On behalf of the Lithuanian Organising Committee, we are pleased to invite you to the 59th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production that will take place in Vilnius from 24th to the 27th August 2008.

The theme of the meeting is „Efficient and environmentally friendly livestock farming“. The theme is topical not only for Lithuania, but it reflects the problems of worldwide development of the sector.

EAAP Annual Meeting will be organized for the first time in Lithuania and for the first time in a Baltic country. After Lithuania became an independent country, agriculture in Lithuania and especially animal breeding sector experienced changes and, new systems where created and implemented. Some are still in place. This Congress gives a unique possibility to acquaint with the animal breeding sector in our country and to share this experience.

We hope that the theme of the congress and the scientific programme will help find solutions for the most actual and problematic questions and will be a good impulse for the animal breeding sector for new opportunities in order to meet today’s challenges.

Englobing the beauty and the variety of the different regions and cultural heritage of Lithuania we have prepared a programme of social events and a special programme for accompanying persons. Our country has vast and varied agricultural regions, with different cultures that blend together and is the modern Lithuania that we hope you will visit and enjoy.

We look forward to seeing you in Vilnius in August 2008.

The Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania

Kazimira Danutė Prunskienė