NOVEMBER 26 - AWARDS
The stage is set for 2024's final moment. Tonight, 52 exceptional finalists await their fate across 12 categories and 4 Special Prizes.
Ahead lies the revelation of the top 3 in each category, with one emerging as the most impactful.
Our apologies to those who couldn't secure a pass or attempted to do so at the last moment - unprecedented interest has led to a completely full house. The venue has reached maximum capacity, with no additional access available.
18:30 → 21:00
Awards Ceremony
18:30 Opening & Welcome Speeches
18:45 Awards Overview
18:50 - 19:50 Main Categories
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10 categories, each showcasing 3 finalists
19:50 - 20:05 Special Prizes
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Investment, Process, Design & Discovery
20:05 - 20:11 Rimi Changemaker Award
20:11 - 20:30 Sustainability Ambassadors (LV, EE, LT)
Followed by networking reception
Note: Event at full capacity, no additional passes available
NOVEMBER 27 - FORUM
2024: When market leaders separate from the followers. As Nordic innovation meets Baltic ambition, €100B+ in new business value is up for grabs. This isn't about compliance – it's about dominating the next decade of business.
Join 700+ decision-makers who are already ahead: CEOs from Nasdaq, Rimi, Ignitis Group, MADARA, and ICA Gruppen, ministers shaping policy, and innovators defining tomorrow's standards. One day. Real strategies. No corporate speak. Its Time!
7:30 → 9:00
Executive Access Breakfast
The only intimate setting where real deals happen. Connect with 150 industry-shaping CEOs, politicians, and global sustainability leaders over a curated breakfast experience. No presentations, no pitches - just real conversations that matter.
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Build alliances before they're announced
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Get unfiltered insights from decision-makers
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Access the networks that drive Nordic-Baltic business transformation
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Shape partnerships away from the spotlight
Note: Strictly limited. Invitation or Executive Pass-only access.
9:00 → 12:35
FORUM: Morning Session
9:00 → 9:15
Opening
The Tipping Point: No More Business as Usual Marija, Liva, and Kristaps, alongside Rimi Baltic, Ignitis Group, and the Climate and Energy Minister, launch the 2024 forum with a pivotal message: 2024 will be the year Baltic business either transforms—or falls behind
Kristaps Cirulis
/ CEO, Partner
9:15 → 9:30
Formation of alliances
-
Nordic Circular Hotspot Launch Memorandum Signing
Witness the formation of alliances that will
reshape the Baltic business landscape
Agnese Alksne
Bensone
/ Founding
Partner
9:30 → 10:10
They Said It Couldn't Scale: The Growth Studio Story
The hard truth about scaling sustainable businesses isn't what you think - most fail because of avoidable mistakes. Get the exact strategies that turned "nice-to-have" green products into must-have market winners, and learn why most competitors never made it.
Jenna
Whittingham
Ward
/ Head of
Future Beauty
Reinvention,
Boots UK
Paul Finch
/ Co-founder,
Growth Studio
Rayan Jawad
/ Co-founder,
Growth Studio
Marija Ručevska
/ Founding
Partner,
Outlast VC
10:10 → 10:25
The critical role of consumers in
revolutionizing food systems
Unpack the power of consumer choices in driving sustainability and innovation, and reveal the emerging food trends poised to reshape our future before they make headlines. Discover how the next big shifts in food are not only anticipated but actively shaped by the demands of conscious consumers.
Saskia Nuijten
/ Chief Brand &
Communication
Officer,
EIT Food
10:25 → 10:40
Circular Economy Index:
When Cities Get Serious
Cities aren't just measuring waste anymore - they're rewriting the rules of resource use and business operations. Discover how new municipal metrics are forcing industry evolution and creating unexpected market winners.
Agita Baltbārde
/ Board Member,
CleanR Grupa
10:40 → 11:15
Living 2.0: Cities on the Edge
Urban transformation is creating billion-euro opportunities while killing traditional business models. Get inside the changes reshaping everything from energy to mobility, and see how leading companies are positioning themselves to win.
Eglė
Šlipaitytė
/ Partner,
Children
Deniss Gacicha
/ Country
General Manager,
Schneider Electric
Baltics
Raul Potisepp
/ CGO &
co-founder,
Eleport
Katarina
Wangler Björk
/ Head of
Impact,
Exponential
Roadmap
Initiative
Mareks Račko
/ Technical
Department
Director,
JCDecaux
11:15 → 11:30
Biocultural diversity - Reimagining Sustainability with voices from the Ground
Intersection of culture and global partnerships Explore the transformative role of biocultural diversity in reshaping sustainability and bridging global practices. Discover how cultural knowledge can inspire new pathways for tackling today’s environmental and economic challenges.
Vicky Ngari
/ Founder & CEO,
The Rural Retail
11:30 → 12:10
The CEO Roundtable: Embedding Sustainability in Core Business Strategy
Get inside the minds of CEOs who aren't just talking about change - they're betting their businesses on it. Learn how market leaders are turning sustainability demands into competitive advantages while others struggle to adapt.
Kadi Ristkok
/ CEO,
Cleantech
Baltics
Valdis Turlais
/ Country
Managing
Director,
Rimi Latvia
Juris Gulbis
/ CEO,
CleanR
Grupa
Liene Dubava
/ CEO,
Nasdaq
Latvia
Thierry Aelens
/ CEO, Ignitis
Renewables
12:10 → 12:25
Deeper Than Skin: The Hidden Layers of Sustainability in the Beauty Industry
Dive deep into the often-overlooked environmental and ethical challenges behind the products we use every day and explores how the beauty industry can redefine itself to meet the demands of conscious consumers.
Lotte Tisenkopfa-Iltnere
/ Co-founder Of
MADARA Cosmetics
12:25 → 12:40
2025: Too Late?
The innovations we need are already here - but only some companies will survive the transition. Get clear insights on which changes matter now and why waiting for "the right time" is the riskiest strategy of all.
Courtney Savie Lawrence
/ Climate Innovation Strategist
12:40 → 13:00
Strategic Recharge
13:00 → 13:15
LCA: The Missing Key to Your Company's Green Transition
From theory to practice and from green promises to proven impact: discover how Life Cycle Assessment is enabling companies to upgrade their products and business models. Get actionable insights on using LCA to drive your green transition, make smarter sustainability decisions, and create lasting competitive advantage. Critical knowledge for your sustainable business transformation.
Poul Lindqvist
/ Co-founder &
CEO, Environmental
Impacts Academy
17:30 +
Strategic Networking
13:15 → 13:55
Show Me The Impact: Beyond Green Washing
Most impact investments fail because they're solving the wrong problems. Get insider knowledge on what drives success and how to be in the 10% that make it.
Erki Ani
/ Founding
Partner
SFV
Ilona Gulchak
/ Chairperson
of the Board,
Commer-
cialization
Reactor Fund
SIA AIFP
Linn Indrestrand
/ Maritime &
Fishery Expert
Karo Hajduk
/ CEO, Growth
&Glory
Jan-Jaap
Verhoeve
/VP
Partnerships,
Plan A &
Co-Founder,
Greentech
Alliance
13:55 → 14:25
The Consumer Paradox: Real Corporate Responsibility
Dive into insights on how different generations approach sustainability. From Gen Z's shifts to evolving consumer patterns - discover what really matters in today's sustainability mindset. Get practical learnings on consumer behavior changes and what they mean for your business strategy. Key insights from one of Europe's most sustainability-conscious markets.
Kerstin Lindvall
/ Chief
Corporate
Responsibility
Officer, ICA
Gruppen
/ Sustainability and
Corporate
Affairs Manager,
Danone Nordics
and Baltics
14:25 → 14:45
ESG is Dead. Long Live ESG.
EU Green Deal is rewriting ESG rules. Your metrics might already be outdated. Get crucial data on new success indicators, regulatory shifts, and strategic positioning that keeps you ahead of European sustainability standards. The measurements that will make or break business performance in 2025.
Kelly Kirsch
/ Directeur ESG Europe,
ESG.AI Europe
14:45 → 15:25
Your Supply Chain is Lying to You
Supply chain transparency isn't just about risk anymore - it's becoming the key to market leadership. Learn how leading companies are turning supply chain clarity into an unbeatable competitive advantage.
Karolin
Langfeldt
/ Business
Development
Director,
Circulor
Zanda Šadre
/ Corporate
Sustainability
& Compliance
director Rimi
Baltic
Kristīne
Lazdovska
/ Sales and
Development
Lead, CHEP
Leonhard
Teichert
/ Program
Director,
CIRCULAR
REPUBLIC
Jekaterina
Grinberga
/ ESG Lead,
Printify
15:25 → 15:55
Rethinking the Future:
Sustainable Living
Explore how we could transform the way we living and redefining communities to create a foundation for sustainable living. From rural innovation, nutritional awareness to sustainable urban planning and global green growth strategies, on building resilient, adaptable communities for the future.
Mariliis Mia
Topp
/ CEO &
co-funder, Raw
Edge & Bicycle
Mayor of Tallinn
Vicky Ngari
/ Founder &
CEO, The Rural
Retail
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Kaisa Spilling
/ Development
Manager, City
of Helsinki
Jovita
Tamosaityte
/ Senior Knowledge
Officer, Green Growth
Knowledge
Partnership, UNEP
15:55 →16:35
Digital AI Disruption: When Algorithms Meet Climate Action
Beyond the AI hype cycle lies a revolution in how we tackle climate challenges. Get real cases of driving change, the pitfalls no one talks about, and why most companies are getting it completely wrong.
Gerda Žigienė
/ Professor &
Board Member,
LAVA
Jason Miller
/ Global
Director of
Sustainable
Development,
Ramboll
Niclas Mauss
/ Founder,
CIRCULAR
REPUBLIC
Mathias
Wikström
/ CEO &
Co-founder,
Doconomy
Nina Shariati
/ Founder,
Circular
Transparency
Former H&M
Group
16:35 → 17:10
Government vs. Business vs. Society
Discover insights on where new regulations will strike hardest and how forward-thinking companies are leveraging compliance as a competitive edge—without sidestepping societal responsibilities.
Linas Dičpetris
/ Government &
Infrastructure
Market
Leader CESA
Region,
EY
Nora Pastore
/ Development
and Sustainability
Officer, Signet
Bank
Raivis Bremšmits
/ Deputy State
Secretary on
Economic
Issues,
Ministry of
Economics
Zaiga Pūce
/ Director of
the Secretariat
of the Society
Integration
Foundation
KEM
/ TBC
17:10 → 17:20
Nature Biodiversity: Your Next Market Crash
While everyone focuses on carbon, biodiversity loss is creating the next wave of market disruption. Discover how leading companies are turning nature-positive into their next competitive advantage.
Madara Merle
Climate Programme
& Projects, WWF
17:20 → 17:30
Closing 2024
Get clear action steps for tomorrow and insights into next year's market shifts. Take home the blueprint for turning sustainability challenges into your next market victory.
Marija Ručevska
/ Partner
Līva Pērkone
/ Partner
Kristaps Cirulis
/ CEO, Partner
WORKSHOPS
Unlock the tools, insights, and strategies reshaping sustainability in our Workshop Zone. With only 60 seats available per session, this is your chance to gain hands-on experience and expert guidance in a highly interactive setting. Whether you're looking to upgrade your climate strategy, sharpen your competitive edge, or master the latest sustainability standards, these workshops offer invaluable deep dive learning from industry experts. All workshops are first-come, first-served, so RSVP now to secure your seat and stay ahead of the curve.
11:00 → 11:40
Beyond Offsetting: The Carbon Removal Masterclass
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Get beyond the hype: What actually works in carbon removal
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Discover which technologies are reshaping the market
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Learn why your current climate strategy might be obsolete
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Limited to 60 participants - Interactive Session
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Early registration is strongly recommended
Robert is a Sweden-based expert specializing in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and climate policy. He manages the Milkywire Climate Transformation Fund, co-founded the CDR market overview platform cdr.fyi, and regularly writes on carbon removal and corporate climate contributions. He also serves on the EU Expert Group on Carbon Removals and the Science Based Targets Initiative's Technical Advisory Group.
Robert Höglund (online)
/ Carbon removal strategist
pushing boundaries of climate action
11:50 → 12:20
Scale or Fail: Corporate Innovation Playbook
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Growth Studio | Masters of sustainable business transformation
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Real case studies of successful corporate pivots
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Practical tools for implementing radical innovation
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Transform sustainability challenges into market advantages
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Limited to 60 participants - Intensive Strategy Session
Growth Studio is a UK-based innovation consultancy that partners with large organizations to drive sustainable change through startup collaboration. Since 2016, they have delivered over 70 accelerator cohorts, assisting nearly 1,000 businesses in areas such as market validation, scaling strategies, and investor readiness. Growth Studio designs accelerator programs, fosters internal innovation, and conducts tech scouting to align with corporate sustainability goals, helping organizations leverage startups for competitive advantage and impactful solutions.
Paul Finch
/ Co-founder,
Growth Studio
Made climate
tech companies
grow when
everyone
said they
couldn't
Rayan Jawad
/ Co-founder,
Growth Studio
Turned messy
data into serious
money | Spotting
the growth
patterns others
miss
12:20 → 13:40
Strategic Recharge
13:40 → 14:20
Numbers Don't Lie: Making LCA Your Competitive Edge Masterclass
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Turn complex environmental data into strategic decisions
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Master the tools that expose hidden business risks
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Learn why most companies get LCA wrong - and how to get it right
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Limited to 60 participants - Hands-on Workshop
-
Priority registration for industry leaders
Poul is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Environmental Impacts Academy based in FInland, an organization dedicated to providing high-quality education in Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). With over 25 years of experience, Poul has transitioned from a seasoned finance professional to an impact entrepreneur and educator. He is passionate about spreading knowledge on the significant benefits of LCA, guiding individuals and businesses toward more sustainable futures. Poul is also involved in coaching and teaching within the academy, contributing to the development of hands-on LCA training programs.
Poul Lindqvist
/ Co-founder & CEO,
Environmental Impacts Academy |
Making impact measurement
brutally honest
14:30 → 15:10
Smart Energy Solutions for Sustainable Business Growth: From Theory to Practice
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Real strategies from the renewable energy frontline
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Renewable energy, energy efficiency technologies, and future innovations
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Turn energy challenges into opportunities
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Limited to 60 participants - Interactive session
-
Registration open
Kristaps is the CEO of Ignitis Latvia, leading the company’s renewable energy transformation across the Baltics. Under his leadership, Ignitis has invested over €284 million in large-scale solar projects, aiming to power up to 85,000 households and contribute to Ignitis Group’s goal of 4–5 GW of green energy by 2030.
Kristaps Muzikants
/ Ignitis Latvia CEO |
Leaders in Baltic energy
transformation
15:20 → 16:00
Unpacking the Double Materiality Assessment under CSRD/ESRS: Limited assurance Essentials & Must-Have Elements
Dive into the core of the double materiality assessment with a step-by-step breakdown of mandatory reporting elements. This workshop will guide corporates on new mandatory sustainability reporting requirements based on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Perfect for clarity on complex definitions and actionable requirements.
Workshop will be lead by Elina Vahi jointly with other EY experts.
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Elina Vahi
/EY, Building a better
working world
16:00
Back to the main stage
Second Stage
Dive into the future of business transformation, female leadership, and food innovation at this inspiring Second Stage program. With an exclusive film screening of Beyond Zero, witness real-life stories of sustainability-driven change and hear from top industry leaders sharing honest insights into transformation challenges and successes. Join a fireside chat with Future Heroes to explore the rise of next-gen female leaders redefining business, followed by EIT Food’s Demo Day, showcasing breakthrough food innovations that are reshaping how we eat. Gain actionable insights, connect with visionary leaders, and discover the shifts that will shape tomorrow.
10:45 → 13:15
CSR LATVIA Special: Beyond Zero - The Business Transformation Imperative FILM screening
10:45 – 11:00 | Setting the Stage
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Welcome by Agnese Alksne-Bensone (CSR Latvia co-founder)
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Why transformation isn't optional anymore
11:00 – 12:30 | "Beyond Zero" Film Screening
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Exclusive viewing of groundbreaking sustainability transformation documentary
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Real stories of business evolution
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See what real change looks like
12:30 – 13:15 | "The Transformation Playbook: From Talk to Action"
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Moderator: Agnese Alksne-Bensone
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Industry Leaders Panel:
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Laflora
-
Amber Beverage Group
-
Luminor Bank
-
Rimi Baltic
-
Clean R Grupa
-
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Real transformation stories
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Unfiltered insights into what works (and what doesn't)
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The real cost of change - and the bigger cost of waiting
CSR Latvia
CSR Latvia is a pioneering organization
promoting corporate social responsibility
in Latvia, encouraging businesses to
integrate sustainability into their core
strategies. In collaboration with the
Baltic Sustainability Awards, they present
Beyond Zero, a documentary showcasing
businesses committed to transformative
sustainability, revealing real-world
examples of impactful change and the
urgency of corporate responsibility in
the face of environmental challenges.
13:15 → 14:00
Generation Now: Female Leaders Reshaping Tomorrow
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Fireside Chat with Future Heroes
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Keynote: Aina Špaca (CEO, Future Heroes)
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Why traditional leadership models are dying
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How next-gen leaders are transforming business from within
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The female leadership revolution in sustainability
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Raw, unfiltered conversations about real change
Future Heroes Latvia is a leadership and entrepreneurship program for girls aged 14–17, aiming to unlock their potential and create a positive impact in the world. The program consists of nine workshops held in English, focusing on skills such as communication, collaboration, leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital proficiency. Participants engage in team projects addressing current global issues, supported by experienced mentors.
Future Heroes
/ CEO & Participants
14:00 → 16:45
Food Innovation Females Shift: EIT FOOD EWA Demo Day
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10 Breakthrough Food Innovations Changing How We Eat
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Live demonstrations from Europe's most promising food-tech innovators
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Meet the founders reshaping the future of food
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Direct access to EIT FOOD's latest cohort
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Interactive showcase with Q&A opportunities
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Keynote Speech: Insights on the Pivotal Role of Women in Food Systems Transformation by Saskia Nuijten, EIT Food Chief Brand Officer
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Presentation: Is There Life After the EIT Food EWA Programme? by Liena Kazāka, EIT Food EWA Alumna 2022
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Keynote Speech: Consumer Behavior and Market Trends by Evita Straumīte, Associate Professor, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
At the prestigious Baltic Sustainability Awards 2024, these ambitious entrepreneurs will present their developed business ideas to expert judges, competing for a grand prize of up to EUR 10,000 to further advance their projects. The following finalists will be showcasing their innovative ideas:
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Inese Skapste – setting up a biorefinery by using Baltic seaweed as a sustainable agricultural resource;
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llze Kalniņa – production of energy drink powders rich in quality and natural ingredients;
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Liega Krasovska – production of antioxidant extracts and fully biodegradable active food packaging using potato peels and potato starch;
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Krista Rozenberga – production of apple fibre powder; made from apple pomace, without preservatives or added sugar;
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Kristīne Štikāne – Gutopia production of fermented vegetable products; alternative to sour milk products;
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Līga Pollaka – production of a protein-rich food or food ingredient from mushrooms grown in Latvian climatic conditions;
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Jūlija Vilcāne – soil additives with biological components that help to reduce soil and substrate leaching, protect plants from root rots and significantly reduce the impact of pests by promoting plant growth;
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Jolanta Smane – production of goat's cheese, quince juice, syrup and succades;
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Zane Migliniece – Botanical Shaman kombucha production from herbal teas harvested in Latvia;
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Elīna Zandere – Legomo production of ready-made meals of vegetable origin corresponding to the recommended daily vegetable intake.
The EWA programme, now in its fifth year globally, is running in Latvia for the second time and simultaneously operates across 12 countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Ukraine. This initiative supports 120 women entrepreneurs across Europe. This year, the programme in Latvia has been organized by the Riga Technical University (RTU) Science and Innovation Centre.
EIT FOOD EWA
As part of the Baltic Sustainability Awards
2024, the final pitch event of the European
Institute of Innovation and Technology's (EIT)
Knowledge and Innovation Community EIT
Food business support programme, Empowering
Women in Agrifood (EWA), will also take place.
During the event, ten Latvian women
entrepreneurs will present sustainable agrifood
business ideas developed through the EWA
programme. This year, the programme in Latvia
has been organized by the Riga Technical
University (RTU) Science and Innovation Centre.
opportunities.
16:45
Back to the main stage
THE IMPACT COMMUNITY FOR THRIVING FUTURE
At the Baltic Sustainability Awards & Forum, we believe that real progress begins where comfort ends. "Uncomfortable Growth" is our call to action—urging leaders, innovators, and changemakers to step beyond familiar ground and tackle sustainability challenges head-on. We reject superficial gestures and empty buzzwords, focusing instead on genuine, collective action that drives impactful change. Join our impact community as we push boundaries, disrupt the norm, and collaboratively shape a thriving future for all.
It's Time!