate the parameters of microbiological quality of ready–to–eat foods; to perform the identification of the bacteria species earmarked in the investigations; to analyze the growth properties of microorganisms, main factors of influence and tendencies; to investigate the hygienic situation in the catering establishments of Latvia, including the practical aspects of maintaining the microbiological quality in ready–to–eat foods; to develop microbiological quality criteria for ready–to–eat foods suitable for the circumstances of Latvia; to prepare recommendations for practical implementation of microbiological criteria for ready–to–eat foods in the catering establishments of Latvia.

In order to identify the quality of natural Silver birch stands in Latvia, fifteen sample plots covering all country's regions were established. Stem quality affecting morphological traits - stem straightness, branch angle, branching thickness and branching patterns were measured and assessed to all birches in sample plots. To compare the stand's quality, the integral quality indicator was introduced. According to results obtained in plots, most quality birch stands in Latvia are located in East and North parts of Latvia. The best stands proved to be in Aluksne and Smiltene. Birch stands in West part of Latvia had stems of substantially lower quality. The best quality stand in this region was birch stand located in Tukuma's head forestry.

A provenance trial of at age of 28-year-old Scots pine has been analyzed. In three experimental places in Latvia provenances from Germany, Poland, Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine, and Latvia were tested. German and Polish provenances showed a significantly larger average yield compared to Latvian provenances (17% and 19% respectively). The introduced pines had significantly thicker branches (German provenances – 9%, Polish – 6%) and crooked stems (German provenances – 35%, Polish – 12%) compared to the local material. Latvian pine provenances exhibited good growth and stem quality characteristics and also survival was higher than that of foreign provenances. The research suggests that use of foreign Scots pine plant material in Latvia is not advisable. Further testing of pine provenances from areas close to Latvia (Estonia, Lithuania, and neighbouring areas in Russia) is recommended.

25 oat varieties from Latvia, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia and other countries, including recommended and perspective oat varieties in Latvia, were compared at the State Stende Plant Breeding Station in summer 2005.

Recently very big attention is paid regarding to quality of pork produced in Latvia to make it competitive in both market of Latvia and markets of Europe. Low pork quality and high price are the factors that decrease competition with imported production in the home market and reduce export to other countries. The aim of this research "Improving of productivity, carcass and meat quality of different pig populations" is to evaluate and analyse carcasses and pork quality of populations and their crosses breeded in Latvia.

In 7.06.1994 the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia ratified The Geneva Convention of 13 November 1979 on long-range transboundary air pollution" and in 17.06.1997 Latvia has joined the 1984 Geneva Protocol on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP). The aim of this article is to evaluate pollution transboundary transfer of sulphur compounds in territory of Latvia during 1986-2000.

Hull-less or naked barley was rediscovered in Western Canada. Hull-less trait is one of the desirable traits for feed barley. Compared with hulled barley cultivars, hull-less cultivars have reduced fibre content and increased protein content. Due to the high nutritional value of hull-less barley it will became an alternative high-energy source in feed and food with good functional properties. In the years 2000-2001 the hull-less lines bred at the Latvia University of Agriculture and varieties and lines with diverse origin were estimated under conditions of Latvia. The results showed that the lines bred in Latvia are characterized by higher protein content but there is a need for improving their agronomic traits. The varieties and lines from Canada, Czech Republic and Sweden are the most suitable for the conditions of Latvia.