On March 11–12, Dr. Rita Armonienė, Head of the Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology and Chief Researcher, and Dr. Monika Toleikienė, Head of the Department of Plant Nutrition and Agroecology and Senior Researcher, participated in the workshop “Sharing insights on Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for policy development” and the SORG4NOBAL project partner’s meeting, funded by the Swedish Institute (SI). The event took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, and brought together partners from the private sector and scientific institutions from Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan.
The first day of the event provided the participants an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience about the potential and challenges of sorghum cultivation from the Baltic Sea to the Caspian Sea. Dr. Rita Armonienė delivered a presentation titled “Sensor-based tools for breeding climate resilient crops”, highlighting innovative techniques for crop resilience. Dr. Monika Toleikienė presented the results of sorghum field trials in 2024, providing valuable research data and analysis.
On the second day, participants visited the Genetic Resource Institute and Gene Bank, where they learned about ongoing field trials and the preservation of plant genetic material. The group also visited Khazar University, where continuous workshop sessions were focused on the development and expansion of NBS projects and networks in the region.
The discussions aimed to promote collaboration and innovation in nature-based solutions for sustainable policy development.
The event contributed to knowledge exchange and strengthened partnerships among stakeholders, paving the way for future advancements in NBS and sustainable agricultural practices from the Baltic to the Caspian region.
