Last week, the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC) hosted a national scientific conference that attracted strong interest from the research community, policymakers, practitioners, and farmers, focusing on sustainable soil management, climate-smart agriculture, and applied environmental research.
For the first time, RTO Lithuania participated in the conference not only by presenting its mission and activities, but also together with interdisciplinary research teams that were implementing projects funded through the Association activities. This joint participation highlighted RTO Lithuania’s role as a national platform connecting research excellence across institutions and disciplines.
During the conference, RTO Lithuania introduced its mission to connect research and transform society by fostering collaboration between leading Lithuanian research institutes and accelerating the translation of scientific knowledge into solutions addressing societal, environmental, and economic challenges.
RTO-Funded Interdisciplinary Research Projects
As part of the poster session, RTO Lithuania showcased four interdisciplinary research projects, implemented jointly by its member organisations and funded through the Association’s internal competitive calls:
PACE – Drone-Based Remote Detection of Gas Leaks
The PACE project addresses critical infrastructure safety by exploring the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for detecting gas leaks from pipelines. The project integrates modelling expertise from the Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI), field experimentation by LAMMC, and sensor technologies developed at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC). Key objectives include the development of UAV flight-planning algorithms and the validation of mathematical models predicting gas dispersion under varying climatic conditions.
BioDenEta – Bioethanol Potential of Hybrid Tree Clones
BioDenEta focuses on dendrometric analysis and chemical characterisation of Populus hybrid clones to assess their suitability for bioethanol production under Lithuanian climatic conditions. Implemented jointly by LEI and LAMMC, the project involves detailed chemical analyses of wood samples from 109 hybrid clones using thermogravimetric analysis and calorimetry to estimate their bioenergy potential.
PLASTRO – Microplastics in Plant Systems
The PLASTRO project investigates the transport of microplastics within plant systems using advanced microfluidic modelling. Addressing growing global concerns about microplastics entering the food chain, the project represents a cutting-edge intersection of physical and biological sciences, with contributions from FTMC, LEI, and LAMMC.
Application of ¹³C and ¹⁵N Isotope Methods to Study Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Soil Carbon Sequestration
This project was an outstanding example for sucsessuful collaboration in the year of 2024. It applies stable isotope techniques to investigate nitrogen fixation in leguminous crops and to assess soil carbon sequestration potential. The research provides valuable insights into nutrient cycling processes and the role of agricultural systems in climate change mitigation.
Strengthening Collaboration and Looking Ahead
By participating in the conference, RTO Lithuania reinforced its role as a trusted platform for interdisciplinary research, dialogue between science and practice, and collaboration across institutional and sectoral boundaries. The event also enabled direct engagement with stakeholders from agriculture, forestry, and environmental management, creating opportunities for future joint initiatives and applied research partnerships.
Later this week, RTO Lithuania will announce a call opening for this years interdisciplinary research ideas competition under a new name RTO NEXUS. The upcoming call will invite research teams to develop ambitious, cross-disciplinary project ideas addressing key societal challenges. Registration details will be published soon.
Connecting Research. Transforming Society.