In the beginning of November the RUE “SPC of NAS of Belarus for Agricultural Mechanization” was visited by Mr. Staffan Lund — the Manager of the project “Baltic Compass” (Swedish Agricultural University), Mr. Kay Granholm – member of Helsinki Committee, Ms. Brita Lundberg – financial manager of the project, — and the leaders of six work packages. The primary intent of the visit was the acquaintance with agriculture of Belarus, progress of the project works of the belarussian partners and the property for the investments.
Besides, during the meeting with the specialists of Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Department of the Interior and Environment of Belarus Mr. Staffan Lund made the project presentation “Baltic Compass” with the aim to discuss the cooperation prospects of the problems of mutual interest.
The Republic of Belarus participates in the program realization of transboundary collaboration “the Baltic Sea Region” (BSR) that is implemented by the UN countries. The strategic program aim is to make the Baltic Sea region attractive for investments, work and living. The priority lines of the program are the following: the assistance in economic and social innovations, the stimulation of technology and knowledge transfer, the improvement in the use of the Baltic Sea resources to achieve a better ecological conditions.
Thereby, as a priority in the framework of the BSR program there realized the project “Complex Actions and Investments for Sustainable Solutions in Agriculture of the Baltic Sea Region” (“Baltic Compass”).
In connection with climate change and the global increase in the needs of food and bio-energy it is foreseen to intensify land utilization for agricultural reasons in the Baltic Sea Region. This will result in soil and water over-nourishment with contaminants and will cause an additional stress on tentative marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea. Even so, the existing problems of nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds should find a number of solutions and technologies in the spheres of economy, ecological sustainability and society existence.
The measures taken will join such line developments as resources conservation, agricultural improvements, the development of agriculture and landscapes, biological safety, climate, energy sector.
Proceeding from the arising priorities there were defined a number of the project target values. In the first place it is potential improvement of the Baltic Sea countries in the network of plan realization of Helsinki Committee relating to the Baltic Sea protection. A number of various approaches have already been worked out to integrate different aspects of action (agricultural, ecological, economic and space planning) that intend to decrease load from deconcentrated agricultural polluters.
In the project there involved 23 partners from 9 countries of the region. The project coordinator is the Swedish Agricultural Institute. From its point of view Belarus is regarded as a region from which rivers pollutant substances are transferred to the Baltic Sea.
Belarusian partners are presented in “Baltic Compass” by the RUE “SPC NAS of Belarus for agricultural mechanization “ and the RUE “Scientific and Research Institute for water resources” of Ministry of Water Resources and Nature Protection (Decree of cabinet council of Belarus from 9th July, 2010 № 1029).
In the project work the Centre for agricultural mechanization will develop a national part of Atlas of the best existing practices and technologies for nature protection from the aspects of removal, storage, recycling and applying of animal manure on fields.
The practical realization of the selected practices will be realized on the base of the pilot farm “Zazerye” by the installation of a biogas set for manure recycling and its ecology-friendly application on fields. With that end in view “Baltic Compass” will invest 250 000 euro from the budget of the international technical aid.
The technical aid from the UN budget is of great importance for Belarus as the mobilization of investments, including financial means, enables to decrease charges from the state budget for the realization of national and regional programs of social and economic development.
Vladimir Samosyuk, general director of the RUE “SPC of NAS of Belarus for agricultural mechanization”;
Nikolay Kapustin, laboratory manager for the use of fuel and energy resources of the RUE “SPC of NAS of Belarus for agricultural mechanization”.