The opening workshop of the “Scaling Organic” project has taken place in Latvia
On 25 September the opening event of the Interreg Central Baltic Programme project “Scaling Organic” took place in Cēsis, Latvia. The 12 small scale horticultural farms involved in the project, including two cooperatives, came together, along with the Latvian project partner Coordination Team and advisers from the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC).
“Scaling Organic” is an international project that is implemented in Latvia by Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC) in cooperation with the Development Centre of Võru County, the Estonian Organic Farming Platform and the Finnish Organic Farmers Association. The aim of the project is to support small and medium-sized horticultural enterprises in transitioning to organic farming and/or introducing regenerative agriculture practices, developing innovative products and expanding market opportunities. The programme will run until the end of 2028, and during it participants will have access to training, support from advisers and experts, exchange of experience, and the development of an individual growth roadmap.
The venue was not chosen by chance. Firstly, Cēsis is a convenient location for most of the project participants. Secondly, the city lies within a Bioregion, and the goals and values of this project are aligned with the values, principles and courses of action defined in the Bioregion’s memorandum. Thirdly, Mārtiņš Kristons, head chef of the catering venue – “Konrāda Café”, who prepared the meal for this event, prioritises working with local farmers, including organic ones, promoting short food chains and highlighting the value of local products. There is reasonable hope that in the near future this place could become the first publicly accessible organically certified catering establishment in Latvia.
The project farm participants are the following:, SIA Crabro, LKS Latgales dabas dots cooperative, Jana Berka, ZS Celmi, ZS Baiciems, Aija Gutka, ZS Vīcepi1, Sanita Anspoka, SIA AGRO Kalniena, Juris Bucenieks, KS Vidzemes BIO āboli un ogas cooperative, and SIA LM Product.
Each farm had brought its own story to the meeting, sharing what is their daily work and future plans, and their motivation to join this project. There is diversity in what is grown and produced, in experience and in farming methods, yet everyone is united by the desire to develop, to farm sustainably and to find the most suitable place for their products on the market.
This was a great opportunity for everyone involved in the project not only to get to know one another, but also to see how diverse we are and what we can learn from each other.
One of the main takeaways from the meeting: organic farming creates significant added value, but this value needs to be communicated in a way that helps buyers understand why organically grown vegetables and berries are worth choosing. It is important to tell the story behind the product: what organic certification involves, how the produce is grown, and how much knowledge, care, and work goes into bringing it from the field to the consumer.
The discussions brought out the insight that there is strength in cooperation and that the culture and practice of cooperation need to be strengthened in Latvia. It was especially valuable in this regard to hear the experiences of two cooperatives involved in the project, “Latgales dabas dots” and “Vidzemes BIO āboli un ogas”.
At the end of the meeting, cooperation agreements were signed, marking the start of joint work in the project.
LLKC, in cooperation with the Võru County Development Centre, the Estonian Organic Farming Platform and the Finnish Organic Farming Association, is implementing the project “Scaling Organic” in 2026–2028, the aim of which is to support small and medium-sized horticultural enterprises in transitioning to organic farming and/or introducing regenerative agriculture practices, developing innovative products and expanding market opportunities. Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 project No. CB1000565.
