Exhibition "PIEŠINIAI. MIESTAI"

VILNIUS TECH Library invites you to follow the published new dissertations. The dissertation „A framework for assessing food loss and waste along the food supply chain: the case of Lithuania“ prepared at VILNIUS TECH by Ovidija Eičaitė. The dissertation was prepared in 2025–2026. Scientific consultant – Dr Tomas Baležentis. The dissertation was defended at the public meeting of the Dissertation Defence Council of the Scientific Field of Economics in the Aula Doctoralis Meeting Hall of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University at 10 a.m. on 11 June 2026. Food loss and waste (FLW) represents a global challenge with serious environmental, economic, and social implications. It contributes to inefficient use of resources, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and financial losses across the food supply chain (FSC), while also undermining efforts to achieve food security. To address this issue, the United Nations (UN) set Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve food waste at the retail and consumer level by 2030 and reduce food loss in production and supply chains. Achieving this goal requires a comprehensive assessment of FLW and systematic data collection across all stages of the FSC. This dissertation develops and applies a framework for assessing FLW across the key stages of the Lithuanian FSC. The framework clearly defines FLW, determines the scope of the assessment, and establishes a methodological approach for measuring and analysing FLW based on primary data collection using questionnaire-based surveys in primary production, the food industry, and retail trade, as well as food waste diaries in households. The application of the developed framework delivers the first comprehensive FLW estimates for primary production, the food industry, and households in Lithuania, while also providing more precise food waste estimates for retail trade than previously available. The results show that estimates of food loss in primary production vary substantially across products, ranging from 0.1% for milk to 20.1% for beets. Environmental factors and stringent consumer or buyer standards are the main contributors to crop losses, while diseases represent the main cause of livestock losses. The food industry generates an estimated 10.9 thousand tonnes of edible food loss annually, corresponding to approximately 4 kg per capita, mainly due to inefficiencies in processing operations and product non-compliance with commercial standards. Retail trade generates 36.4 thousand tonnes of food waste each year, equivalent to about 13 kg per capita, largely driven by product expiration and spoilage. Household food waste averages 74.5 kg of edible food per capita per year, with common causes including spoilage, over-preparation, and over-serving. The estimates generated in this research establish a baseline for FLW across the key stages of the Lithuanian FSC, enabling monitoring of changes and supporting more refined and comparable assessments over time. They also provide an empirical basis for formulating and evaluating measures aimed at reducing FLW. Doctoral dissertation readers can search via VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library.

A significant international recognition has been awarded to Lithuania’s science and innovation community. TTO Lithuania—the national collaboration platform uniting Lithuanian Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs)—has officially become a member of the National Associations Advisory Council (NAAC), a governing body of the European knowledge and technology transfer association ASTP. This achievement marks another important step in Lithuania’s continued integration into Europe’s highest-level knowledge transfer and innovation governance structures. In its official welcome letter, ASTP emphasized that TTO Lithuania’s membership will strengthen the voice of Lithuania’s innovation community and provide opportunities to contribute actively to the development of European Union innovation policies. Vilma Purienė, Director of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Centre at VILNIUS TECH and current Chair of the TTO Lithuania network, has been appointed as Lithuania’s official representative to the committee.   What Is NAAC and Why Does It Matter for Lithuania? The National Associations Advisory Council (NAAC) is one of ASTP’s key governance bodies, currently bringing together 35 national associations from 28 European countries. The committee serves as a vital link between European-level initiatives, regional technology transfer offices, and local innovation ecosystems. By becoming a full member of NAAC, TTO Lithuania gains strategic opportunities in four key areas:   Representation and Visibility Each national association is represented in the committee by one official delegate. From now on, the interests and perspectives of Lithuania’s knowledge and technology transfer professionals will be represented alongside those of Europe’s leading innovation nations.   Advisory Role in European Innovation Policy NAAC members provide direct advice to ASTP’s Executive Board on European and EU policy matters related to innovation, knowledge commercialization, and technology deployment. This enables Lithuania not only to learn from international best practices but also to share its own experiences, achievements, and emerging trends with the broader European innovation community.   Influence on Governance NAAC holds the unique right to nominate candidates directly to the ASTP Executive Board, ensuring that the perspectives of national associations remain an integral part of strategic decision-making processes.   Participation in Decision-Making As a member of the council, TTO Lithuania gains voting rights within the organization, allowing it to participate directly in the adoption of key resolutions and the submission of proposals.   A Step Towards Deeper European Integration NAAC members collaborate actively throughout the year. The council typically holds five to six meetings annually, including four online sessions and up to two in-person gatherings. These meetings address the most pressing issues in knowledge transfer, review developments in regulatory frameworks, and foster the creation of joint initiatives and projects. TTO Lithuania’s accession to the council opens new opportunities for specialists from Lithuanian universities, research institutes, and technology transfer organizations to engage more closely in international processes, strengthen their professional expertise, and help ensure that Lithuanian scientific discoveries and innovations reach global markets more effectively. This milestone further reinforces Lithuania’s position within the European innovation ecosystem and highlights the growing recognition of the country’s contributions to knowledge transfer, research commercialization, and innovation-driven growth.