Scientific publications

The loss of biodiversity is a big challenge for the successful functioning of ecosystems, and it is mostly related to the agricultural sector. Thus, conservation of biodiversity is a vital issue, and it is important to explore the main determinants and tools for mitigation of this problem. In this study, the multi-faceted impact of agriculture on biodiversity is revealed in a systemic manner and using a critical review approach. Furthermore, the role of the transition from conventional to organic agriculture in biodiversity conservation, focusing on potential to mitigate the loss of biodiversity, is presented.

The by-production (BP) model proposed by Murty et al. (2012) distinguishes between inputs that induce generation of the undesirable outputs (such inputs can include energy consumption) and those that do not contribute to generation of undesirable outputs (such inputs can include capital or labor). The BP model uses economic and environmental frontiers to approximate the production process and is considered to respect the materials balance principle. As the inputs contributing to generation of the undesirable outputs exhibit different roles (inequalities) across the two sub-technologies, construction of the input distance functions for construction of the productivity measures becomes cumbersome.

In the digital economy of today, social media has transformed marketing functions in most consumer-oriented businesses, such as fashion. This research examines the impact of the leading social media marketing features – “entertainment”, “customization”, “electronic word of mouth” (EWoM), and “trendiness” – on “consumer brand engagement” and “brand awareness” in the fashion industry. Based on a systematic survey conducted among 384 active social media users, the study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the interrelatedness of the variables. The study reveals that “consumer engagement” with brands is highly influenced by EWoM, interactivity, and “fashion trends”, which consequently increase “brand awareness” and “brand image”. However, the influence of “entertainment” and “customization” on consumer participation was statistically insignificant.

The aviation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and the European Union (EU) is calling for a rapid transition to sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). This study aims to assess market dynamics and regulatory challenges of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in the European Union, with emphasis on economic feasibility and the role of policy frameworks. Using econometric methods: Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Vector Autoregression (VAR) models, forecasts of SAF infrastructure development trajectories were produced, while regression analysis was applied to assess the relationship between national GDP and the scale of SAF deployment.

This study examines how gender equality contributes to inclusive and sustainable green transitions across the European Union (EU). Using macro-panel data for 27 EU countries, it applies three econometric models to assess how changes in gender inequality, measured by the Gender Inequality Index (GII), influence female employment, women's tertiary education as well as the performance of the environmental goods and services sector.

The chambers of agriculture play a crucial role in shaping agricultural policy, supporting rural development, and representing the interests of farmers and agribusinesses in rural areas. This research provides a comparative analysis of the Chambers of agriculture in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, focusing on their historical development, governance structures, legal frameworks, membership principles, and relationships with public authorities.

Despite being the EU’s largest budgetary instrument, direct payments remain allocated through political compromise rather than clear methodological criteria, sustaining long-standing disparities between EU-15, EU-10 member states, undermining solidarity. This paper proposes 18 models based on transparent rules to address this ambivalent situation.

The public sector is perceived as a cornerstone of societal growth and development, innovation, social inclusion, and economic progress. Ensuring an environment that supports these key aspects requires effective governance, transparency, and investments, including investments in education. The role of the public sector should include providing high-quality and accessible higher education, which significantly influences students’ entrepreneurial motivation.

The European Union air transport sector has been repeatedly exposed to major disruptions such as the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and volatile energy prices. Strengthening resilience has, therefore, become a strategic priority. This study examines how strategic energy investments—covering renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), electrification, hydrogen technologies, and advanced infrastructure—contribute to the resilience of the EU air transport system. The methodology integrates both primary and secondary data from EU policy documents, ICAO and IATA databases, Eurostat, and national statistics. A multi-criteria evaluation was applied using four key performance indicators: emission reduction efficiency (ER), annual exposure index (AEI), investment performance index (IPI), and net present value (NPV).

This study explores how sustainable culinary tourism fosters rural diversification and resilience in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Despite increasing recognition of gastronomy as a driver of sustainable tourism, comparative analyses across macro-regional contexts remain limited. The paper addresses this gap through a qualitative comparative analysis of twelve thematic culinary trails involving seventy-three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developed under the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Programme’s BASCIL project.