Žemės ūkio mokslo būklė ir pagrindinės plėtros kryptys

ENIn the process of Lithuania’s integration into the European Union, different issues have to be solved, in particular those related to utilization of scientific potential, modernization structures of agricultural production and processing, developing and modernizing technologies, the supply of competitive agricultural goods for the market. With recognition of importance of science and new technologies to Lithuania’s economy, the issues of agricultural studies and knowledge are analysed in "Science and Technology White Book" in general context of further development of Lithuania’s science. The main trends of Lithuania’s science of agriculture are the following: agronomy, forestry, veterinary medicine, animal keeping, agricultural engineering, environmental engineering, landscape management, agricultural economy. Currently there are 8 scientific institutes and 2 higher educational establishments (university, academy) engaged in agricultural research. The main financial sources of the above mentioned research are - state budget funds, international programmes, funds and private donations. Lithuanian agrarian sector of applied research and experimental development is dominated by orders of the Ministry of Agriculture, because farmers, agricultural cooperatives (shareholding companies) are financially rather weak to utilize the services of these institutions. The Council of Agricultural Science functions at the Ministry of Agriculture, the mission of which is encouraging and safeguarding cooperation between science and industry. The members of this Council are scientists (researchers), civil servants and progressive farmers. The Council is an advisory body dealing with the issues of innovation development, formation of state policies etc.