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Noslēdzies
Published: 23.12.2022.
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The new soil research project will allow a smarter use of agricultural land 

04.03.2021.

In February 2021, Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with partners started implementation of the project of the Norway financial mechanism “Enhancement of sustainable soil resource management in agriculture” to update the  information on Latvian agricultural soil and to obtain information on carbon changes in soil and greenhouse gas emission factors, characteristic for the country. 

It is planned to develop and adopt sustainable resource management decisions for a sustainable management of agricultural land, providing additional information for a smart land use.

The updated national soil data will improve the climate-related information on soil to be used in climate change policy as well as to increase the knowledge of experts on sustainable soil management. At the same time, this updated national soil information will be used by the public entities, farmers and non-governmental organizations as well as research institutions upon developing and implementing the climate policy.

The project results will provide additional information on soil for land managers thus facilitating a more efficient use of agricultural resources, ensuring higher quality of agricultural produce, and maintaining competitiveness of the sector at the same time reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment and thus conserving ecosystems.

The partners of the Ministry of Agriculture in implementation of the pre‑defined project “Enhancement of sustainable soil resource management in agriculture” of the Norway Grants Climate and Environment Program 2014 – 2021 “Climate change mitigation, adaptation to them and the environment” are the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, the Latvian State Forest Research Institute SILAVA, the State Plant Protection Service and the University of Latvia. The project term - January 31, 2024. 

The planned project budget is EUR 1,83 million, including the Norway grant EUR 1,56 million and EUR 0,27 million - the national co-financing.

Working together for a green Europe! 

News:

Latvian agricultural soil research video conference “A living planet begins in living soil”, January 19, 2024

Video conference of agricultural soil survey of Latvia “Assessment of the distribution of peat soil — modelling, remote management and machinery”, August 31, 2022

Latvian agricultural soil research video conference “What we know about natural resources we manage”, September 24, 2021

About the project

The Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the partners in the pre-defined project “Enhancement of sustainable soil resource management in agriculture” (E2SOILAGRI) intends to update and improve information on soil so that in future sustainable soil management methods could be developed (for example, how to use mineral fertilizers in a more efficient way, how to more thoughtfully use plant protection means). 

The new knowledge acquired in the project, new spatial data as well as data on changes of soil carbon content will be a new step toward providing land managers with additional information on a knowledgeable farming, implementing a sustainable agricultural practice how to obtain a competitive crop yields harvest a good quality and competitive crops by increasing productivity and at the same time, reducing ecological burden on the environment thus contributing to conservation of ecosystems. The project envisages that the obtained information will contribute to mitigation of climate change that will help in achievement of international and European objectives, regarding climate change and reporting requirements. 

In the project, it is planned to update the national soil data that would be used in the policy of climate change. Implementation of the project will improve climate-related soil information as well as a capacity of five state institutions in a sustainable soil management.

The main target groups of the project are public administrations, farmers, the non-governmental sector, the education and science sector institutions involved in the development and implementation of climate policy.

Benefits from the project:

  • updated national soil data for implementation of climate change policy,
  • improved access to reliable and country-specific soil information in agricultural land,
  • established soil carbon monitoring system in agricultural land,
  • improved calculation system of GHG emissions.

The project E2SOILAGRI is implemented by five cooperation partners – two governmental institutions and three research institutions.

Governmental institutions:

  • The Ministry of Agriculture,
  • The State Plant Protection Service.

Research institutions:

  • Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, 
  • the Latvian Forest Research Institute SILAVA, 
  • the University of Latvia.

The planned project budget is EUR 1,83 million, including the Norway grant EUR 1,56 million and EUR 0,27 million - the national co-financing. 

The project is being implemented under the Norway Financial Mechanism Climate and Environment Program 2014 – 2021 “Climate change mitigation, adaptation to them and the environment”.

  1. Historical soil database and digital soil map updated with data from 15 000 soil profiles; 
  2. National soil classification system updated and internationally harmonized with the FAO WRB classification; 
  3. Soil mapping methodology developed:
    • 10 people trained to perform soil description and mapping according to the national and international FAO WRB soil classification;
  4. Distribution of peat soils in agricultural land assessed:
    • Map on peat soil distribution in agricultural land developed;
  5. 200 soil carbon monitoring sites in agricultural land established:
  6. Three GHG emission factors in drained organic soils developed;
  7. Project mid-term and final implementation reviews;
  8. Experience sharing missions between Norwegian and Latvian experts.