Regional Stakeholder Meeting: Zemgale, Latvia

On September 18, 2024, the Zemgale Planning Region in Latvia hosted a Regional Stakeholder Meeting as part of the INSPIRE project. Held at the co-creation space "Koprade" in Jelgava, the meeting brought together representatives from various sectors, including agriculture, rural development, business, and academia. Key participants included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Farmers' Parliament, and several Local Action Groups (LAGs).

Discussions focused on how to encourage local communities to adopt smart solutions, drawing from experiences in Poland and good practices in smart village initiatives. Stakeholders shared valuable recommendations, such as bridging the digital divide, promoting mentorship programs, and organizing digital training to enhance community knowledge of smart solutions. The group emphasized the need for collaboration with universities and local authorities to implement these solutions effectively.

The meeting concluded with strong support for the INSPIRE project and the smart villages initiative. Participants expressed eagerness to engage further, with planned participation in an upcoming study visit to Germany in December. Stakeholders also agreed to recommend Latvian smart villages for the collection of good practices and promote the INSPIRE project at future dissemination events.

This meeting laid the groundwork for future cooperation, ensuring that rural communities in Latvia can benefit from digital solutions and sustainable development.