“Farmers’ Breakfast” in Valmiera Inspires Rural Entrepreneurs to Embrace Bioeconomy and Digital Innovation

“The “Farmers Breakfast'” is more than just a morning event – it’s a spark for ideas and collaboration. It brings rural entrepreneurs, experts, and support organisations together in an open, inspiring atmosphere where important conversations happen naturally. We designed it as a space where people feel comfortable exchanging real experiences and exploring future opportunities together,” says Madara Narņicka, Project expert at Valmiera Development Agency, Latvia.

On April 25, the “Farmers’ Breakfast / Saimnieku brokastis” event brought together 57 participants in Valmiera, uniting farmers, foresters, small producers, and representatives of bio-based businesses with local and national stakeholders from various business support organizations. the event served as an inspiring platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and forward-looking discussions on the future of rural business.

The main focus of the event was the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “eRural resilience”. Līga Vecā, project expert from the Valmiera Development Agency, presented the project’s goals, activities, and a newly developed methodology designed to support digital bio-businesses across the Baltic Sea Region.

Designed to engage a broad range of stakeholders, the programme was curated in close cooperation with members of the eRural resilience Community Support Groups. These included partners from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), Valmiera County Municipality, Vidzeme Planning Region, EDIH Vidzeme (European Digital Innovation Hub), and other regional and national business support bodies, whose input helped shape a dynamic and relevant agenda.

One of the highlights of the event was the macroeconomic outlook presented by Kārlis Purgailis, Chief Economist at Citadele Bank, who offered a valuable perspective on both global and Latvian economic developments.

“One of the most important takeaways,” he emphasized, “was the outlook for global and Latvian economic development. Despite continued uncertainty in the global economy, the decreasing interest rates and steady consumer activity give hope for gradual growth.”

Lelde Blūma, Director of SIA “Leveria”, delivered a practical overview of current and upcoming support mechanisms.

“In 2025, several new EU and national funding opportunities will become available for entrepreneurs,” she noted, “opening the door for production modernization and the development of more sustainable businesses.”

A compelling presentation was also given by Valda Empele, business consultant from the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre, who introduced the digital platform MansLauks.lv.

“This Latvia-developed system gives farmers ownership of their data – simplifying input, enabling analysis, and helping them plan their farm’s development more effectively,” she explained. “Digital tools are becoming an essential support in modern rural entrepreneurship.”

The agenda also featured an inspiring best practice case from SIA “Fortes”, presented by Mārtiņš Zemītis, a board member of the company.

Sharing the company’s experience entering the Japanese market, Zemītis emphasized: “It is absolutely possible to realize global ambitions from Latvia – as long as you understand the specifics of the local market and stay persistent.”

The event concluded with an open networking and consultation session, where participants could speak directly with experts from Citadele Bank, the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre, Altum, the Rural Support Service, and the EDIC Vidzeme Contact Point.

The active involvement of Community Support Group representatives and the high level of engagement among participants underscored the value of collaboration in fostering resilient, future-ready rural communities. By combining knowledge, experience, and innovation, the “Farmers’ Breakfast” proved to be more than just a morning gathering — it was a catalyst for growth and cooperation in the rural economy.

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