Rural Development 2025

17/10/2025

🌿📣From September 1–3, the international scientific conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change” brought together a record number of participants – nearly 400 researchers and experts from 22 countries worldwide! 🌎👥

🌿Countries represented by researchers: Latvia (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies), Poland (representatives of the Agricultural Universities of Lublin and Krakow, etc.), Germany (e.g., scientists from the Jülich Research Centre), and Belgium (researchers from Ghent University).
Other countries whose participants attended in person or joined online included: France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Ukraine, Turkey, Japan, Mauritius, the USA, Argentina, South Africa, Tanzania, Albania, Kosovo, Portugal, Austria, Benin, Mozambique, the Philippines, and others.
Such international diversity showed that the conference attracted a broad range of participants from across Europe, Africa, and Asia. 🌍🤝

👥Scientists and experts shared 157 presentations on how agriculture and rural communities can become more resilient to global climate, economic, and social challenges.

By the numbers:
✨6 inspiring plenary presentations;
🎤106 oral presentations;
📋51 poster presentations.

All delivered across 4 thematic sections:
💧Climate-smart and sustainable agriculture;
🚀Innovations in the bioeconomy (from engineering solutions to rural start-ups);
🌳Sustainable use of forests and other bio-resources;
💬Well-being of rural residents & community resilience.

💡A lot of attention was given to climate change challenges – discussions centered on how precision technologies, agroecology, and green innovations help farms adapt. Participants also shared success stories about social initiatives in rural communities and financial instruments promoting sustainability.🌾💚

👥The discussion “The New Bioeconomy Strategy: European Goals and Lithuania’s Contribution in Developing Innovative Bio-based Industry” featured a main guest – a representative from the European Commission (DG AGRI) – together with experts from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, business, and academia.
They explored key topics such as: the directions of the new EU bioeconomy strategy, Lithuania’s contribution to the innovative bio-based industry, science-business-policy collaboration in implementing the bioeconomy strategy, and the creation of a resilient, innovative, and sustainable rural future. 🌍🤝

☺️🌍🌏This conference showed that we have a strong international community ready to tackle global challenges in rural development – together! 🌾✨

🚜🌱

08/10/2025

03/10/2025

☀️Today, the participants of the 12th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change” are sending sunny greetings from the charming town of Birštonas! 🌿

Together with a local guide, they explored the beauty of Birštonas, discovered its history, and enjoyed the unique atmosphere of this SPA town, famous for its healing mineral waters, serene landscapes, and welcoming spirit.💧✨

Birštonas – where Nature, Culture, and Science meet!🌳📚

03/10/2025

☺️💚Participants of the 12th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change” enjoyed a memorable Kaunas City Tour yesterday. They had the chance to discover the city’s historic Old Town, admire its diverse architecture, and immerse themselves in the stories that shape Kaunas’ identity. 💒🌍

01/10/2025

📣The conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change” is now being broadcast live!🎥

🌿The 12th International Scientific Conference is the premier biannual event bringing together experts, researchers, and practitioners from around the world. The conference provides a platform to explore how bioeconomy businesses and rural communities can adapt, thrive, and lead in an era of rapid and often unpredictable global change.🌿🌏

🎋Participants will discuss the multifaceted challenges facing agriculture, forestry, and other bioeconomy sectors, including climate change, economic shifts, technological advancements, and social transformations. At the same time, the conference highlights opportunities for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. 👩‍💼🌍🌿

Throughout the event, experts from fields such as agriculture, food production, forestry, IT, ecology, technology, economics, and management sciences will share insights and engage in discussions designed to inspire new strategies for resilience and sustainable development.🌳

📣📣
Don’t miss the chance to watch presentations, follow debates, and gain valuable knowledge from the comfort of your own home.

👉 Join the live stream here:

plenarinio posėdžio - 12th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change” / 12-oji tarptautinė mokslinė konferenci...

01/10/2025

📢📣📣📣The conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change” has already begun! We eagerly look forward to Inspiring presentations, Engaging discussions, and Opportunities for collaboration.🌍🌿🌳

👉 You can find all the information about the conference here: https://ruraldevelopment.lt/

30/09/2025

Meet our Plenary Session Speaker! 🌿🌍

👏We are delighted to introduce Mona-Anitta Riihimäki, Dean of the School of Biotechnology and Natural Resources (Finland).

🎤Presentation theme:
AKIS in Finland and the Role of Universities of Applied Sciences in Regional Competence Creation in Bioeconomy.

🌿📣The 12th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change” starts tomorrow, October 1–3! Don’t miss the chance to hear her inspiring insights and join the discussions shaping the future of rural development.

29/09/2025

🌍🌿We invite You to get acquainted with the plenary Session speaker of the 12th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change”🌿.

24/09/2025

We are pleased to introduce another plenary session speaker for the 12th International Scientific Conference "Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change". 🌍🌿

👉 Assoc. Prof. Viktorija Vaštakaitė-Kairienė
🎤 Presentation: "The Next Harvest: Digital and Biological Innovations for the Future of Farming and Food" 🌾.

22/09/2025

📣📣📣 🌍
We are pleased to introduce another plenary session speaker for the 12th International Scientific Conference "Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change".🌍🌳
👉 Prof. Erik Dahl Kjær
🎤 Presentation: “Trust in Diversity and Learn from Nature: Strategies for Development of Forest and Trees with High Resistance and Adaptive Potential Toward Climate Change”.

🌿🌳His plenary talk will highlight the challenges forests face due to climate change, as well as the opportunities to build resilience through diversity, adaptive tree species, and their associated microbiomes. Prof. Kjær will share new insights into how we can foster future forests that thrive under changing conditions and contribute to a sustainable, climate-resilient future.🌳💡

04/09/2025

📣📣📣✅🌍We are pleased to introduce another plenary session speaker for the 12th International Scientific Conference "Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change."🤝🌿🇧🇪

26/08/2025

🌍🌿We invite You to get acquainted with the plenary Session speaker of the 12th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change”🌿