EU institutions and the public are increasingly debating giving priority to regional and local food systems, short supply chains which create opportunities for a healthier lifestyle and the strengthening of the local economy. The aim of this research is to highlight the possibilities of strengthening the sustainability of the local food system by choosing the eco-localization scenario. The research methods: analysis of scientific literature, documents, good practice examples, systematization, parallel method, etc. The eco-localization scenario requires a long-term vision and a "sustainable solutions" approach, the geographical area relies on its producers and consumers, is oriented towards the local consumer, but the openness of the economy is not abandoned. The driving forces that can help to strengthen the sustainability of local food system by choosing the eco-localization scenario were identified: network of local food system objects; short food supply chains strategies: business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B) business to government (B2G); cooperation and stakeholders of local food system activities; local food system stakeholders and relationships; conditions for strategic breakthrough in local food system development.
One of the main European programmes is LEADER – EU 'Community initiative' for funding pilot projects for rural development schemes. It is designed to help rural actors to consider the long-term potential of their local area and to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality and original strategies for sustainable development. Since 1991 the EU LEADER programme has encouraged the adaptation of participatory bottomup approaches to development, in particular to harness innovation, creativity and solidarity in rural communities, create subsidiarity in decision-making, decentralize policy implementation, introduce integrated sustainable rural development programmes and illustrate new directions that rural development can take. This particular programme has promoted exchange of experiences, strategies and knowhow and has facilitated cross border co-operation between rural areas. It has also enabled thousands of communities, families and individuals across the EU to engage in selfhelp projects that enable them to acquire new skills and confidence. An original approach of LEADER method is convergence between those responsible for interventions and potential beneficiaries while establishing links between areas, sectors and activities. Local action (partnership) group as a social infrastructure object creates conditions for high level of investments by creating environment that supports activity and stimulates formation of local capital, skill development, community labour efficiency increase and introduction of new social technologies. Integrated local development strategies content component elements and their content, depending on how properly they are formulated, how they are expressed in the principles of the LEADER approach, motivate or demotivate local development actors to get involved and participate in preparing and implementing a local development strategy. [.]
One of the main European programmes is LEADER – EU 'Community initiative' for funding pilot projects for rural development schemes. It is designed to help rural actors to consider the long-term potential of their local area and to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality and original strategies for sustainable development. Since 1991 the EU LEADER programme has encouraged the adaptation of participatory bottomup approaches to development, in particular to harness innovation, creativity and solidarity in rural communities, create subsidiarity in decision-making, decentralize policy implementation, introduce integrated sustainable rural development programmes and illustrate new directions that rural development can take. This particular programme has promoted exchange of experiences, strategies and knowhow and has facilitated cross border co-operation between rural areas. It has also enabled thousands of communities, families and individuals across the EU to engage in selfhelp projects that enable them to acquire new skills and confidence. An original approach of LEADER method is convergence between those responsible for interventions and potential beneficiaries while establishing links between areas, sectors and activities. Local action (partnership) group as a social infrastructure object creates conditions for high level of investments by creating environment that supports activity and stimulates formation of local capital, skill development, community labour efficiency increase and introduction of new social technologies. Integrated local development strategies content component elements and their content, depending on how properly they are formulated, how they are expressed in the principles of the LEADER approach, motivate or demotivate local development actors to get involved and participate in preparing and implementing a local development strategy. [.]
Intersectoral partnership challenges the new rural development programming period and requires innovative and rapid management decisions which creates synergy and add value. This paper aims at examining the methodological principles of rural development synergy evaluation. This research attempts to take a closer look at the theoretical assumptions behind different concepts of the rural development management process and the importance of synergy. On the grounds of the key findings, propositions have been made regarding rural development management synergy evaluation. ; Kaimiškų vietovių vystymo (KVV) sprendimai dažniausiai priimami tik atsiradus tam tikrai problemai. Sprendimų priėmėjai pernelyg didelius dėmesio, laiko, energijos ir kitus išteklius skiria probleminiams klausimams išspręsti. Problemos nesukuria strateginio proveržio, naujo vystymo žingsnio, dėl kurio būtų sukuriamas sinergijos efektas. Vien tik darbas su problemomis ir jų sprendimas trukdo įžvelgti naujas galimybes ir įvykdyti realų strateginį proveržį, o gyvenimo kokybė kaimiškose vietovėse keičiasi nepageidaujama linkme. Vis dar pasigendama proaktyviu (įžvalgiu) požiūriu paremtų sprendimų, orientuotų į vietovėje vykstančius procesus. KVV sinergijos vertinimas ir jos reikšmės suvokimas yra ypač reikšmingas strateginio valdymo sprendimas, kurio pagrindą sudaro vietos potencialo pritaikymas naujoms vystymo galimybėms panaudoti. Tarpinstitucinė partnerystė, naujojo kaimo plėtros politikos programavimo laikotarpio iššūkiai reikalauja novatoriškų, panoraminiu ir strateginiu mąstymu grįstų, greitų valdymo sprendimų, kuriančių sinergiją ir socialinę vertę kaimiškose vietovėse. Mokslinėje literatūroje tiriamos šios su kaimiškų vietovių vystymu susijusios problemos: neišryškintas santykis tarp sinergijos teorijos ir KVV teorijų, mažai analizuojamos KVV sisteminės kaitos ir strateginio proveržio sąlygos, be to, tyrėjai nesutaria, kokie KVV metodai sudaro prielaidas pasiekti sinerginių rezultatų. Atlikta mokslinės literatūros analizė leidžia daryti prielaidą, kad mokslininkai vis dar nesutaria dėl bendro KVV sinergijos vertinimo metodo ir sinergiją bando vertinti skirtingais būdais: analizuodami pavienius, skirtingas sritis apibūdinančius rodiklius, naudodamiesi tam tikrais teoriniais kaimo vystymo modeliais bei metodikomis, kurdami integruotus, kompleksinius rodiklius. Analizuoti KVV sinergiją galima kiekvienu valdymo lygmeniu atskirai ir visais kartu, kai siekiama tirti KVV priemonių ir jų taikymo sinergiją, pagrįstą vietos gyventojų iniciatyvomis "iš apačios" bei politinių sprendimų priėmėjų sprendimais "iš viršaus". Nagrinėjamu atveju tikslingiausia KVV sinergiją analizuoti savivaldos lygmeniu, nes čia labiausiai pasireiškia kaimiškos vietovės kaip sistemos ypatybės, ryšių ir santykių tarp kaimo vystymo veikėjų priklausomybės, dalyvavimas tinkluose, pasitikėjimas, instituciniai susitarimai (taisyklės ir normos), socialinės sąveikos rezultatai. Dėl KVV sinergijos vertinimo svarbos mokslinių ir praktinių diskusijų erdvėje abejonių nekyla, todėl vystymo sinergijos vertinimas turėtų būti vienas iš kaimiškų vietovių vystymo sprendimų rengimo, priėmimo ir įgyvendinimo pagrindo dedamųjų. Atliktų sinergijos vertinimo teorinių ir praktinių mokslinių tyrimų analizė atskleidė, jog KVV yra sudėtingas procesas, o vystymo sinergija pasiekiama tik tada,kai vystymo sprendimai priimami integruojant skirtingų sričių vystymosi potencialą. Dažniausiai sinergijai vertinti pasitelkiami rodikliai, apibūdinantys tam tikras sritis ir išreiškiantys savitą požiūrį į KVV sinergiją, pavyzdžiui, įsitraukimas į partnerystę, kaimo vystymosi veikėjų gebėjimas mobilizuoti, organizacinė kultūra, ryšiai tarp kaimo vystymosi veikėjų, efektyvus valdymas, sprendimų priėmimas, dalyvavimo nauda, pasitenkinimas dalyvaujant, vietovės fizinės infrastruktūros valdymas, ekonominių, žmogiškųjų, socialinių, gamtinių, kultūrinių, dvasinių išteklių valdymas, vietovės politinio valdymo partnerystė, inovacijos, socialinio kapitalo vystymas, instituciniai susitarimai, kaimiškų vietovių rinkos valdymas. Visi šie veiksniai patys savaime kiekviename kaimiškos vietovės vystymosi etape gali sąlygoti sinerginius efektus, tačiau didžiausia sinergija pasiekiama dėl veiksnių tarpusavio sąveikos. KVV sinergijos vertinimo rodiklių sistemai sukurti tikslinga pasitelkti užsienio praktikoje jau išbandytą Rural web metodą, kurį sudaro šešios sinergijos vertinimo dimensijos (endogeniškumas, novatoriškumas, darnumas, socialinis kapitalas, instituciniai susitarimai, rinkos valdymas). Tačiau šį metodą būtina papildyti partnerystės dimensija, skatinančia kooperaciją, sprendimų daugiaaspektiškumą, įsitraukimą ir tarpinstitucinių ar tarporganizacinių susitarimų praktiką. Identifikuotas KVV sinergijos dimensijas būtina detalizuoti į jas charakterizuojančius kriterijus, o šiuos – į dar tikslesnius kokybinius ir kiekybinius rodiklius. Siekiant atrinkti rodiklius, atspindinčius šalies situaciją, tikslinga pasitelkti ekspertų pagalbą. Ekspertinio vertinimo metodu tikslinga įvertinti rodiklius, juos atrinkti ir sugrupuoti. Tokiu būdu būtų sukurta kompleksinė KVV sinergijos vertinimo rodiklių sistema, kurią būtų galima praktiškai pritaikyti Lietuvos kaimiškose vietovėse. KVV sinergijos vertinimo instrumentas padėtų nustatyti teritorijos potencialą, strateginio proveržio galimybes ir potencialios sinergijos laipsnį. Taigi pati KVV sinergijos vertinimo metodika gali būti laikoma tarsi palaikančiąja sistema KVV strateginiams sprendimams formuoti. Identifikuoti KVV sinergijos vertinimo principai atskleidžia erdvę tolesniems tyrimams ir pagrindžia poreikį sukurti kaimiškų vietovių vystymo sinergijos vertinimo instrumentą. Tyrimo rezultatai rodo, kad KVV yra nuolat besikeičiantis ir atsinaujinantis procesas, kuriam suvaldyti būtini nauji vadybiniai metodai ir sprendimai. Sinergijos reikšmės suvokimas ir strateginio proveržio galimybių analizė – vis dar atvira erdvė mokslinėms diskusijoms plėtoti.
According to the rapidly changing business environment even for sophisticated entrepreneurs it is hard to develop businesses and it is especially hard for young people to find their place in the market. In Lithuania there are no deep traditions of developing entrepreneurship, rural areas are not enough attractive to start a business, young people are afraid to take responsibility for their actions, even though there are seeking to create coherent, effective system for youth entrepreneurship in the country. The reached objective of the study - analyzed the factors influencing youth entrepreneurship and best practices of rural communities, identified youth entrepreneurship model. In the article was adapted entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship promotion definitions, analyzed project activities best practices of Lithuanian rural communities, and was set measures and methods which are applied 16 for youth entrepreneurship promotion. To make the research were applied the traditional research methods: analysis, hybrid analytical synthesis, structuring, expert evaluation, best practices of rural communities and comparative analysis, graphical depiction and theoretical modeling. The study found that youth entrepreneurship promotion should be based on ability to do business and the courage to take responsibility, to measure risk education, initiative, creation of favorable conditions of the individual, creating self-employed building, disclosing new opportunities for business promotion means. Youth entrepreneurship involves young person, family, local community, formal and non-formal educational institutions, business structures, municipal administration and the government, while adopting appropriate law, promoting business development, promoting the development of entrepreneurship in the cultural and social norms. [.]
According to the rapidly changing business environment even for sophisticated entrepreneurs it is hard to develop businesses and it is especially hard for young people to find their place in the market. In Lithuania there are no deep traditions of developing entrepreneurship, rural areas are not enough attractive to start a business, young people are afraid to take responsibility for their actions, even though there are seeking to create coherent, effective system for youth entrepreneurship in the country. The reached objective of the study - analyzed the factors influencing youth entrepreneurship and best practices of rural communities, identified youth entrepreneurship model. In the article was adapted entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship promotion definitions, analyzed project activities best practices of Lithuanian rural communities, and was set measures and methods which are applied 16 for youth entrepreneurship promotion. To make the research were applied the traditional research methods: analysis, hybrid analytical synthesis, structuring, expert evaluation, best practices of rural communities and comparative analysis, graphical depiction and theoretical modeling. The study found that youth entrepreneurship promotion should be based on ability to do business and the courage to take responsibility, to measure risk education, initiative, creation of favorable conditions of the individual, creating self-employed building, disclosing new opportunities for business promotion means. Youth entrepreneurship involves young person, family, local community, formal and non-formal educational institutions, business structures, municipal administration and the government, while adopting appropriate law, promoting business development, promoting the development of entrepreneurship in the cultural and social norms. [.]
In rural areas where life is slower but social problems tend to be deeper there is a need for urgent, pro-active and professional area-orientated development decisions. Due to challenges posed to agriculture by economic globalisation and sustainable development, both theoretical and applied scientific research is necessary for improving agricultural and rural development policies as well as their management. It should be highlighted that the demand for professional and innovative activities is significantly higher in rural development compared to the other sectors. The aim of this research is to explore the role and the functions of rural development administrators in rural institutions. The methodology of this research is based on the positive research paradigm, analysis of content and descriptive analysis, empirical study methods, logical and systematical reasoning, abstract and other methods. In order to assess the role of rural development administrators, three groups of experts (professionals, NGO and leaders of government organisations) were selected. Their opinions enabled the comparison of assumptions regarding the behaviour of rural development administrators as well as their participation in the process of rural development. The findings are expected to be useful for local, regional and national rural development policy makers and other actors interested in management of rural development innovations in public sector. ; Kaimo vietovėse, kur gyvenimas ne toks intensyvus, bet socialinės problemos labai įvairios ir gilios, svarbu priimti skubius, proaktyvius ir profesionalius sprendimus joms spręsti. Dėl didėjančios ekonominės globalizacijos žemės ūkyje ir darnios plėtros svarbos tiek teoriniai, tiek empiriniai tyrimai yra būtini gerinant žemės ūkio ir kaimo plėtros politiką ir jos instrumentus. Tai reikalauja profesionalų inovatyvios veiklos, kuri ypač svarbi valdant kaimo pokyčius ir procesus. Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti kaimo plėtros administratorių funkcijas ir vaidmenį kaimo institucijose. Tyrimo metodika grindžiama pozityviąją tyrimų paradigma, turinio ir aprašomąja analize, loginiu argumentavimu ir empiriniais tyrimo metodais. Vertinant kaimo plėtros administratorių vaidmenį kaimo institucijose buvo atlikta specialistų apklausa, kurioje dalyvavo šios srities profesionalai, NVO ir valdžios atstovai. Jų nuomonė leido pagrįsti kaimo plėtros administratorių dalyvavimo kaimo plėtros procesuose svarbą. Tyrimo rezultatai reikšmingi savivaldybių, regionų, nacionalinę kaimo plėtros politiką formuojantiems ir įgyvendinantiems bei kitiems suinteresuotiems asmenims, kurie domisi valdymo inovacijų diegimu kaimo institucijose.
In this article authors analyze conception and peculiarities of ecological farm development in an approach of systems theory. Authors define supplemented and specified conceptions of ecological farming, ecological product and quality of ecological product. In authors' opinion modern system of ecological farming can be defined as distinctive closed-open system of organism in which exist integrated and different factors of this system. Modern conception of ecological farming compltely fulfil purposes of sustainable development and is an effective implement for achievement of purposes of this policy in Lithuania and other countries of European Union. Ecological farming has positive influence on security and quality of agricultural products and also on general image of agriculture and rural areas.
In this article authors analyze conception and peculiarities of ecological farm development in an approach of systems theory. Authors define supplemented and specified conceptions of ecological farming, ecological product and quality of ecological product. In authors' opinion modern system of ecological farming can be defined as distinctive closed-open system of organism in which exist integrated and different factors of this system. Modern conception of ecological farming compltely fulfil purposes of sustainable development and is an effective implement for achievement of purposes of this policy in Lithuania and other countries of European Union. Ecological farming has positive influence on security and quality of agricultural products and also on general image of agriculture and rural areas.
The European Union data surveys give evidence of the growing trend of population ageing in the Member States. The aim of the study was to analyse the social structure of population in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in comparison with the average population in the EU-27 and present recommendations for policy makers for further improvement of the social policy development in these countries. The authors used monographic method to study theoretical aspects of society aging and welfare and statistical data analysis of secondary data aggregated by Eurostat reports, Eurobarometer survey and databases of national institutions. The analysis of the society aging indicators in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland clearly shows that the policy makers of these countries so far have been mainly focusing on unpopular measures – either increasing taxes or raising the retirement age, which have caused citizens' dissatisfaction with the existing social policy that does not provide any hopes for the existing and becoming pensioners to approximate to successful aging. The authors consider that the national institutions responsible for society's welfare issues should further encourage socially innovative solutions by finding unusual ideas for obtaining multidimensional support, including the assistance provided by policy-makers and involving local agents to enhance inclusion of the aged population in the labour market, especially in creating jobs for themselves, being able to retain employment as temporary workers or being encouraged to work in other professions. KEYWORDS: society ageing, retirement, quality of life, successful ageing, social structure of society.JEL CODE: I31, I38
