Estonia
Administrative level
The main Ministries responsible for research policy in Estonia in the field of agriculture and related fields are
- the Ministry of Education and Research - the web page provides link to the Knowledge-based Estonia. Estonian Research and Development Strategy 2002-2006 )
- the Ministry of Agriculture
The areas of activity of the Ministry of Agriculture are drafting and realisation of national agricultural development plans and implementation of corresponding measures, regulation of activities related to the processing of agricultural products, agricultural market regulation, the national stocks of basic grain seed and food grains, food control and supervision, plant protection, veterinary medicine, animal and plant breeding, land improvement. The Ministry conducts agricultural research, provides education and training, and prepares relevant draft legislation.
The objective of the activities of the Ministry is to provide conditions for the sustainable and diverse development of Estonian rural life, agriculture, and fishing industry, to ensure safe and proper food and feeding-stuffs, and a good state of animal health and protection and plant health and protection fields through evolvement, implementation and assessment of rural development, agricultural, and fisheries policies and elaboration and implementation of food safety, animal health and protection, and plant health and protection requirements.
The principal functions of the Ministry are:
The competence of the governmental authorities within the area of government of the Ministry and the state authorities administered by the Ministry in the performance of duties within the area of government of the Ministry shall be laid down in their statutes.
Two research institutes work under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture – the Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture and Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute
At the Ministry of Agriculture, the department most involved in the area of agricultural research in Estonia is the Department of Research and Development.
Agricultural Research and Development
On 21 December 2004 the Estonian Government confirmed the national programme “Agricultural Applied Research and Development in 2004-2008”. This national programme was devised in order to support applied research and to guarantee a regulated and transparent funding system for applied research.
So as to promote and disseminate information on R&D activities both locally and internationally, summaries of the funded projects are available at the website of the Estonian Research and Development Information System
Research institutions
Universities and colleges
- Estonian University of Life Sciences (formerly known as the Estonian Agricultural University)
- Tallinn University of Technology
- University of Tartu
- Olustvere School of Service and Rural Economics
- Luua Forestry School
- Räpina Gardening College
Other useful links