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The introduction of pottery vessels to Europe has long been seen as closely linked with the spread of agriculture and pastoralism from the Near East. The adoption of pottery technology by hunter–gatherers in Northern and Eastern Europe does not fit this paradigm, and its role within these communities is so far unresolved. To investigate the motivations for hunter–gatherer pottery use, here, we present the systematic analysis of the contents of 528 early vessels from the Baltic Sea region, mostly dating to the late 6th–5th millennium cal BC, using molecular and isotopic characterization techniques. The results demonstrate clear sub-regional trends in the use of ceramics by hunter–gatherers; aquatic resources in the Eastern Baltic, non-ruminant animal fats in the Southeastern Baltic, and a more variable use, including ruminant animal products, in the Western Baltic, potentially including dairy. We found surprisingly little evidence for the use of ceramics for non-culinary activities, such as the production of resins. We attribute the emergence of these sub-regional cuisines to the diffusion of new culinary ideas afforded by the adoption of pottery, e.g. cooking and combining foods, but culturally contextualized and influenced by traditional practices.

Edible mycorrhizal fungi can be harvested in the fourth year after establishment of a hybrid aspen plantation in previous agricultural land at hemiboreal conditions. It is important to understand the role of fungi in element cycling at the ecosystem level as well as the amounts of elements, including heavy metals, that are accumulated in fruitbodies of edible fungi in the context of food safety. Therefore we evaluated the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratio and content of heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cd, Cu and Zn) in Leccinum aurantiacum (Bull.) Gray in a juvenile hybrid aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx. × Populus tremula L.) plantation in agricultural land initially fertilised with biogas production residues (digestate), sewage sludge and wood ash, which are potential sources of pollution of heavy metals. The research site was established in the spring of 2011, but the natural occurrence of fruitbodies of L. aurantiacum was observed in 2014. The mean isotopic data for fruitbodies of L. aurantiacum, collected in the 2014–2018 monitoring period, ranged between -27.4 and -24.5‰ for δ13C and between 7.8 and 10.1‰ for δ15N. The mean content of investigated heavy metals in fruitbodies of L. aurantiacum were up to 129 mg kg-1 for Zn, up to 99 mg kg-1 for Cu, up to 30 mg kg-1 for Mn, up to 1.5 mg kg-1 for Ni, up to 1.7 mg kg-1 for Cd, up to 1.1 mg kg-1 for Cr and up to 0.6 mg kg-1 for Pb. We concluded that the application of digestate, sewage sludge and wood ash as fertilisers to improve soil quality in hybrid aspen plantations in agricultural land did not result in increased heavy metal accumulation in fruitbodies of L. aurantiacum, but N isotopic compositions were altered (15N-enriched) for a period of up to five years after application of the organic fertilizers (digestate and sewage sludge). Keywords: agricultural land, hybrid aspen, Leccinum aurantiacum (Bull.) Gray, heavy metals, stable isotope ratio

The objective of this thesis is to focus on the foreign market entry modes and the factors affecting the choice of a certain entry mode/strategy. Indian agricultural market as an industry and a market is also discussed alongside with Indian business customs as well as cultural issues. The goal of the thesis is to come up with recommendations for the company on which market entry mode strategy to choose that would suit the company’s purposes. Based on the research results, the best market entry mode option for the company is a brownfield investment. These modes are classified in group of hierarchical entry modes. Darba mērķis ir vērst uzmanību uz ārzemju tirgus ienākšanas veidiem un faktoriem, kas ietekmē konkrēto ienākšanas veidu/stratēģiju izvēli. Indijas lauksaimniecības tirgus kā nozare un tirgus tiek aplūkots kopā ar Indijas uzņēmējdarbības tradīcijām, kā arī kultūras jautājumiem. Darba mērķis ir ieteikt uzņēmumam piemērotu tirgus pieejas stratēģiju, kas atbilstu uzņēmuma mērķiem Pamatojoties uz pētījuma rezultātiem, labākais tirgus ienākšanas veida variants uzņēmumam ir investīcijas apvidū. Šie tirgus ienākšanas veidi tika klasificēti hierarhiskā tirgus ienākšanas veidu grupā.

The topic of the bachelor's thesis is "The impact of the support funds granted by the European Union on the development of the Latvian economy and their control and supervision.". The aim of the bachelor's thesis is to study the European Union funds and develop proposals for the development of a control mechanism. The bachelor's thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter explores European Union funds. The second chapter analyzes the distribution of funds and their administration. The third chapter examines the development of the Latvian economy before and after joining the European Union. The fourth chapter compares the allocated funding between periods. The fifth chapter examines the control mechanism using existing projects and finds recommendations for improving control. Bakalaura darba tēma ir “Eiropas Savienības piešķirto atbalsta fondu ietekme uz Latvijas tautsaimniecības attīstību un to kontrole un uzraudzība.”. Bakalaura darba mērķis ir izpētīt Eiropas Savienības fondus un izstrādāt priekšlikumus kontroles mehānisma attīstīšanai. Bakalaura darbs sastāv no piecām nodaļām. Pirmajā nodaļā tiek izpētīti Eiropas Savienības fondi. Otrajā nodaļā tiek izanalīzēts fondu dalījums un to administrēšana. Trešajā nodaļā tiek izskatīta Latvijas tautsaimniecības attīstība pirms un pēc iestāšanās Eiropas Savienībā. Ceturtajā nodaļā tiek salīdzinati piešķirtie finansējumi starp periodiem. Piektajā nodaļā tiek pētīts kontroles mehānisms izmantojot jau esošus projektus un rast ieteikumus kontroles uzlabošanai.

In this work, a novel, dynamic sustainability assessment tool is presented and validated in a case study. This tool combines two methods—system dynamics (SD) and temporal soil carbon modelling. The case study for sustainability analysis of Danish agriculture and green biorefineries supply chains in Denmark is used. The development of the Danish agriculture sector is simulated and assessed in relation to the ecosystem’s carrying capacity until 2050, defined as 1.4 livestock units per hectare. The results show that under the current development, the agriculture sector would exceed this carrying capacity shortly after 2030. The results obtained from the dynamic sustainability assessment tool show a more precise and less optimistic projection of future development than the assessment using constant soil carbon modelling values only. The study, therefore, suggests that the use of the temporal aspects in the sustainability assessment should be included and further developed.

NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth rates in Europe are generally higher in rural regions than in urban areas and the share in rural regions is constantly increasing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, young people became even more vulnerable as they experienced social exclusion and mental health problems. The objective of this paper is to analyse NEET youth-related statistics in Europe and distinguish positive initiatives for young people in rural areas of the Baltic countries to encourage positive emotions and willingness to learn. Statistical analysis and case study methods were employed. Data on youth unemployment, NEET youth by age and gender, and poverty and social exclusion of young people, is analysed. Social policy initiatives in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, mainly from rural municipalities, are presented and discussed. This research determines the key issues related to NEET youth and proposes initiatives to overcome existing problems among young people. Such social initiatives aim to promote positive social emotions of youth, promote their inclusion in society, and foster regional sustainability.

This article focuses on the question of how a shift from a narrow economic perspective to a wider sustainable wellbeing focus in regional development strategies and actions might change rural–urban relations. A brief review of relevant research and discourses about economic development models provides the foundation for the analysis. The review leads to the development of an analytical framework that puts the notion of sustainable wellbeing at its center. The criteria included in the analytical framework are then used to assess the current situation, challenges and perceived ways forward based on data and analyses from 11 European regions. The focus of the analysis is on different expressions of a sustainable wellbeing economy, and aspects of territorial development that are consistent with the basic features of a wellbeing economy are identified. Development dynamics and tensions between different development goals and resource uses, strategies and actions that are in favor of sustainable wellbeing goals, and conditions for more mutually beneficial rural–urban relationships are discussed. The article concludes with the implications for local government, and governance and policy frameworks. Reference is made to current high-level strategic policy frameworks and the European Green Deal.

Abstract Prescribed burning is used to maintain and restore habitats, to protect and increase species bio-diversity. Knowledge about soil fauna is limited, especially on community responses to fire disturbances. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of prescribed burning on soil armoured mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities, vegetation cover and soil physiochemical properties in a boreal Scots pine forest in Latvia. Soil samples were collected on the day of the prescribed burning in the protected landscape area “Ādaži” and 16 days after. No significant changes in abiotic factors were found. Fire significantly decreased the vegetation cover. After the burning, the total number of oribatid mites decreased by 93%, and the number of species by 77%. Changes in oribatid mite communities were significantly influenced by fire severity. The number of individuals decreased among all taxa, except Brachychthonioidea spp. and Cosmochthonius lanathus. A significant decrease in abundance was observed in previously abundant species — Suctobelbella spp., Oppiella nova and Tectocepheus velatus. After the burning, Suctobelbella spp. was an eudominant and Tectocepheus spp. was a dominant genus.

This study presents the first high-resolution orthophoto maps and digital surface models (DSMs) of the largest Argentine Islands, West Antarctica. Aerial surveys with small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were performed in Austral summer, 2018, taking 10,041 aerial photographs. Accuracy requirements were ensured using ground control points (GCPs). A resolution of 3.4 and 6.8 cm/px of orthomosaics and DSMs is reached on average, and the RMS reprojection error is 0.22 m on average. We report the morphometric parameters of surveyed islands and discuss issues related to accuracy and the usage of UAVs in polar conditions. This study demonstrates that small and low cost UAVs can be successfully used in harsh polar conditions to obtain accurate orthomosaics and DSMs of mainly glaciated terrain. We provide all generated materials in full resolution available in a scientific data repository that could be used for the monitoring of ice cap changes, vegetation cover, and wildlife populations.