RIGA FOOD 2026

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Hall 1, Main stage

11.00–11.30
Riga Food 2026 opening ceremony
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Uldis Augulis, Minister of Agriculture
Rolands Nežborts, Project manager of Riga Food
The International Exhibition Company BT 1
11.30–11.50
Award ceremony: New Dairy Product competition
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Latvian Dairy Committee
12.00–12.55
Discussion “Organic on Every Plate in Latvia – When Will It Become Part of Everyday Life?”
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Moderator: Lauris Zalāns, Host of the “My BIO Basket” TV series
Raivis Bahšteins, Editor-in-Chief of the “BIOLOĢISKI” magazine, Board Member of the Latvian Organic Agriculture Association (LBLA)
Rūta Mūrniece, Owner and manager of the bakery Ķelmēni
Mārtiņš Gaiķēns, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Organic Agriculture Association (LBLA)
Inga Bite, Head of Public Relations at Rimi Latvija, owner of the organic farm Straumītes
Ēriks Dreibants, Chef and owner of the Pavāru māja restaurant
Jānis Garančs, Head of Aloja Starkelsen, organic food market expert
Latvian Association of Organic Farming
13.00–14.00
LULST discussion “What makes a product innovative?”
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Moderator: Sandra Muižniece-Brasava, Professor at the Food Institute, head of the Technology and Knowledge Transfer Center, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Jūlija Pehtereva, Co-founder and Creative Director of the start-up Tara Energy Drink
Ralfs Arājums, participant of LULST TE-D Nature Lab incubator, developer of sustainable drink tablets
Dr sc ing Dalija Segliņa, senior researcher, Institute of Horticulture
Taisija Gromova, Quality Management Consultant (SIA Locija)
Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
14.10–15.10
Discussion: “The High-Protein Era: Consumer Demand or a Marketing Wave?”
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Moderator: Monika Diāna Cālīte, journalist, certified trainer
Olga Stepanova, product creator at Fiteg² Latvia, Agrova R&D expert
Sandija Šplīta, qualified nutrition specialist, head of weight management programmes at the Anti-Aging Institute
Kārlis Matisāns, personal trainer
Fiteg2 Latvia
15.20–16.30
Discussion on reducing food waste
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Moderator: Sandra Kropa, journalist and host of programmes on Latvian Radio and Latvian Television
Alberts Bolušs, founder and developer of Foodhero
Evija Pudāne, Executive Director of Cleantech Latvia
Kārlis Sams, Founder and CEO of SIA Biomund
Renāte Grundštoka
Svetlana Aļminoviča-Miļjanoviča, Senior Expert at the Food Distribution Supervision Division of the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD)
Association “Zaļā brīvība/Green Freedom”
17.00–17.30
Baltic professional culinary school team competition Zero Waste Challenge 2026
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Pavāru klubs
10.30–14.00
Forum Own Product – Our Strength
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Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre
14.10–15.30
Discussion “Fermenting. Back to the roots or merely a fad? The difference between science and esoteric”
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Moderator: Rūta Beirote, content creator of “Rūta meklē garšu”, owner of the Zutiņi farm, former participant of the TV show Īstās latvju saimnieces
Ansis Zauers, nutrition scientist, nutritionist, founder of Preimmu
Rūta Mūrniece, Owner and manager of the bakery Ķelmēni
Dr. sc. ing. Asnate Ķirse-Ozoliņa, Associate Professor and Lead Researcher at the LBTU Institute of Food Sciences, nutrition scientist
Iveta Galēja, journalist and cookbook author
15.40–16.40
European Deforestation Regulation dialogue circle: is our morning coffee under a threat?
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Moderator: Farištamo Eller, podcast EU project FaiTHRIVE assistant, Fairtrade
Marija Dobele, Market and Direct Support Department in Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia
Inese Dosē, Corporate Responsibility Lead at RIMI
Sandra Usaceva, Löfbergs Regional Marketing manager
Normunds Strūve, Deputy Director at Forest department in Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia
Jana Jesmin, “Fairtrade” representative in the Baltic States
“Fairtrade Finland”
16.50–17.50
“How I Ruined My Health in 10 Years and Restored It Through Nutrition”
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Ramona Ozoliņa
Amanda Zūle
Prosvego
10.30–11.30
Lunch box challenge — a practical and educational мастерclass for children “What’s in my lunch box?”
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Viāna Kuļša, nutrition specialist
The International Exhibition Company BT 1
“Mums’ Club”
Tramontina
Latvian Bakers Association
Fiteg2 Latvia
Very Berry
POPHOUSE
11.40–13.00
Chef Ina Poliščenko workshop for children “Healthy snacks — energy balls”
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Ina Poliščenko, chef, culinary expert, founder of Confectioners’ Association
The International Exhibition Company BT 1
“Mums’ Club”
Tramontina
Latvian Bakers Association
Fiteg2 Latvia
Very Berry
POPHOUSE
13.30–14.30
Discussion “The Truth About Coffee: Myths, Trends and Reality”
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Ilze Laukalēja-Broka, food science expert and coffee researcher
Martins Drungilas, founder of Closer Coffee, roasting and specialty coffee expert
Laura Zemļicka, representative of Löfbergs Latvia, quality manager specialising in coffee quality and product development
Oskars Maculevičs, Founder of “KUUP COFFEE”
15.00–15.30
Sustainable Packaging 2026 packaging competition award ceremony
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Latvian Packaging Association
The International Exhibition Company BT 1
15.30–16.00
Award ceremony: Latvian Tea Championship
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Latvian Tea Association
16.10–16.30
Award Ceremony for "Cake for My City"
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