Since 1990 significant structural changes have taken place in Latvia. First of all, it was the reestablishment of an independent state in 1991 and secondly - the accession to the European Union (EU) in 2004. Joining the EU provided free flow of goods, finances and individuals, a single system of legal acts as well as a trustful image of the state for foreign investors. In Latvia, 60% of the EU funds are allocated for agriculture and rural development, thus achieving the objective of producing food adequate for consumers’ purchasing power and ensuring agricultural commodities are available for their processing. Financial aid for primary industries also results in support for the whole society and other industries from which necessary resources and commodities are purchased. After joining the EU, the growth of the agricultural industry was observed owing to support payments. As a result of the EU policy, the size distribution of farms changed in Latvia, the output and exports of food increased as well as agricultural productivity rose. The research aim is to analyse the changes in and gains for Latvia’s agriculture after the accession to the EU. The following research methods were employed: the monographic and descriptive methods, analysis and synthesis and the logical and constructive methods.

Currently one of the hottest local governments’ issues on the agenda of the government of Latvia is the elaboration of new improved local government finance equalization system, which is an important integral element of the implementation of regional development policy. Local government finance equalization is affecting development capacity of any territory, including rural territories. The purpose of the article is to highlight and discuss in academic society the finance equalization issues that affect the rural municipalities and work out proposals for the new system. The study does not cover all local government finance equalization system’s elements, but gives attention to three – importance of the equalization for rural local governments – municipalities (novads); revenue sources, that are necessary to include in the equalization system; criteria for calculation of local governments’ expenditure needs.

Quality of information about cost structure of farm is of high importance when making management and production process improvement decisions. Aggregating and analyzing production process cost information by correct and unified methodology provides possibility of evaluating the structure of expenditures. Moreover, it is possible to identify most important cost positions and get perspective on production process. By collecting and processing data using unified methodology it is possible to conduct comparing evaluation between different farms. This is done to identify the most and less efficient farms, their work methods and cost structure. When developing unified methodology, it is essential to take into account that different farms might use different production systems and structure. When creating revenue and expense calculations, it is essential to receive accurate data. Good quality data is fundamental for receiving good quality and usable results. Precise data accounting is another important factor that ensures good quality of cost calculation. Precise accounting decreases number of cost allocation coefficients used for allocation of cost positions and thus decreasing effect of assumptions on unit production cost calculation. Fixed cost allocation by its nature to divide all costs by farm specializations is the most challenging when calculating unit production cost. In order for calculations to be of good quality, precise data on use of assets, specifics and intensity of farming is necessary. By identifying these indicators it is possible to create maximally precise calculation of unit production cost of beef.

The fastening pace of life is changing Lithuanians’ nutrition habits and the following change turns to be the most favourable for the development of fast food industry. The attitude has a very strong meaning for consumer behaviour. The attitude determines the obtainment and loyalty of consumer product and service. It is significant for marketing specialists to identify the components, which form positive attitude towards service or products. The availability of food is increasing; however, there emerges a lot of fast food, the consumption of which the aggressive advertising is promoting a lot. As in all fields, as well as in the industry of fast food, there are people, who support the following business and there are some against it. The following attitude might be determined by different components, which shape one’s attitude. The research problem: what are the attitude components and how do they evidence in the selection of fast food in Lithuania? The article aim is as following: after having investigated the consumer attitude components to identify their impact on Lithuanian consumer attitude towards fast food. The research object: the impact of Lithuanian consumer attitude on the selection of fast food. For the research completion, the methods of questionnaire survey were applied. The gained research outcome has disclosed that the selection of fast food in Lithuania is determined under hedonistic consumption although, there is present the expression of the cognitive information process between the components of cognition and behaviour.

The purpose of the research is to evaluate the technologies, available to the Latvia’s sector of fish processing and their utilized capacity, as well as to identify the factors influencing production process, providing recommendations for development and improvement of further policy of the sector. The author evaluated availability and utilized capacity of production technologies in the Latvia’s sector of fish processing, considering the analysis of financial indicators of the made investments, production capacity load and fish processing companies. In view of economic theory, the factors, influencing the production process of Latvia’s sector of fish processing, were defined. As a result of analysis, the author established that the development of production of Latvia’s fish processing sector is to a great extent influenced by the availability of human resources, raw materials and investments, as well as undertaking. For further development and policy planning of the sector it would be advisable to take into account these factors, influencing the production process of Latvia’s sector of fish processing and their changes. The formed combinations of indicators may be used in scientific researches on establishment of production technologies availability and their utilized capacity, and identification of factors, influencing the production process; they may facilitate researches for its calculation and importance, as well as may assist the institutions involved in the fisheries’ policy formation to work more successfully and improve the common policy in the field.

Purchasing local products has become a popular trend both in Latvia and in the world; yet, no single definition is available regarding what may be regarded as local products. The term local product is interpreted based on the distance between the producer and the consumer, administrative and political theories, social factors and personal opinions. Food systems refer to a full cycle from production to sales, whereas local food systems, which are regarded as an alternative to the global food system, are characterised by a short distance between the producer and the consumer, which increases mutual trust between the parties engaged. Besides, it has been found that local food systems are considered sustainable and local communities benefit from them economically, environmentally and socially. Local products are sold through traditional channels – food products are marketed through wholesale and retail networks – and through those popularising local products – short supply chains and direct sale channels – when products are purchased directly from the producer. The present research gives a summary and a short description of such sale channels. An essential role in increasing the sales of local products is also played by the public sector, as local products are purchased through municipal public food procurements. Even though the EU legislation stipulates that municipal public procurements may not require bidders to supply only local products because it contradicts the principles of free trade in the EU, yet, food products produced in the local region are preferred if sustainability criteria are integrated in procurement requirements.

This review paper discusses possibilities of the identification of local food products at brand features. Initially, it was examined whether the identification of food products is possible at brand features, after it was established what type of brand could be used for the identification of local food products – store brand or national brand. Local food meets both definitions: national brand products and store brand products. The scientific literature does not provide an answer to the question about the use of imported raw materials in manufacturing process of national level and store brand products. The answer is not provided if the food products, which contain imported raw materials, are considered to be local food. The methodology used for the research is based upon a literature review – a monographic method.

Aim of the paper is to identify low productivity lands distribution in Vidzeme region, identify enterprises that could use wood chips from willow plantations established on these lands as the main resource in electricity and heat production and calculate produced wood ash amount from these enterprises that could be used as fertilizer and could be recycled in SRC plantations. For better soil fertility evaluation and economic turn predictions all agricultural lands are evaluated in quality units, where one quality unit in money is equal to 5.38 EUR or 70 kg of rye. According to studies, traditional farming in lands, which are below 38 quality units, could be unproductive. In Vidzeme region are 501,880 ha of agriculture lands from which 206,574 ha (52%) are lands with quality assessment under 38 units. According to local farmers’ opinion, the real quality unit, below which economically profitable farming is impossible, are 25 quality units. There are 87,900 ha of agricultural lands under 25 quality units, which represent 18% from all agricultural lands in region. These lands could be used by growing SRC plantations in 2013; the region has 48 enterprises that used wood chips, with total amount of 170,500 oven-dried tonnes per year. Wood chips from SRC plantation could be used in these enterprises. To fulfil the wood chip demand in the region, about 17,000 – 34,000 ha of agricultural land should be planted with SRC plantations. To increase the yields from these lands, fertilization is recommended. In this region are more than 300 enterprises, which use wood as the main resource for electricity or heat production leading to 14,000 oven-dried tons of wood ash production every year.

With this issue of 2009, we bring 52 proceedings of the 98, which started life as presentations at the Annual 15th International Scientific Conference Research for Rural Development 2009 held at the Latvia University of Agriculture, in Jelgava, on 20 to 22 May 2009. In the retrospect of four months later, we can count the Conference as a great success. The theme - Research for Rural Development - attracted participation of 321 researchers with very different backgrounds. There were 4 presentations from Ukraine, 3 from Sweden, 2 from Belarus, 3 from Estonia, 1 from Belgium, 1 from India, 1 from Turkey, 10 from Lithuania and 64 from Latvia. Four independent reviewers estimated each report. The proceedings of the Annual 15th International Scientific Conference Research for Rural Development 2009 is intended for academics, students and professionals researching in the area of crop production, animal breeding, agricultural engineering, agrarian and regional economics, food sciences, veterinary medicine, forestry, wood processing, water management. The proceedings will also be useful for researchers in educational sciences.