ME "Volynpryrodresurs" Participated in the Baltic Peat Producers Forum 2025 in Riga
From September 17–19, 2025, the Baltic Peat Producers Forum 2025 (BPPF) took place in Riga, a leading European industry event that brings together representatives of the peat industry, researchers, and partners.
The BPPF is held annually in various countries at the end of the extraction season, under the auspices of associations of peat extractors and peat product manufacturers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland. Organized continuously since 2001, the forum attracts hundreds of international participants each year.
The history of the BPPF began in March 2000 in Riga, Latvia’s capital, during a joint meeting of the boards of Baltic peat extraction and peat product manufacturing associations, where current industry challenges and objectives were discussed. It was decided to hold such meetings annually to exchange information on technologies and production volumes. The first official forum took place in 2001 in Šiauliai, Lithuania, hosted at a production facility.
What began as an annual meeting of three associations has evolved into an international forum that now gathers over 300 delegates from more than 15 countries, holding a prominent position among Europe’s industry events. The forum unites representatives of the peat industry, traders, equipment manufacturers, researchers, environmentalists, service industry professionals, and decision-makers in peat extraction.
The main aim of the forum is to present the latest achievements and perspectives in the peat industry in order to share experiences as well as to address issues regarding legal frameworks, nature conservation and other issues regarding scientific research on peatlands.
The theme of this year’s forum was: “Peat – a strategically important resource for food production and a green environment!.”
Ukraine was represented at the event by: ME "Volynpryrodresurs," LLC "Land Grou" (TD "Smyzky Peat Briquette Plant"), "Lopatyn Peat Briquette Plant," and LLC "Mineral Extraction."
Participating in a leading European event provides an opportunity to present Ukraine’s experience in the rational use of natural resources and establish cooperation with international partners. The forum served as a platform for discussing peat’s strategic role in ensuring food security and environmental sustainability, as well as for sharing expertise, presenting innovations, and fostering international partnerships.
The forum’s program included both official plenary sessions and thematic presentations and discussions.
On September 18, during the opening, welcoming speeches were delivered by Latvian government representatives: Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze, Minister of Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis, and Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economics Jurģis Miezainis.
Зокрема, під час відкриття 18 вересня вітальні промови виголосили представники уряду Латвії – міністр сільського господарства Армандс Краузе, міністр клімату та енергетики Каспарс Мелніс та парламентський секретар Міністерства економіки Юрґіс Міезайніс.
In the scientific section of the forum, the Latvian State Forest Research Institute presented research on the potential of peatland reclamation for climate change mitigation. The Dutch Greenhouse Growers’ Association highlighted the importance of peat for Europe’s food security and resilience. CLAAS showcased innovative solutions for the peat industry, including modern machinery to improve efficiency and precision of production processes.
The pre-forum session on September 17, organized by the International Peatland Society (IPS) under the theme “Empowering the Voice of Science for the Wise Use of Peatlands,” served as a key scientific and expert platform.
Key topics included: support for peatland science from international conventions to climate issues, the importance of academic partnerships in the wise use of peatlands, IPS engagement at both local and global levels, and expectations from the upcoming COP30 conference in Belém. The discussions also addressed the impact of IPS cooperation on the activities of national associations, principles of peatland management in the context of European regulatory requirements, and practical aspects of the organization’s work.
In addition to the scientific component, the forum featured a strong networking element. Participants had the opportunity to forge new professional connections during the Ice-Breaking Event at the Latvian National Library and the Gala Dinner at the creative space H2O 6.
The participation of ME "Volynpryrodresurs" in international events of this caliber enables not only knowledge exchange with international counterparts but also the opportunity to represent Ukraine’s stance on the rational use of natural resources. It promotes the adoption of European approaches to peat extraction and reclamation. For the enterprise, this also opens new opportunities to enhance and modernize its material and technical base, procure advanced professional equipment, and export Ukrainian raw materials to European markets. ME "Volynpryrodresurs" is confident that such activities will boost the enterprise’s competitiveness on the international stage and contribute to strengthening the economic potential of the Volyn region.
