Biowaste

Yesterday, at the final event of the research paper competition organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD), the winners of the competition presented their research projects. The students developed research papers on topics related to the prevention or management of food and biological waste. During the event, the top three research papers were presented, and their authors received monetary prizes.

The event was opened by Ph.D. Rudīte Vesere, Acting Deputy Secretary of State for Environmental Protection at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD), Director of the Environmental Protection Department, who congratulated the competition participants on their successful work and expressed appreciation for their contribution: “Your research and efforts are crucial in our fight for a better and cleaner future. We encourage you to continue your research in the field of waste management and recycling. Your contribution will be decisive in addressing future environmental issues.”

A total of eight works were submitted to the competition, but six of the best were selected for further evaluation. The first-place winner, Greta Girvaite, a student at the Riga Technical University Liepaja Academy, presented her innovative permaculture tool "GALA Garden." This tool is a combination of a garden and compost box that can be used on private properties or in community gardens on lawns, asphalt, cobblestone, or other surfaces. The wooden parts are treated using the Japanese wood burning method, making the tool durable and sustainable.

The second-place winner, Antra Adiene, a student at Riga Stradiņš University, analyzed various initiatives to reduce food waste in Europe. She emphasized the role of Danish non-governmental organizations in driving change, the French regulatory framework that prohibits supermarkets from throwing away good-quality food, Italy's special focus on implementing food donation facilitation, and Lithuania's food banks as a mediation network. The competition laureate encouraged exploring the experiences of other countries in reducing food waste and adapting successful practices to the Latvian context.

Daniela Dreslere, a student at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, who earned the honorable third place, presented her research on the potential of cod skin for collagen extraction. The goal of her work was to evaluate the chemical composition of cod skin, assess quality indicators, improve the collagen extraction method, and analyze the quality of the collagen.

At the event, Elīna Dāce, the lead researcher at the Baltic Studies Centre of Riga Stradiņš University, provided insights into food waste measurement in Europe and Latvia, while Lāsma Ozola, the Head of the Zero Waste Community and Activities Coordinator at the Environmental and Climate Neutrality Department of the Cēsis Municipality, shared her experience in establishing the Zero Waste community in Cēsis and the upcoming future plans.

The members of the commission – Inga Beousa from the "Zaļā brīvība" association, Dace Ugare from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Rūta Bendere from the "Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija" association – emphasized the importance of new initiatives in the field of waste management and expressed gratitude to each competition participant for their research. Food waste prevention and management is an issue that affects us all, and dialogue with science plays a crucial role in helping to build an understanding of circular food waste management. Each of the submitted works was inspiring and included valuable insights and suggestions.

In conclusion, participants were encouraged to continue their ongoing research and become ambassadors for the implementation of a circular lifestyle to those closest to them – family, friends, and colleagues. Such events are an important step towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. The insights gained will help move forward the practice of food and biological waste management in Latvia.

Presentations in Latvian:

1. Elīna Dāce, Dr.sc.ing., RSU, Baltic Studies Centre vadošā pētniece “Pārtikas atkritumu daudzuma mērījumi Eiropā un Latvijā”

2. Grēta Girvaite, RTU Liepājas akadēmija, Vides inovāciju tehnoloģijas, 4.kurss, "Permakultūras rīks "GALA Dārzs""

3. Antra Adiene, RSU, Starptautiskās attiecības - Eiropas studijas, 3.kurss “Pārtikas atkritumu mazināšanas iniciatīvu analīze: risinājumi Eiropas valstīs un Latvijas labās prakses piemēri”

4. Daniela Dreslere, LBTU, Pārtikas kvalitāte un inovācijas, 4.kurss “Mencu ādu potenciāls kolagēna ieguvē”

5. Lāsma Ozola, Cēsu novada pašvaldība "Zero Waste kopienas izveide Cēsīs"