Professor Linards Sisenis Explores Ukraine’s Experience in Agriculture and Civil Protection
From August 6 to 9, Professor Linards Sisenis, Vice-Rector for Finance and leading researcher at the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), participated in a working visit to Ukraine organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia (MAL). During the visit, discussions focused on the supply of food to the military and civilians, cooperation in forest management, exchange of experience in higher agricultural education, and other topics of bilateral collaboration.
During the visit, Professor Sisenis and members of the Latvian delegation – MAL Parliamentary Secretary Normunds Šmits, MAL State Secretary Ģirts Krūmiņš, and MAL Deputy State Secretary Juris Zīvarts – visited Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University to discuss potential areas of cooperation with LBTU.
Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University expressed interest in LBTU’s specialized programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and forestry. Both parties agreed on signing a cooperation agreement and expressed commitment to expand opportunities for faculty and students in the near future. Particular attention was given to collaboration in the development of drone use in the economy, leveraging Ukraine’s experience. Bila Tserkva colleagues also showed interest in joint projects in forestry and other LBTU areas of specialization.
Additionally, the visit included the signing of a memorandum at the regional level with representatives of the Bila Tserkva district and a national-level memorandum with the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture. These memoranda aim to promote cooperation at both national and regional levels, facilitating knowledge transfer and the exchange of best practices to help restore and utilize the potential of Ukraine’s rural areas for national resource recovery.
Summarizing the results of the visit, Professor Linards Sisenis emphasized: "Agricultural land accounts for nearly 70% of Ukraine’s total territory, with approximately 33 million hectares of arable land. Together with fertile soil, favorable climate, and long-standing agricultural traditions, this provides significant expertise and knowledge. Latvia, in synergy with other European Union countries, is ahead in technology and innovation development. This creates a mutual interest in cooperation. Special attention during the visit was given to Latvian experience in forest management and its potential to strengthen Ukraine’s forestry capacity."
During the visit, the Latvian delegation also attended the agricultural exhibition UKAB Agrotechnologies 2025 and met with representatives of several Ukrainian agricultural companies to discuss current trends and challenges in both countries’ agricultural sectors. The delegation also visited the Ukrainian sprayer manufacturing company AS Bohuslavska Silhoztehnika.
Latvian representatives met with Kyiv Oblast Administration Head Mykola Kalashnyk and Bila Tserkva district administration officials, who shared their cities’ experience in civil protection and food supply management. As Professor Sisenis noted: "This is invaluable practical experience for the development of Latvia’s Civil Protection system. It must be acknowledged that much remains to be done at all levels in Latvia. Ukraine’s experience is essential to ensuring people’s safety in the event of a national threat or emergency."
