Lithuania Living Lab: Science, Farming, and People

Overview

Key Focus

The Lithuanian Living Lab, coordinated by Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), isn't just a single experiment. It is a connected ecosystem where the VMU Botanical Garden serves as the central education hub, while two operational farms provide real-world testing grounds for technology and nature-based solutions.

Managing frost risks, biodiversity monitoring, and evaluating the socio-economic reality of sustainable farming.

Lithuania’s research network connects academic innovation at VMU Botanical Garden with real-world sensor testing across specialized commercial honeysuckle and blackcurrant farms.

Central Hub · Kaunas

Host: Eglė Šniurevičiūtė

Host: Žilvinas Jasinevičius

VMU Botanical Garden

River-side Farm

Blackcurrant Farm

Serving as the central research and education hub. Focuses on biodiversity, specialized sensor testing, and hosting public agroecological events like Uogų dienos.

Specializing in honeysuckle (Haskap) and medicinal plants. Applies EcoFlourish sensors to track plant health, environmental performance, and bioactive compounds in an operational setting.

Dedicated to field-scale precision monitoring in commercial blackcurrant production. Deploys telemetry systems to track soil metrics, canopy development, and yield resilience.

Combining aerial multispectral sensing, ground telemetry, and ecological monitoring to form an integrated digital twin of research farmland.

Drone-Mounted Multispectral Cameras

Soil & Microclimate Sensors

Mapping crop health from above to see what the human eye cannot.

Real-time tracking of moisture, temperature, and environmental stress.

Specialized Biodiversity Devices

Data Integration

Advanced tools to monitor insect activity and ecological health.

Combining drone imagery with ground sensors for a complete "Digital Twin" of the field.

We believe technology only works if it works for the people. Our lab doesn't just track plants; we track perceptions and barriers.

What We Measure

Through surveys and interviews, we capture farmer experiences, labor costs, and the economic reality of adopting new practices. This ensures our solutions are not only scientific but also practical and profitable.

Check out our recent "Uogų dienos" event held at the VMU Botanical Garden, where we brought our research directly to the public.