The Ministry of Agriculture is the main institution responsible for agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Latvia
Ministry of Agriculture:
- planning of the activities and development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries,
- managing and organizing the implementation of the development plan,
- taking all the necessary steps for the development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries within and beyond the country
The Minister is in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture. The current Minister for Agriculture Didzis Šmits has been running the institution since December 14, 2022
The Ministry of Agriculture is located in the Republikas laukums 2, Riga
The Ministry of Agriculture can be contacted via +371 67027010
It is also possible to send an e-mail to the Ministry of Agriculture at pasts@zm.gov.lv
The Ministry of Agriculture is assisted by several institutions:
- Rural Support Service – supervises the money paid by the European Union and Latvia to those farmers, foresters and fish farmers who receive support,
- Food and Veterinary Service - supervises farm animal health and food safety from field to table,
- State Plant Protection Service – supervises the health of crops and plantations,
- State Forest Service – supervises and cares for Latvian forest and forest animals,
- Agricultural Data Centre - collects and stores information on livestock and domestic animals, their owners, pedigree and most valuable characteristics,
- State Technical Supervision Agency – supervises that heavy agricultural and forestry machinery is in order in the country and keeps records on the agricultural history of Latvia,
- Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies – teaches young farmers and foresters, food producers and farm owners, and looks after the future of agricultural science,
- Latvian State Forest Science Institute “Silava” – is the state's main forest science manager,
- National Scientific Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR - is the state's chief food and environmental safety researcher and analyst.