News

Within the framework of the LIFE integrated project “Waste to Resources Latvia”, the Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM) is launching a research paper competition for students of vocational secondary education institutions and technical schools, as well as students of higher education institutions. The aim of the competition is to improve students’ understanding and knowledge of current issues related to food waste prevention, reduction and sustainable management, while also encouraging the development of new and innovative solutions to address these challenges. The total prize fund is EUR 6,000.

A significant amount of food waste is generated in Latvia every year. In 2024, the total reached almost 270,000 tonnes, or an average of 144 kg per person. These figures come from a study carried out within the LIFE integrated project “Waste as Resources in Latvia”. The largest share of food waste – more than 160,000 tonnes – was generated by households, while the catering sector generated almost 17,000 tonnes. At European Union level, targets have been set to reduce food waste by 10% in the food processing and manufacturing sector and by 30% in retail, food services and households by 2030, compared with 2020 levels.

Achieving these targets requires not only proper management of food waste, but first and foremost preventing it from being generated, identifying new solutions and changing habits. For this reason, the competition involves students from vocational education institutions and higher education institutions – future professionals who, through research and new ideas, can propose practical solutions for reducing food waste at different stages of the food supply chain.

The research paper competition is one of the project activities aimed at addressing this issue. From October to December this year, five regional seminars will be held at vocational education institutions. Guidelines for reducing and preventing food waste in the HoReCa sector and educational institutions have also been developed, while an information campaign dedicated to the HoReCa sector is planned for early 2027.

Who can participate in the competition?

Young people aged 18 and over are invited to participate:

• students of accredited vocational secondary education institutions and technical schools in Latvia;

• students enrolled in short-cycle, professional higher education, bachelor’s and master’s study programmes at higher education institutions.

Research papers will be assessed in two separate participant groups – students of vocational secondary education institutions and technical schools, and students of higher education institutions.

Participants may submit either a research paper prepared specifically for the competition or a previously published research paper, as well as a research paper developed within an education or study programme in 2025, 2026 or 2027.

What topics can the research paper address?

The research paper must be related to the prevention, reduction or sustainable management of food waste.

For example, the topic may focus on:

• prevention and reduction of food waste;

• sorting, recycling and composting of food waste;

• measuring the amount of food waste;

• food waste management and efficient use of resources;

• public awareness, education and communication;

• the development of economically viable or innovative solutions and pilot projects.

Research papers that not only analyse the problem but also propose practical and innovative solutions are particularly encouraged.

What are the formatting requirements for the research paper?

The research paper must be prepared in Latvian and submitted in PDF format. It must not exceed 20 A4 pages. The page limit does not include the title page, table of contents, list of references or appendices.

The paper must include conclusions and proposals or recommendations, as well as a list of the information sources used. If video material is submitted as a separate appendix, its duration must not exceed two minutes.

How to apply for the competition?

To participate in the competition, applicants must submit:

1. a completed competition application form;

2. the research paper.

The application form and the research paper must each be signed separately with a qualified electronic signature, and both documents must be sent in a single email to konkurss@kem.gov.lv. If the research paper has several authors, the documents must be signed by all authors.

The subject line of the email must state: “For the Research Paper Competition”.

What is the submission deadline?

The application and research paper may be submitted until 5 April 2027. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be evaluated.

How will the research papers be evaluated?

The research papers will be assessed according to administrative, eligibility and quality criteria.

The evaluation will take into account the relevance of the topic and its justification, the quality of the problem description, analysis of good practices from other European countries, the practical applicability of the proposed solutions and recommendations, the quality of the information sources used, the visual presentation of the paper and its originality.

What prizes will the winners receive?

The total prize fund is EUR 6,000. In each of the two participant groups, the winners will receive a cash prize and a certificate of recognition:

• 1st place – EUR 1,500;

• 2nd place – EUR 1,000;

• 3rd place – EUR 500.

If a prize-winning research paper has several authors, the cash prize will be divided equally among the authors.

At the conclusion of the competition, an award ceremony will be held to honour the winners, who will also have an opportunity to present their ideas, research findings and proposed solutions to a wider audience.

Information about the competition results and the prize-winning research papers will be published on the website of the LIFE integrated project “Waste as Resources in Latvia”: https://wastetoresources.kem.gov.lv/

We encourage vocational and higher education students to take this opportunity to explore current food waste issues, propose their own solutions and contribute through their ideas to more sustainable use of resources in Latvia.

Further information about the competition requirements:

1. Research Paper Competition Regulations for the 2026/2027 academic year;

2. Competition Application Form.