Green investments in Lithuanian agriculture. Nerijus Zableckis, Lithuanian Fund for Nature Edita Mikašauskiene, Lithuanian Farmer Union

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1 Green investments in Lithuanian agriculture Nerijus Zableckis, Lithuanian Fund for Nature Edita Mikašauskiene, Lithuanian Farmer Union

2 Lithuania is here

3 Demographic situation One third (~ ind.) of the total Lithuanian population lives in rural areas Only for ¼ of people living in rural areas are involved in agriculture as main activity Rural population is ageing and every fourth rural resident is above 60 years old 2/3 of the farms are small size less than 5 ha. Totally farms Average area farm size - 12,4 ha (2006)

4 Agriculture land Total land ha, area of agriculture ha (47,7 %), forestry ha (32,5) Certified organic farms in 2009 were 2679, covering ha of agricultural land (4%) Agriculture in Lithuania is one of the priority sectors playing an important economic, social and environmental role. In % of the entire Gross Value Added was created by the agricultural sector There is tendency of decreasing number of farms and citizens involved into agriculture

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6 Lithuanian biodiversity Lithuania is characterized by a wide biodiversity, where species can be found. over 500 species of flora, 200 species of fauna and nearly 100 types of mushrooms are rare, threatened or approaching extinction and included into the Lithuanian Red Data Book The landscape in Lithuania has been affected by drainage during soviet regime After regaining of Independence the agriculture collapsed Abandonment of agricultural land, that led to natural succession and loose of many valued sites

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9 Biodiversity friendly farming Implementation of Rural Development Programme for II pillar Environment and Landscape improvement: farming in less favourable areas Farming within Natura 2000 Agroenvironmental schemes: (landscape management) - Buffer zones and protection strips on water bodies - Protection against erosion within arable land - Management of meadows - Wetland management - Restoration of drainage systems - Green stripes Organic farming Farming using old Lithuanian breeds Improvement of eutrophicated water bodies Introduction of beef growing farms started ~10 years ago

10 Renewable technologies Biogas development started 8 years ago. 10 plants so far installed. 8,4 MW capacity The projects are compensated by EU No applications prepared yet due to: Not well prepared legislation Market price not defined. Law price of supply Lack of infrastructure Lack of appropriate financial support and acredittation There is increasing interest by life stock farmers Increase of rape yields for renewable energy. One of the biggest bioethanol plants operates in Lithuania Wind power energy. Total installed capacity 90 MW. However only 4,5 MW produced by small scale power plants owned by farmers

11 Problems in biodiversity conservation Good biodiversity saving farming practice is implemented within only ha - 0,7 % of the total agricultural area Most of applied measures are not attractive for farmers as they are compensatory Very poor understanding by farmers and motivation to implement good farming practices ha of natural and semi natural meadows existed in Lithuania in 2006, but half of those meadows are not declared for agroenvironmental schemes, they dissappeared? Payments are not oriented to the results Very law environmental awareness and interest by the Ministry of Agriculture

12 Other problems Lack of modernisation, technology and innovations within primary production Many farms do not meet EU Nitrate directive requirements Decline of biodiversity and risk of extension of a number of species Soil acidity and sensitivity to erosion Ageing of farmers and unfavourable farm and holding structure, lack of cooperation, insufficient agricultural infrastructure Lack of skills and local initiatives in rural areas

13 Thank you for attention