Text Box: Dear colleagues, it is a great pleasure to extend the invitation for participating in the International Scientific Conference in May next year. In 2009 Lithuania is celebrating the millennium of the mention of its name, and the Conference is dedicated to the anniversary and is aimed at discussing new challenges and possible solutions for agriculture and food industry in Europe. Globalisation influences the environment resulting in increased competition, pollution, rising demand in food and the deteriorating food quality, growing prices on food and raw materials, and unstable production prices. Business risk management in agriculture and food industry is also influenced by climate changes. Preservation of the identity and vitality of rural areas by providing possibilities for alternative activities and improving life quality of rural inhabitants with the help of knowledge management become key issues on the national level. Innovation is the way to address such challenges and the most important factor for increasing competitiveness and successful development of agriculture and food industry. The conference will be held in Vilnius, the European Capital of Culture in 2009. The Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2009, too. Text Box: Vilnius, 27–29 May 2009. CROWNE PLAZA M.K. Čiurlionio str. 84, Vilnius, Lithuania http://www.cpvilnius.com Text Box: Topics for discussions at the Conference: Businesses in the age of Globalisation. Consumers and food quality. Climate change, new opportunities and solutions. Development of rural areas. Human resources and knowledge management. Agenda: Wednesday, 27 May 2009. 16:00 Welcome & opening of the conference. Reception dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics. Thursday, 28 May 2009. Work in sections. Friday, 29 May 2009. Work in sections and closing of the conference. Visits to innovative agricultural farms and food industry undertakings are planned for Friday afternoon (at extra cost). Conference papers and a publication: Deadline for registration / expression of interest (with title, abstract and summary) is 20 February 2009. Deadline for submitting papers is 4 May 2009. Format of Poster presentation may be chosen by authors. Duration of presentations - 20 minutes. Additional 10 minutes may be used for discussions. Power Point program should be used for slide presentation. Deadline for submitting slide presentation is 15 May 2009. Selected papers will be published in the special edition of the journal “Agricultural Sciences” published by the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, website: http://www.lma.lt and http://www.maleidykla.katalogas.lt/ Conference language: The official languages of the Conference shall be Lithuanian and English. Simultaneous translation will be provided at the conference. Visual information (tables, diagrams, etc.) should be presented in English. Registration and fees: Deadline for registration of participation in the conference is 4 May 2009. Conference fee is EUR 100 or LTL 345. Conference fees include the welcoming dinner, two lunches, refreshments and conference report. Registration fee for lecturers and special guests may be covered by conference organizers. Fee for visits shall be paid by participants (not included in the conference fee). Culture events in Vilnius during the Conference: 27 – 31 May 2009 XXXVII International Folklore Festival „Skamba skamba kankliai“. Website: http://www.etno.lt/Default.aspx?tabid=5987 „Vilnius – European capital of culture 2009“. Website http://www.culturelive.lt/lt/main/. Text Box: The aim of the Conference: The aim of the conference is to provide the forum and invite for discussions researchers, politicians and public representatives related with agriculture and food industry and rural activities. The conference will open a dialogue bringing together different participants for sharing new ideas and future perspectives, discussing new scientific research achievements and guidelines.