Latvian Academy of Sciences Announces the Most Significant Scientific Achievements of 2025
The evaluation of applications submitted to the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) competition for the most significant scientific achievements in Latvia in 2025 has been completed. In total, fifty-five applications were assessed: 25 in natural sciences, engineering and technology, and medical and health sciences; 26 in the humanities and social sciences; and 4 in agricultural sciences. Twelve works representing these fields were named winners of the competition by the Academy.
In the category of theoretical science achievements – fundamental research in Agricultural Economics – the LAS has recognised the scientific monograph "Agrarian Reform: The Revival of Farmers and the Development of Agriculture in Latvia". The research was carried out by chief editor, full member of the LAS, and Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Social Development of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU ESAF) Irina Pilvere, together with Ilze Būmane, Mārtiņš Cimermanis, Dainis Ģēģeris, Anda Jankava, Agnese Krieviņa (and eight additional authors).
The monograph provides a comprehensive account of the implementation of Latvia’s most recent agrarian reform, offering an in-depth and multidimensional perspective on agrarian reform as one of the most significant processes in the history of Latvia’s restored independence. The book consists of 11 chapters reflecting the analyses of the authors and reform participants on the historical, political, economic, and social aspects of the reform, as well as on the development of agricultural policy following Latvia’s accession to the European Union.
Journalist Ilze Būmane has compiled experience-based narratives from farmers, cooperatives, and business leaders on the challenges and achievements of the agrarian reform. Farmers highly value the reform’s role in restoring property rights, introducing a market economy, and ensuring access to EU support instruments, while at the same time highlighting persisting problems such as bureaucracy, labour shortages, population ageing, and insufficient development of the livestock sector.
The work reflects both scholarly analysis and the perspectives of reform participants on the historical, political, economic, and social dimensions of the agrarian reform, as well as on the evolution of agricultural policy after Latvia joined the European Union. In 2025, it marks 35 years since the first decisions were taken to implement this reform.
The Latvian Academy of Sciences began compiling and evaluating achievements across all scientific fields in 2002. In 2025, the long-established annual competition for the most significant scientific achievements took place for the twenty-fourth time. Since 2011, the Latvian Academy of Sciences has celebrated the competition’s laureates at a ceremonial event that has become an important tradition in Latvia’s scientific community. To enhance the international visibility of Latvian science, the Academy published the printed "Latvian Academy of Sciences Yearbook 2025" last year, with support from the Ministry of Education and Science and the Boris and Ināra Teterevs Foundation. The yearbook presents expanded accounts of the scientific achievements of 2024.