On September 25, construction industry professionals gathered at Paraugtipogrāfija in Riga to share experiences and build new collaboration networks within the framework of the project “Agro Building Carbon/ABC: quantifying carbon removal farm-sourced building materials.” The project is implemented by Vidzeme Planning Region and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, with its New Building School as a knowledge partner. The event brought together project partners and experts to discuss carbon sequestration methodologies and future policy directions in the construction sector.
In discussions on sustainable building materials and the use of crops, hemp and other plants were highlighted as having significant potential for both the construction and agricultural sectors. When well established, hemp effectively suppresses weeds and ensures high productivity; however, its cultivation requires fertilization and specialized harvesting equipment. While Latvia has a long tradition with this crop, the sector currently faces a major challenge – a lack of processing capacity.
One of the most notable examples highlighted was hempcrete. It not only provides effective thermal insulation and vapor permeability but also helps preserve the longevity of historic buildings. Likewise, experience with straw house construction demonstrates that natural solutions can be fire-resistant while creating a healthy indoor climate that retains warmth in homes — unlike artificial materials, which often result in a sense of coldness.
In addition to hemp, attention was also given to other alternative crops, including small-leaved grasses such as miscanthus and reed canary grass, as well as perennial woody plantations in agroforestry systems. At the same time, it was noted that clearer regulatory frameworks are needed to enable the broader adoption of such solutions.
An important part of the discussion focused on public education. It was emphasized that greater awareness is needed about the differences between living in artificial and natural environments, highlighting how sustainable materials can help create safe, healthy, and long-lasting homes that are also environmentally friendly. For this industry to develop in the long term, it is crucial to ensure the availability of high-quality and multifunctional raw materials that meet modern construction standards while also strengthening the local economy.
Project manager Inguna Kucina emphasizes: “The Vidzeme Planning Region is the holder and implementer of policy documents, yet in our projects we place strong emphasis on practical approaches. It is important that the outcomes of our work contribute to creating a sustainable and truly good living environment for local residents. Within the ABC project, we already have close cooperation with practitioners — the New Building School at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences — but today at Paraugtipogrāfija we also brought together researchers, as well as representatives of agriculture, construction, and finance sectors. This is the first step towards building an ecosystem that, in the coming years, will work collectively to strengthen the agro-construction direction. Since the discussions showed no signs of stopping, it is clear that the topic is highly relevant — and that there is genuine motivation to act.”
The panel discussion featured Jānis Butkevičs (discussion moderator and sustainable construction researcher), Jānis Saulītis (producer of rye straw panels), Dagnija Lazdiņa (leading researcher at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”), as well as Austris Kozuliņš (CEO of Fure Biostone) and Uģis Pauriņš (CEO of Hemp Eco Systems).
This panel discussion serves as an important foundation for the project’s future activities, encouraging researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to work together to make agricultural-based building materials an integral part of sustainable construction in Latvia and the wider region.
The discussions will continue online on October 16, followed by a second in-person meeting of stakeholders on October 31 in Valmiera.
About the project
This event was organized within the framework of the INTERREG EUROPE Programme 2021–2027 project Agro Building Carbon (ABC). The project aims to improve regional policy instruments to create economic opportunities for the production of bio-based building materials and the associated value chain. This goal is to be achieved by adopting good practice examples regarding these materials and related support policies, particularly carbon sequestration certification.
Project website: https://www.vidzeme.lv/projekti/lauksaimniecibas-izcelsmes-buvmaterialu-oglekla-piesaistes-kvantificesana-agro-building-carbon-abc/pase/
