Madona to host LIAA food industry forum on 30 October

The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), a state institution under the Ministry of Economics that helps companies grow in foreign markets, will hold a food industry forum at the Madona Municipality Cultural Centre on 30 October. It is the first event in the Industry Days series, which will run through October, November and December this year and cover the food, energy, and electronics and electrical engineering sectors. The other forums will take place in Liepāja and Ulbroka. Registration for the Madona forum is already open.

Topics on the agenda

The Madona forum is set to address shifts in consumer habits and the market, competition for shelf space in shops, new food packaging requirements, product development, production efficiency and waste reduction. Entrepreneurs will share their experience of mistakes, investments and business growth.

The programme will also look at bioeconomy and circular economy opportunities, including turning production by-products into higher value-added goods. Participants will discuss the military and crisis food market as well, and the chances for Latvian producers to join state and NATO supply chains.

Vita Balode-Andrūsa, director of LIAA's Export and Innovation Services Department, points to the Latvian army's dry rations as an example: recipes for the new main dishes were developed together with food researchers from the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, and some foreign reviews have praised the rations' taste. The forum will also discuss how companies can understand the requirements of specific markets and find partners.

Food and beverage technologist Daina Eglīte-Antona notes that consumer habits, purchasing power and demographics are changing, so producers need to consider today how to stay competitive.

Programme and timing

The Industry Days aim to promote exchange of experience and cooperation among entrepreneurs, state and municipal institutions, support organisations, education and research institutions, and sector experts. The programme includes expert lectures, discussions, practical workshops and networking. Particular attention is given to participants of the Business Incubation Programme and other entrepreneurs, so they can build dialogue with public sector representatives and potential partners.

The cultural centre's doors open at 9:00 on 30 October, and the programme starts at 9:30. Registration and the programme are available on the LIAA website. The series is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Latvian state budget.