Perfect packaging exists in nature – examples include banana peel (Musa sapientum fixa cortices L.) and eggshell (Ovi testa L.), together with the many smart materials and systems that control plant and biological functions. Smart packaging is a type of packaging, which in addition to performing the four basic functions of packaging such as protection, communication, convenience and containment, also offers several additional functionalities depending on the type of product. Changes in consumer preference for safe food have led to innovation in packaging technology. The market for smart packaging systems has a promising future by integrating them into packaging materials. For food retailers, smart packaging is a huge development in helping to reduce food waste. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and attitudes of food manufacturers and retailers to the introduction of smart packaging systems into the Latvian market. A survey reflected knowledge about active and intelligent packaging and its possible introduction into the Latvian market. Ten manufacturers and ten food retailers from different regions in Latvia answered 16 questions, including how well they were informed about smart packaging and how much consumers would be willing to pay for it. In addition, the food manufacturer and food retailer confidence in the impact of smart packaging on a product storage quality was analysed. The results revealed that manufacturers and retailers in Latvia have a poor understanding of the new opportunities which could be offered by using technologies of smart packaging.

The preservation of local animal breeds is a topical theme in recent years. Latvian Brown (LB) and Latvian Blue (LZ) cow breeds are exhausting and must be preserved. It can be performed by the use of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET). The difficulties exist in choosing the gene-fond (GF) cows as donors caused by the small number of animals. Twenty-three cows were intended for donor cow’s role from different herds until September 2018, and twenty of them were accepted. Anamnesis, clinical examination, blood morphology (13 parameters) and biochemical indices (19 parameters) were analysed before MO induction. Three cows were rejected because of ovarian cysts or pyometra, negative energy balance (NEB) (glucose is less than 2.3 mmol LE−1 simultaneously with elevated ß-hydroxybutyric acid is greater than 1.4 mmol LE−1) and elevated (p is less than 0.05) number of leukocytes (28.20 x109 LE−1). More than 52.6% of cows had a repeated artificial insemination before the last parturition, and 5.3% of cows had lifeless offspring in the last parturition. The 1st and 2nd lactation cows were healthier than older cows (p is less than 0.05). The amount of albumins, cholesterol, triglycerides and Na, K, P, Cl, Mg was significantly different in donors with and without successfully obtained embryos (p is less than 0.05). In conclusion, not only acceptable clinical health but also the cow metabolic status is a decisive factor for success of MOET.

Wheat (Triticum) grain is generally used for food due to its grain quality. The two-factorial trial was conducted in the Research and Study farm ‘Pēterlauki’, Latvia, with an aim of finding out the soil tillage and crop diversification in rotation effect on winter wheat grain yield and quality. Two soil tillage systems (traditional and reduced) and three crop rotation schemes with different winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) fore-crops (wheat, oilseed rape (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera), faba bean (Vicia faba)) were used. The trial started in 2009. For this paper data from 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing seasons was used. Yields harvested in 2017 were significantly (p is less than 0.001) higher than those in 2018 (on average 7.17 t haE−1 in 2017, 6.18 t haE−1 in 2018). The highest yield (8.06 t haE−1) was gained in the variant where the fore-crop in 2017 had been faba bean. Crop rotation, including only repeated wheat sowings in both years, showed the lowest yield (on average 5.81 t ha E−1). Crop rotation with oilseed rape and wheat showed a significant wheat yield increase in the following two-year period in comparison to to repeated wheat sowings. A year as a factor had a significant (p is less than 0.05) impact on crude protein content (%), Zeleny index, volume weight (g LE−1) and 1000 grain weight (g). Both, volume weight (g LE−1) and 1000 grain weight, were influenced (p is less than 0.05) by the crop rotation and forecrop. Zeleny index depended on all researched factors. Crude protein content was influenced by soil tillage method (p is less than 0.0016) and fore-crop (p=0.0052). Hagberg falling number was not influenced by any of the investigated factors.

The main direction of using wheat grains is grinding them into low-extraction flours. The flours collected from individual passages differ in terms of chemical composition and physical properties, which in turn differentiates their baking value. The aim of the study was to evaluate the baking value of passage flours obtained from the milling of spring and winter wheat grain. Wheat grain was milled in a 6-pass laboratory mill MLU-202 by Bühler. The baking value of the obtained passage flours was evaluated by an indirect method (protein content, gluten content and quality, falling number, farinograph analysis) and by a direct method (by baking and performing quality evaluation of the obtained bread). The research showed that the efficiency of flours from individual milling passages varied. The passages flours differed significantly in terms of chemical composition and baking value. The highest flour yields were obtained from the first and second grinding stages, while the smallest from the third grinding stage. Ash and total protein content, flour water absorption, and amylolytic enzymes activity increased together with the subsequent milling stage in both reduction-passage and grinding-passage. The gluten content increased with the next reduction stage, while it decreased with the subsequent grinding passage. The bread from the laboratory baking test was diversified in terms of sensory characteristics, loaf volume, and crumb porosity. The best quality bread was obtained from flour from the first two reduction passages. The lowest quality bread was obtained from flour from the final grinding passage.

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaf diseases are an important risk factor that influences the productivity and quality of wheat production. The aim of the present study was to review published scientific literature about the possibilities for integrated control of winter wheat leaf diseases. The most common and economically important wheat leaf diseases are Septoria leaf blotch (caused by Zymoseptoria tritici), tan spot (caused by Pyrenophora triticirepentis), yellow rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis), and powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis). The severity of winter wheat diseases has varied significantly over the years and depended on meteorological conditions, variety resistance to pathogen, and tillage system. The crop rotation and an efficient residue management significantly decrease the development of tan spot. The development of Septoria leaf blotch mainly depends on meteorological conditions, but agronomic practice is less important. The use of disease-resistant varieties is the most economical, safe, and effective way to prevent and control wheat leaf diseases. Many European countries have a number of decision support systems for optimizing and minimizing the use of fungicides. Decision support systems are based on control thresholds and meteorological observations. Most used parameters are: air temperature, relative air humidity, and precipitation. These systems have been developed in the countries with a milder climate and a longer vegetation period than Latvia, and systems need to be adapted to Latvian conditions. The main groups of fungicides for disease control in winter wheat are azoles, strobilurin, and carboxamides. The results of many studies about the effectiveness of fungicide groups show that the obtained results differ and further research is needed.

Grain legumes are important crops for the diversification of European farming system. In Latvia, the areas of faba beans (Vicia faba) and field peas (Pisum sativum) are increasing and legumes that have not been previously cultivated are sown. Globally, the important causal agent of legume diseases belongs to the genus Botrytis. Botrytis spp. cause significant losses in faba beans and infect a wide range of legume crops. Currently, the composition, pathogenicity and biological characteristics of Botrytis species in legumes in Latvia are not known. The aim of this study was to summarize the information about Botrytis spp. on legumes, using monographic method. The researches carried out all over the world show a high genetical diversity of Botrytis cinerea. Non-host specific B. cinerea has been found on 586 plant genera, including many legume crops. B. cinerea causes gray mold on leaves and pods of field peas, gray mold on pods of faba beans, and chocolate spot of faba bean leaves. B. fabae can infect plants from Fabaceae family. B. fabiopsis is known as a pathogen of faba beans. B. fabiopsis has been observed in Latvia, but no information is available on its presence in Europe. B. pseudocinerea has been found on beans, peas, and clover (Trifolium). Some other Botrytis spp. have been detected on legumes; however, their occurrence and importance are not clear. Summary of existing knowledge about Botrytis spp. on legumes is necessary to continue investigations about the diversity and economic importance of Botrytis spp. in legumes.

Studies were conducted at the experimental station of the Stavropol State Agrarian University on leached chernozem, powerful, low-humus heavy loam on loess-like loam in 2017. The goal was to study the effect of the introduction of rocks rich in chemical composition (limestone-shell rock, apatite and phosphogypsum), both separately and jointly, on the microbial phase of the soil. The determination of the number of microorganisms was produced on dense nutrient medium by direct counting of colonies. It was found that the amount of ammonifiers under the control was 37 ml CFU gE−1 (colony-forming units), increasing 1.3–1.5 times with separate use and 2.5–3 times with the joint use of rocks. Similar changes were observed with respect to the number of nitrifiers and aerobic nitrogen fixers of the type Azotobacter. The number of cellulose-depleting microorganisms in the remineralization variants reached 220,00–230,00 CFU gE−1 compared to 115,00 CFU gE−1 under the control. With the introduction of separate rocks, there was a decrease in the occurrence of pathogens, while with a joint introduction they were not detected. The frequency of occurrence of toxin formers, such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, reached 100% at the control and decreased by 20–40% at the experimental variants. It was revealed that the introduction of shell limestone, apatite and phosphogypsum had an effect on the increase in the number of soil microbiota of various physiological groups. Among the fungal microflora, the number of pathogens and toxin formers decreases and the number of pathogen antagonists increases.

The article deals with the issue of rural population decline in Poland in 1995−2017. The aim of the study was to present the phenomenon of depopulation involving a decrease in the number of people living in rural areas in Poland at the local level. Based on the literature, the potential effects of depopulation on local development were indicated. The data of the Central Statistical Office and the results of own research carried out in three rural communes in 2019 were used. The occurrence of regional differentiation of rural depopulation processes in Poland was found. Analysing the phenomenon at the local level, it was found that as much as 38.6% of rural communes were characterized by depopulation (a loss of over 5% of the population), including for 10.7% of communes, the population decline in the analysed period was more than 15%. These areas can be considered as problem areas. A particularly unfavourable situation occurs in eastern Poland and the Opolskie Voivodeship. There was a positive correlation between the loss of population and the development of own revenues of communes’ budgets. Studies show that the phenomenon of depopulation is mainly caused by a negative natural increase, which was preceded by a migration outflow associated with the lack of jobs in rural areas.

The social environment of a university, which is comprised of students, teaching staff and parents, play an essential role in the educational process. Students’ decisions, learning and attainment could be considerably affected by relationships with their coursemates in particular. The present research therefore aims to examine students’ expectations towards their coursemates in the academic environment in Latvia. The research surveyed 979 students at Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (2016–2018). The research has found that for students, the study process involves not only learning but also common events with their coursemates as well as informal relationships. Comparing the role of coursemates and the informal influence of parents and teaching staff, the respondents preferred the involvement of their coursemates. Larger differences in opinion were found for the informal role of teaching staff in learning. Of the respondents, 47% expected teaching staff to be friends, while 29% slightly agreed that the teaching staff had to be authorities and knowledgeable specialists, which indicated that it was important for some students to disassociate formal relationships from informal ones between students and teaching staff. The dispersion of opinions that could be observed for some variables might be explained by the specifics of the programmes the students represented. Statistically significant differences in opinion were found between bioscience and engineering students in relation to the attitude of teaching staff to students, parental support and coursemate support in learning (p is less than 0.05) – the bioscience students more often favoured informal relationship aspects.

The aim of this paper is to summarise the experience gained at different levels of tourism destination planning in Latvia, identify the problems encountered during strategy planning and implementation, analyse the causes, and search for solutions. Theoretical aspects of the tourist destination planning have been extensively reviewed in publications, yet the research on what main problems planners have faced during the planning process, has been insufficient. In the last twenty years of Latvian tourist destination planning, at different levels, part of the plans were developed as documents; however, not all of them were implemented. The qualitative research summarises the experience of municipalities and tourism destination planning in Latvia. The research results show formally drafted tourism development documents of different levels and types in Latvia conform to modern planning theory and practice. In some cases even the latest knowledge and experience; create unique, innovative and competitive solutions. Tourism planning at the local level is often a painful process which raises a number of unresolved issues and unimplemented activities. The most significant differences observed from a comparison of theory and good planning practices in tourism development planning in Latvia are that the planning process is implemented within the boundaries of one municipality without taking into account the larger boundaries of tourist destinations. The involvement of entrepreneurs has only been formal and major, large-scale investment projects have not been planned or implemented.