History

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies is a higher education and science establishment of the Republic of Latvia, where scientific research as well as academic and professional study programmes are carried out.

The main goal of the University is to create intellectual potential for providing sustainable development of Latvia and its countryside in particular while becoming and up-to date, internationally recognized and prestigious university, which actively integrates into the united European space of higher education and science.

The history of the university dates back to 1863 when the Department of Agriculture was established in the Riga Polytechnicum.

In 1919 the University of Latvia opened the Department of Agriculture the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

In 1936 the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia decided to transfer the Agriculture Faculty of the University to Latvia to Jelgava, thus founding a new higher education establishment – the Jelgava Academy of Agriculture. On 23, 1938 Kārlis Ulmanis, the president and prime minister, proclaimed “The Constitution of the Jelgava Academy of Agriculture”.

On July 3, 1939, a new academic institution with two faculties: agriculture and forestry, was opened in Jelgava.

In July 1944, after the Jelgava Palace was burnt down, the Academy ceased to exist. It was renewed in Riga as the Latvia Academy of Agriculture.

On October 19, 1957 the Council of Ministers of the Latvian Soviet Socialistic Republic accepted a decision to transfer the Academy to Jelgava. Till 1964 all the faculties of the Academy were transferred to Jelgava.

In 1991 according to the decision of the Academy’s Council, the Latvia Academy of Agriculture was renamed as the Latvia University of Agriculture.

In 1994 the Senate of the Latvia University of Agriculture approved the symbols of the University: the flag, the emblem, the attire of the administration and academic staff.

In 2001 the higher educational establishment received the state accreditation as a University.

In 2005 the Award of the Year was initiated.

In 2007 the Lifelong Education Centre was established.

In 2010 the distance and e-learning form were introduced.

In 2012 the University approved the official hymn which had been composed in 1940 by Jēkabs Mediņš as a dedication to the Latvia Academy of Agriculture.

Since 2018 6th March LLU Senate approved university name in English "Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies".

On June 14, 2018, 280 years had passed since the foundation stone of the palace was laid. The renovation of the Aula, its foyer, the Golden Hall, and the Silver Hall was completed. As a unified space complex, these premises now form the Centre for Bioeconomy and Sustainable Resource Management, designed to promote scientific achievements and foster cooperation with international partners and entrepreneurs in Latvia.

As of January 1, 2019, the LLU (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies) established a new structural unit – the Scientific Institute of Plant Protection “Agrihorts”, taking over the scientific functions from the Ltd. “Latvian Plant Protection Research Centre”. Agrihorts continues to conduct scientific and practical research in the field of plant protection, based on many years of experience.

In December 2020, the more than four-year-long project "Improving the Energy Efficiency of Jelgava Palace" was completed, resulting in a renovated facade, new windows and doors, and a modern ventilation system. With additional funding, interior premises were also restored and adapted for study and scientific functions. Due to the state of emergency declared in the country at the time, no closing event for the extensive works was organized.

In the summer of 2021, amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions were announced, introducing a new typology of universities in Latvia. LLU was defined as one of the four scientific universities, alongside the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, and Riga Stradiņš University. It is the only scientific university located outside the capital city, Riga.

As of January 1, 2022, Malnava College became an agency of LLU, thereby creating a unified education system in agriculture under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture.

As of September 1, 2022, the university underwent a rebranding and was renamed the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU).

As of September 1, 2023, structural changes took place at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). The university transitioned from eight faculties to five:

• The Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Food Technology merged to form the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology (LPTF). It includes eight structural units: Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences, Institute of Animal Sciences, Institute of Food, Scientific Institute of Plant Protection “Agrihorts”, Institute of Crop Production, Training and Research Farm “Pēterlauki”, Centre for the Evaluation of Economic Characteristics of Plant Varieties, and the Study and Research Centre for Fish Processing Biotechnology.

• The Faculty of Forest Sciences and the Faculty of Environmental and Civil Engineering merged to form the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences (MVZF). It includes five structural units: Institute of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Forestry, Institute of Modern Construction and Wood Processing, Institute of Land Management and Geodesy, and the LBTU Interdisciplinary Laboratory.

• The Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Information Technologies merged to form the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies (IITF). It includes four structural units: Institute of Computer Systems and Data Science, Institute of Engineering and Energy (including the Ulbroka Science Centre), Institute of Mathematics and Physics, and Institute of Mechanics and Design.

• The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (VMF) and the Faculty of Economics and Social Development (ESAF) retained their existing statuses.

As of September 1, 2023, the administrative management of the university was also restructured. The positions of Director and Chancellor at LBTU were merged and reorganized into a single administrative unit under the leadership of the Vice-Rector for Finance, comprising five structural departments. From this point onward, the university’s management team consists of the Rector and three Vice-Rectors – for Studies, Science, and Finance.