Association of Latvian Organic Agriculture (LBLA) has put together BIO TOP 500 list of administrative territories based on organically certified agricultural area size.
Madona County is considered the greenest in Latvia, Ranka and Ošupe are the greenest parishes, and Salacgrīva and Ainaži are Latvia’s greenest cities.
While on average 17% of agricultural land in Latvia is used by organic farmers (296.6 thousand ha), Madona county is not only the greenest in Latvia in terms of the share of organically certified agricultural land – 37%, but also in terms of area – 26.6 thousand ha. Ludza County is next with 36% (18 thousand ha), as well as two counties with a similar share of organically certified agricultural land (33%) but different size: Alūksne County (20.8 thousand ha) and Cēsis County (17.3 thousand ha). Gulbene County is the fifth greenest county with 32% (12.8 thousand ha), notes LBLA.
A comparison of the number of organic farms shows that Balvi is in the lead with 295 organically certified farms. Preiļi is second (270).
Among the counties with a low share of bio-area are some Pierīga counties (Salaspils – 1%, Olaines – 2%, Ādaži – 5%, Ropaži – 7%), as well as counties in Kurzeme (Saldus – 4%, Talsu – 8%). The smallest amount of organic area is in Zemgale (Jelgava – 3%, Bauska and Dobele – 6%).
In turn, among parishes, the greenest in terms of the share of bio-area is Ranka parish in Gulbene county with 78%, but by area – Ošupe parish in Madona county with 3 537 ha. The greenest city in terms of the share of organically managed land area is Ainaži in Limbaži county (82%), but in terms of area – neighbouring Salacgriva (231 ha).
“Counties and parishes with the biggest proportion of organic agricultural land are important not only as territories where farming is in balance with nature, but also as a very attractive place to live,” stresses LBLA manager Gustavs Norkārklis.
“With the increasing environmental and health risks from pollution caused by agricultural pesticides and increasing public awareness of the clean environment as an important resource, the most organic regions have the potential to attract both new residents and tourists,” says Norkārklis. “Parishes that are nearly free of pesticide use serve as a signal to society that some farmers understand the importance of organic farming methods for the production of clean food products and preservation of nature. Residents in administrative territories that have large areas of organically certified land can be proud of unpolluted environment around them.”
Norkārklis says it could be possible to establish bio-regions with restrictions on the use of pesticides in Latvia’s greenest counties and parishes. According to him, areas free of pesticides can be used for beekeeping and produce organically certified beekeeping products, which is now impossible to do in many parts of Latvia.
BIO TOP 500 was published in the February issue of “BIOLOĢISKI” agricultural sector magazine.
The list was composed based on statistical data from the Rural Support Service.
BIO TOP 10 counties by share of organically certified agricultural land area:
Madona County 37%
Ludza County 36%
Alūksne County 33%
Cēsis County 33%
Gulbene County 32%
Limbažu novads 30%
Balvi County 28%
Krāslava County 28%
Kuldīga County 24%
Preiļi County 24%
BIO TOP 10 parishes by share of organically certified agricultural land area:
Ranka Parish (Gulbenes novads) 78%
Zeltiņi Parish (Alūksnes novads) 78%
Kalncempji Parish (Alūksnes novads) 73%
Mazozoli Parish (Ogres novads) 68%
Sausnēja Parish (Madonas novads) 67%
Vireši Parish (Smiltenes novads) 65%
Druviena Parish (Gulbenes novads) 65%
Zosēni Parish (Cēsu novads) 62%
Ņukši Parish (Ludzas novads) 61%
Pilda Parish (Ludzas novads) 59%
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