Day 1 Arrival to Vilnius. Private transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Vilnius at the hotel of selected category.

 

Day 2 Free time to explore Vilnius on your own. Overnight at the hotel of selected category.

 

Day 3 Beginning of Study trip. Morning visit to the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture to gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that face Lithuania with regard to agriculture and its status as a relatively new member of the European Union, particularly in the area of policy and trade issues. Afterwards trip to the south of Lithuania –Dzūkija National Park, famous for wild forests, mushrooms and berries, authentic villages and friendliness of local people. First stop for lunch in Kapiniskiai village, in a homestead where you will be served local food and hear about buckwheat bread. Afterwards trip to Musteikiai village, where you can find ancient beehives and to know more about wild beekeeping. Walk the wild beekeeping route where you can see life examples of “beehives” in the trees of hundred years. Last visit to Panara – medical herbs nursery. The “Pilnu namu bendruomene” is an organization, providing rehabilitation services for the drug addicts. The organization was looking for the environment friendly economical activities that would also involve its visitors into the labor therapy. Ecological growing of medical herbs and species was chosen as one of the options. The situation was even more favorable, as the center was situated in the former area of the old monastery with a garden. Therefore some rare old traditional species of herbs might be found there. The main goal of the project is to establish nursery for the medical herbs and species, to protect genetic pool of the agro-biodiversity, and to promote ideas of the environment friendly farming among local communities. The grantees plan to install solar vegetables’ and herbs’ drying facility, which also might serve for the demonstration and promotion of the renewable energy use. Late return to Vilnius for overnight. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel of selected category.

 

Day 4 Morning departure to Aleksandras Stulginskis University, the Faculty of Agronomy, where you will be introduced to new crops research center, aknowledged about the research being made. Also will have a chance to meet representatives of the Inginery Faculty and hear about bioenergy (biomass, biofuels). Lunch in Kaunas. Afterwards visit Lytagra, an importer for Case New Holland. See their facilities and learn how CNH markets its equipment in the Baltics. Dinner. Overnight in Kaunas at the hotel of selected category.

 

Day 5 Morning departure to leading farm of Lithuania – Bernatoniai. It has more than 1000 ha land and around 700 cattles. Around 50 people are working in a company. Lunch. Later proceed to unique Horse Museum in beautiful Lithuanian resort Anyksciai. It is the only one of it’s kind in Lithuania and presents the meaning of the horse in Lithuania, especially in farming. Afterwards trip to Panevezys for overnight. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel of selected category.

 

Day 6 Morning departure to the training and research farm of the Latvia University of Agriculture "Vecauce" . It is a unique training and research centre - many-branched farm, which deals with cattle breeding and also with the cultivation of plants - growing pedigree seeds, including maintenance selection. "Vecauce" is the only state farm for research and experiments in cattle-breeding and veterinary medicine science and practice where the needed number of animals can be provided, including for experiments of diagnosing new animal diseases. "Vecauce" has also become the main place in the country where corn is researched. Lunch. Later proceed to one of the largest meat and dairy farms in Kurzeme, with a herd of around 500 heads of cattle. The farm also breeds most of the types of fowl that are known in Latvia. Trip to Venspils for overnight. Dinner.

 

Day 7 Morning visit to the SIA Bio-Venta - the biggest biodiesel manufacturer in the Baltic countries, with total investments of EUR 77.72 million. The plant consists of rapeseed and rapeseed cake storage and handling facilities, a rapeseed oil press workshop, biodiesel production workshop and biodiesel handling facilities. The biodiesel manufacturing capacity is 100 000 t/per annum, while the rapeseed oil manufacturing capacity is 35 000 t/per annum. Lunch. Trip to a goat breading farm. Afternoon arrival to Riga. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel of selected category.

 

Day 8  Free time to explore the capital of Latvia on your own. Overnight. 

 

Day 9 Departure.