Rural development 2025:
Resilience to Global Change
Rural development 2025

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 12th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2025: Resilience to Global Change”. It has already become a biannual tradition to meet colleagues and partners from all over the world here. In addition, we are pleased that this event has become a common area for international scientific collaboration. We are united by a common purpose and a shared vision: to explore, discuss, and strategize on how bioeconomy businesses and rural communities can adapt, thrive, and lead in an era characterized by rapid and often unpredictable changes.
The challenges facing agriculture and other bioeconomy businesses globally are multifaceted. Climate change, economic shifts, technological advancements, and social transformations are reshaping bioeconomy business models, rural landscapes, and the livelihoods of rural populations. These changes, while posing significant challenges, also present unprecedented opportunities for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
Our topic, “Resilience to Global Change,” underscores the need for robust strategies and collaborative efforts to enhance the adaptability and sustainability of rural regions and bioeconomy businesses. Resilience is not merely about survival; it is about embracing change, leveraging strengths, and forging pathways to a prosperous and sustainable future.
In this conference, we will hear from experts across various fields – agriculture, food, forestry, IT, ecology, technology, economics, and management sciences – who will share their insights and experiences. We will engage in discussions and workshops that will challenge our thinking and inspire new approaches. Together, we will explore solutions that can empower bioeconomy businesses and rural communities to overcome adversities and harness the potential of global changes.
I encourage each of you to actively participate, share your perspectives, and collaborate with fellow attendees. It is through our collective effort and shared knowledge that we can build resilient bioeconomy businesses and rural communities capable of facing the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Prof. dr. Astrida Miceikienė
Chancellor of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy,
Chairperson of Scientific Committee

Event Schedule

Topics | Speakers | Time | Venue |
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Registration of Participants | 08:00 - 09:00 | Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy, Studentų str. 11, Akademija | |
Plenary Session | 09:00 - 12:50 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Welcome speech | 09:00 - 09:20 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Michel BOËR Threats and challenges to achieve a resilient and sustainable agrifood systeme European Research Infrastructure Consortium |
09:20 - 09:50 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Hossein AZADI Resilient Agriculture through the Lens of Smallholder Farmers: Developing Tip-Tap Early Warning System Ghent University, Belgium |
09:50 - 10:20 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
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10:20 - 10:50 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Coffee / Tea break | 10:50 - 11:20 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Dimitris TSITSIGIANNIS Harnessing the power of digital technologies to protect plants & the environment Agricultural University of Athens |
11:20 - 11:50 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
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11:50 - 12:20 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Erik Dahl KJAER Trust in diversity and learn from nature: strategies for development of forest and trees with high resistance and adaptive potential toward climate change University of Copenhagen |
12:20 - 12:50 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Lunch | 12:50 - 13:50 | 5th floor Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Political, business and science panel discussion “The new Bioeconomy Strategy: European goals and Lithuania’s contribution in developing innovative bio-based industry” | 14:00 - 16:00 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Gala Dinner | 18:00 - 22:00 |
Topics | Speakers | Time | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
Registration of Participants | 09:00 - 09:50 | Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy, Studentų str. 11, Akademija | |
Coffee/Tea break | 09:00 - 09:50 | Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy, Studentų str. 11, Akademija | |
Parallel conference sessions | 10:00 - 12:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 1. Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Technologies |
10:00 - 12:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 2. Biosystems Engineering for Sustainability |
10:00 - 12:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 3. Multifunctional Approach for Sustainable Use of Bio-Resources |
10:00 - 12:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 4. Direction - Social Research and Innovations for Strengthening Rural Areas |
10:00 - 12:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Lunch | 12:00 - 13:00 | 5th floor Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Parallel conference sessions | 13:00 - 15:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 1. Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Technologies |
13:00 - 15:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 2. Biosystems Engineering for Sustainability |
13:00 - 15:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 3. Multifunctional Approach for Sustainable Use of Bio-Resources |
13:00 - 15:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 4. Direction - Social Research and Innovations for Strengthening Rural Areas |
13:00 - 15:00 | 5th floor of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Coffee/Tea break | 15:00 - 15:15 | Lobby near the Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Poster presentation | 15:15 - 16:30 | 5th floor Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 1. Agro-innovations and Food Technologies |
15:15 - 16:30 | 5th floor Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 2. Biosystems Engineering and Environment Integrity |
15:15 - 16:30 | 5th floor Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 3. Multifunctional Approach for Sustainable Use of Bio-Resources |
15:15 - 16:30 | 5th floor Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Section 4. Social Research for Sustainable Bioeconomy and Climate Change |
15:15 - 16:30 | 5th floor Lobby of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Final Plenary Session of the Conference | 16:30 - 16:45 | Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Kaunas City Tour | 17:00 - 20:00 | Excursion in Kaunas, visiting Kaunas city historical places |
Topics | Speakers | Time | Venue |
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Coffee/Tea | 09:30 - 10:00 | Lobby near the Hall of the Central Building of VMU Agriculture Academy | |
Cultural Tour | 10:00 - 14:00 |


Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy
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Studentų st. 11, Akademija,
Kaunas distr., Lithuania