Smart specialisation strategy (RIS3) is topical for each European Union member state – including the Baltic States. It is a smart tool for the European Union (EU) Structural Funds absorption from 2014 to 2020. Each EU member state has set their own priorities based on the country specialisation and economy strengths and weaknesses. For RIS3 development evaluation, there is RIS3 Assessment Wheel developed – a tool for assessing the RIS3 in a chosen region and positioning it between other regions. The aim of research is to find main differences between RIS3 development in the Baltic States. The tasks of research are 1) to compare existing RIS3 Assessment Wheel of Latvia and create authors version of RIS3 Assessment Wheel of Latvia; 2) to create RIS3 Assessment Wheel of Lithuania and Estonia; 3) to make comparisons between created RIS3 Assessment Wheels. The research performed is mainly based on the desk research by using content analysis and the monographic method. In all three Baltic States, there is a lack of information available about revision of priorities in connection with RIS3 development. In order to achieve the aims set in RIS3, it is essential to finish work on RIS3 legislation in Latvia, and introduce the systematic approach to RIS3 target evaluation in all Baltic States.

Foreign trade as part of the main economic relationship between a country and the global market, its regions and super-players is a significant research object. This paper deals with a particular case, exploring Latvian import in first one and a half decade of the 21st century. Since in Latvian academic society economic issues are largely dominated by economic scientist, this is an attempt by geographer to look at special aspects of mentioned ties and relationships. Research is focused around main producing sectors of economy such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry. With the aim of establishing clear ties between Latvia and its major import markets, the statistics of foreign trade was analysed using frequency analysis. The research shows that Latvian major import markets, although, similarly with its export markets, are located in the Baltic Sea region and have some differences. Major import markets are usually countries with bigger internal market, than Latvia’s. Import does follow the pattern of export markets in its separation into East and West groups with similar characteristics. Major difference, however, is differentiation of markets, where majority of high quality goods are being imported from a wider variety of markets, in contrast to export, where consolidation was a major pattern. This shows a rather close competition on world markets for potential clients, and a way for further economic change in Latvian industrial structure and operations.

Apple trees are the most common fruit tree type in the EU covering 450 000 ha. At the global scale, the largest apple exporters are EU-27, China, Chile and the USA, but the largest importers – the EU-27 and Russia. In the EU and Russia, large volumes of apples are imported during the cold time of the year. The market for fresh fruit has traditionally been driven by price, but today’s market has become even more dynamic and consumers – more fastidious. The aim of the article is to identify the main determinants influencing prices of fresh fruits and indicate a range of differences between winter and summer prices of fruits based on the example of apples. The current research should be regarded as a ‘work in progress’, as it will be a part of more extensive research conducted in several EU countries and different times of the year. In the present research, the authors have used comparative analysis, which was based on theoretical literature studies, publications and statistical data available in EUROSTAT databases as well as statistical data aggregated by Spanish, Polish and Latvian market research institutions.

Competitiveness is the key factor in order to reach the economic transformation, smart growth, governance and legal framework for the state and society for sustainable development that are stated as the major goals in the current planning period in Latvia. High-technology industries are the main drivers of economic activity in developed economies. To ensure data comparability, the official definition of the high-technology industries by Eurostat is applied in this research including two industries: manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations and manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products. The research aims to analyse high-technology industries in Latvia taking into account the competitiveness and the regional allocation using a set of several indicators. According to NUTS 3, Latvia is subdivided into 6 regions; however, the high-technology industries are regionally allocated mainly in two regions, Riga and Pieriga regions. Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products etc. employs 99% of employees in these two regions, manufacture of computer etc. products – 81% despite the fact that only 54% of employees reside in these two regions. The research confirms that the high-technology regional allocation depends on available labour resources and also education and professional training facilities in the region. We conclude that the high-technology industries are competitive in the global market as the share of the high-tech products in total exports is several times higher than the share of these industries in the manufacturing sector or in total economy. The global competitiveness of Latvia’s high-tech industries is stable and gradually rising.

Nowadays ICT has a significant role in public administration by creating opportunities to automate a lot of manual operations. ICT plays an important role both in improving customer service in public administrations as well as internal and inter-institutional co-operation processes in public administrations that promote access to services and service quality, facilitate administrative processes for citizens and businesses and contribute to the accessibility of information. Public authority daily faces a major challenge – on the one hand to reduce labour costs and on the other hand to introduce innovations. In the implementation of both these objectives public administrations deal with a serious problem – to operate in a connected environment by involving stakeholders and at the same time to solve problems by using new working methods, tools and management models. One of the strategic objectives of tax and customs administrations is to increase resource use efficiency and effectiveness; therefore, they continuously search solutions to simplify administrative procedures, to improve and develop the quality of services provided and the business environment in general, and how to automate internal work processes and significantly reduce manual workload. This study aims to examine the structure affecting the efficiency indicators, to point out the factors which have the biggest impact on increasing effectiveness of institutions.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread coniferous species in boreal zones and it has a considerable economic importance in the Baltic countries. The impact of fungi on Scots pine has been known also historically, but it is predicted that it will increase in future due to climate changes that will have a positive effect on incidence and vitality of various species of fungi. The aim of the study was to characterize the occurrence of Lophodermium spp. in young stands of Scots pine in Latvia. Needle samples were collected from young pine stands (aged 1 – 14 years) located in all regions of Latvia. DNA extraction from needles was done using modified CTAB protocol, presence of Lophodermium in total extracted DNA was detected using a PCR method. Meteorological data – air temperature and precipitation – were obtained from all 34 observation stations of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. The presence of Lophodermium spp. was detected in all surveyed stands, and occurrence differences between the western and eastern regions were significant (p = 0.004). The occurrence of Lophodermium spp. in the eastern and western regions was affected by the meteorological conditions in autumn and winter of the previous years, as well as differences in the given years’ air temperature and precipitation. In 2016, the eastern region of Latvia had a higher May−August precipitation and, to a lesser extent, temperature, which correlated with a higher occurrence of Lophodermium spp.

Zemgale geobotanical region historically was dominated by large broad-leaved forests, but last centuries the high anthropogenic pressure on these territories has reduced the area of these forests. In fragmented landscape small patches of natural broad-leaf forests are protected to preserve the forest structural features, which also function as habitats for rare and protected species. The aim of this study was to compare the natural broad-leaf forest habitats and structural elements and vegetation in woodland key habitats in production forests and protected areas (nature park ''Tērvete'' and nature reserve ''Ukru gārša'') in Zemgale. In total, 12 sample plots were established (the size of sample plot 0.1 ha) in Aegopodiosa forest type. In all sample plots forest structural features were measured and vegetation survey using Braun-Blanquet method was made. In this study, we found that average amount of dead wood varies between 78.7 m**3 haE-1 in woodland key habitats in production forests and 133.0 m**3 haE-1 special protected areas. Considerable amount of broad-leaf natural forests represented by nemoral species (50 – 58% of species richness), which corresponds to these forest type communities in the region.

Importance of the study is determined by increasing consumption of woody biomass as a renewable energy source. Whole-tree harvesting is commonly applied for bioenergy use, however intensified biomass removal from forests can cause significant nutrient loss in soil. Nutrients can be returned to forest ecosystem by fertilizing soil with wood ash, which is generated as a by-product of combustion in wood-burning power plants and heating plants. Studies on ash spreading technological processes and costs so far have been insufficient. Aim of the study is to compare the productivity and prime cost of ash spreading with modular spreading trailer and Amazone mineral fertilizer spreader. According to study results productivity of modular trailer is 0.57 ha hE-1 and the spreading costs are 88 EUR haE-1, but that of mineral fertilizer spreader Amazone – 0.61 ha hE-1 and 41 EUR haE-1, respectively. Despite lower productivity modular trailer is more suitable for spreading wood ash, because a larger amount can be delivered and ash is applied more evenly. Productivity of modular trailer can be increased by technical improvements, like equipping the tractor with a crane and a small excavator bucket. Comparing costs of ash spreading and deposition, additional 8.72 EUR haE-1 were required, when using modular trailer, whereas, when using mineral fertilizer spreader, 77.52 EUR haE-1 can be saved. The main reason for the difference is smaller dosage when using modular spreader and additional loading costs.

The biological control agent Rotstop, composed of spores of Phlebiopsis gigantea, is used for treatment of conifer stumps to reduce the spread of Heterobasidion root rot in commercial forests. Two experiments were conducted to compare the antagonistic ability of the Rotstop isolate and nine Latvian isolates of P. gigantea against root rot fungus Heterobasidion, in wood of Scots pine and Norway spruce. Billets of conifer trees were first sprayed with a spore suspension of P. gigantea and then with Heterobasidion at different concentrations. The presence of fungi in billets was evaluated by morphological characteristics of mycelium. The Latvian isolates of P. gigantea showed similar or even higher values of efficacy against Heterobasidion (average efficacy 84% in spruce and 89% in pine) than the commercially manufactured Finnish preparation Rotstop (61% in spruce and 90% in pine). Latvian isolates of P. gigantea have a potential to be used for preparation of biological control agents in the future.

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) is amongst the most important tree species for forestry in Latvia. It has been suggested that due to the foreseen climate change the productivity of Norway spruce in Latvia may decrease. Continuous observations of radial increment allow to identify periods with different growth intensity and to study the effect of environmental conditions on radial increment during them. The aim of this study was to analyse stem radial variation of Norway spruce in mixed-species stand in response to meteorological conditions over one growing season. Stem radial variation of one Norway spruce tree was monitored by band dendrometer throughout the growing season of 2013. Cumulative radial increment was divided into contraction, recovery and increment phases by the stem cycle approach. Four periods with distinct apportionment of these phases were identified – winter/spring dormancy, spring/ summer growth, growth termination and autumn hydration fluctuations. Radial increment began in the second part of May and the most active increment was observed during period of spring/summer growth. This period lasted for 42 days with the mean amplitude of stem radial variations reaching 0.06 mm while the length of increment phase reached up to two days. Throughout the growing season increment was facilitated by an increase in the temperature. Meanwhile, the effect of precipitation was insignificant, presumably due to sufficient water availability and low interspecies competition for it, characteristic in mixed species stands due to differences in depth and distribution of root systems between the species.