Representatives of the French Land Fund Visit the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
On June 4, a significant meeting took place at Jelgava Palace between the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) and a French delegation, focusing on land management issues—particularly the operational models of land funds and ensuring land accessibility for sustainable agricultural development. During the meeting, the French delegation also had the opportunity to tour Jelgava Palace, a symbol of LBTU’s historical and cultural heritage.
This meeting was organized considering that since 2012, Latvia has been closely cooperating with the French side on land management issues. This long-standing collaboration has enabled Latvia to draw inspiration from France’s experience, including the implementation of legal instruments that promote transparency in the agricultural land market and ensure land accessibility, especially in supporting generational renewal in rural areas. Additionally, in 2024, Latvia joined the European Association of Rural Development Institutions, of which the French Land Fund and Rural Institutions Association is a founding member. The association’s General Assembly will be held in Riga in 2025.
From Latvia, the meeting was attended by LBTU Rector Irina Arhipova, Associate Professor Aleksejs Nipers from the Faculty of Economics and Social Development (ESAF), Ina Alksne, head of the Altum Land Fund, as well as Renāte Priedīte and Aivars Lapiņš from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The French delegation was led by Emmanuel Hyest, President of the French Land Fund and Rural Institutions Association, a practicing farmer managing a 165-hectare farm. Hyest’s practical experience allows him to offer a multifaceted perspective on the sector, covering not only the activities of land funds and pre-emption rights but also topics such as land accessibility, land consolidation projects for infrastructure development, generational renewal, legislative changes, and necessary research. He was accompanied by Sabine Agofrois, Director of International and Institutional Relations at the French Land Fund and Rural Institutions Association, Mrs. Hyest, and Deputy Head of the Analytical Service Loïc Jegozo.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that the French Land Fund and Rural Institutions Association is not an academic institution, but it plays an important role in the sector by providing annual rural land market reports and analytical insights that support decision-making in the field and policy development.
Discussions also covered the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy and the European Union’s agricultural land use observatory, which is designed to ensure controlled and balanced agricultural land use. This kind of international exchange of experience enriches the cooperation between both countries and allows for the adoption of the best solutions for sustainable rural and regional development.
LBTU is a significant partner in Latvia for land management and agricultural sustainability issues. The university’s researchers actively cooperate with state institutions, businesses, and international partners to advance research, provide policy recommendations, and offer practical solutions for sustainable land use. Such international experience sharing further strengthens the university’s role as a driving force for sectoral development and innovation.