Asnate Kirse
Dr Asnate Kirse (sc.ing) was born in Riga, Latvia. Dr Kirse is a research scientist at Faculty of Food Technology, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology's Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics (AREI).
She defended her PhD thesis "Effect of advanced processing methods on the quality of pulse spreads during shelf-life" in Food Science in Spring 2017.
She also holds Master's degree in Nutrition Science (Mg. sc. sal.).
Her research interests are development of new products and microbiological analysis of foodstuff. Currently, her research is focused on the bioaccessibility of nutrients after enzymatic in vitro digestion of foodstuff in static gastrointestinal tract model.
She has 22 scientific publications.
Project Eurolegume
Innovative solutions for the production of protein and fiber-rich foods from peas, broad beans and field beans grown in Latvia - pluse spreads, extruded legume snacks and bars - have been developed (financial support by EU 7th Framework programme "Eurolegume" No 613781) at the Faculty of Food Technology, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.
The study focuses on the use of advanced technologies to ensure the nutrition value and safety of products (high pressure processing, extrusion, biodegradable and active packaging).
The results of the research have been published in 20 scientific publications, 2 doctoral theses were defended in 2017, the results were reported at 25 international scientific conferences and exhibitions, products prepared for commercialization (Technology Readiness Level / TRL 7).
As a recognition of the completed research "Innovative protein and fiber-rich products from legumes grown in Latvia" and the obtained results, the award "The most significant achievement of Latvian science in 2017"1 in the category "Achievement in Applied Science" was received by the Latvian Academy of Sciences in February 2018.
Team: prof. Dr.sc.ing. Sandra Muizniece-Brasava, visit. assist. prof. Dr.sc.ing. Asnate Kirse, Dr.sc.ing. Liene Strauta, prof. Dr.sc.ing. Ruta Galoburda, prof. Dr.sc.ing. Daina Karklina, Bc.sc.ing. Evija Puiskina.
A total of 12 awards were given for research in different fields (medicine, literature, music, physics, IT etc.), 5 in applied sciences and 7 in theoretical sciences.
Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics
The "Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics" (AREI) was founded on 1 January, 2016 according to the Regulation No. 640 (October 21, 2015) of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia, by merging of several institutions, namely, the agricultural research institutes "State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute", "State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute" and "Latvia State Institute of Agrarian Economics" and the scientific staff of "Latgale Agricultural Research Centre", Ltd. Now it is the only research institute in Latvia engaged in breeding of field crops; its researchers specialize in breeding, arable farming and interdisciplinary studies in the science of economics.
The main research directions of the institute:
*field crop genetics and breeding for integrated and organic farming systems;
*development of sustainable field crop growing technologies for various farming systems;
*evaluation of field crop quality for effective use;
*production of feed;
*economics of sustainable development of bio resource industries;
*efficiency of production processes and company competitiveness;
*sustainable development of territories.