Forest 4.0 at AgriFood Forum 2025
Last week, the Forest 4.0 team joined the AgriFood Forum 2025 — the leading Baltic event shaping the future of sustainable agriculture, food systems, and the broader bioeconomy. Our participation highlighted an important message: the transition to a resilient and green future requires strong links between agriculture, forestry, digital innovation, and research.
What we brought to the Forum:
- Insights on how data technologies and AI can strengthen sustainable land use
- Examples of how digital innovation accelerates the transformation of various ecosystems and sectors
- Fresh ideas about development of carbon markets in Europe and Lithuania
Each year, AgriFood Forum gathers forward-thinking leaders from business, policy, academia, and innovation ecosystems. For Forest 4.0, it was a valuable space to connect with agrifood innovators, discuss shared challenges, and explore opportunities where forest and agriculture sectors can collaborate for smarter and more sustainable landscapes.
We are excited to bring new knowledge, connections, and ideas back to the Forest 4.0 community — and to continue building bridges between digital forestry and the wider bioeconomy.
Let's Network at the AgriFood Forum 2025
We’re excited to share that the team behind Forest 4.0 will be present at the upcoming AgriFood Forum in Vilnius this upcoming Wednesday.
The AgriFood Forum is a key gathering of innovators, industry players, policy-makers and researchers in the agri-food and value-chain space. With themes emphasising digitalisation, sustainability and cross-sector collaboration, it’s an ideal environment for us at the Forest 4.0 team to connect with new partners.
For our work on the wood value chain, this event presents a perfect opportunity to:
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explore how forestry and wood-industry stakeholders can link with the agrifood ecosystem
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identify synergies with new digital tools and innovation frameworks
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meet potential partners interested in collaboration, funding, and realising practical outcomes
Forest 4.0 team is focused on building a platform that connects stakeholders across the full forest-to-industry value chain: from forest management, harvesting, processing, through to manufacturing and product delivery. Our attending team members will be ready to discuss: how digitalisation and innovation can enhance efficiency, flexibility and precision in wood-based manufacturing; collaboration models for universities, municipalities, business associates and associations and specific project ideas and partnership possibilities (e.g., pilot studies, demonstration projects).
If you’re attending the Forum, we’d love to meet you. Whether you’re from a forestry company, a furniture manufacturer, a tech developer, a policy body or an innovation hub - let’s sit down, chat ideas and explore how we might work together.
Visit the event website: digitalfarm.lt or look for our team from Forest 4.0 during the conference hours and workshops and send us a message ahead of time if you’d like to schedule a short one-on-one meeting.
We’re looking forward to a dynamic day of insights, collaboration and fresh connections. If you’re interested in innovation at the intersection of forestry, wood manufacturing and digital transformation, this is a must-attend. See you in Vilnius this Wednesday!
Conference on Digitalisation in the Wood Value Chain: Insights, Innovation, and Industry Needs
Thursday marked the official launch of the Conference on Digitalisation in the Wood Value Chain, hosted by Vytautas Magnus University together with the Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence. The event brought together representatives from academia, industry, and innovation organisations to explore how digital technologies are reshaping the forest-based value chain and what is needed to support its further development.
Opening the conference, Tomas Krilavičius, lead partner of the Forest 4.0 project, introduced the vision behind the newly established Centre of Excellence. He emphasised that the aim is not to compete with existing institutions, but to create a collaborative platform that connects stakeholders across the entire value chain.
“With Forest 4.0, we are building a Centre of Excellence to create a network of stakeholders from across the forest-based value chain. We do not want to compete with universities or associations, but rather provide a new platform for collaboration, merging digitalisation and innovation. Conferences like this help us receive direct feedback from the industry and better understand how we can support this transition,” he explained.
One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation by Ingrida Grikpėdienė from Vakarų Medienos Grupė, who shared insights into the company’s latest projects and its long-term strategy. She highlighted the key competencies required for a competitive and future-ready wood industry, underlining a strong and consistent focus on sustainability, innovation, and leadership skills. Her presentation concluded with a thought-provoking quote by Eliyahu Goldratt: “Automation is good, so long as you know exactly where to do it.”
The topic of digitalisation continued with Paulius Darvidas, Head of the IT and Digital Solutions Department at Lintera Group, who addressed some of the most common myths surrounding digital transformation in the furniture ecosystem. His talk offered a realistic view of what digitalisation truly means for manufacturers and where its real value lies.
The conference then moved into thematic workshops, where participants engaged in open discussions on current industry challenges and explored practical, applicable solutions. These group sessions provided valuable perspectives on the real needs of the sector today, bridging the gap between theory, innovation, and practice.
The event confirmed that digitalisation is no longer a distant vision for the wood value chain — it is an ongoing process that requires collaboration, shared knowledge, and a clear understanding of industry needs. Initiatives such as the Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence play a vital role in bringing these stakeholders together and shaping a smarter, more sustainable future for the sector.
Forest 4.0 Webinar No3 Recap: Digital Innovations in Wood Measurement and Forest Data
On 14 November 2025, the Forest 4.0 CoE hosted the third webinar in its ongoing series “Smart Solutions for Forests”, bringing together forestry professionals, digital innovators, and technology providers. The session focused on one of the most rapidly evolving areas in the sector - wood measurement and digitalisation.
Why Digital Wood Measurement Matters?
Accurate wood measurement is the backbone of effective forest management, fair trade, and transparent resource monitoring. As digital technologies advance, the forestry sector gains new tools for solving long-standing challenges such as inconsistent measurements, human error, and slow reporting workflows. Key Topics and Expert Insights:
Wood Measurement Challenges in Lithuania and Beyond
Romas Memgaudas and Edmundas Petrauskas from the Lithuanian Independent Wood Measurement Association (LNMMA) discussed current industry challenges and global trends. Their presentation highlighted the growing importance of digital systems for ensuring accuracy, reducing disputes, and enabling data-driven decision-making.
Photogrammetry as a Game Changer
Giedrius Bosas (LNMMA / Forest 4.0) presented how photogrammetry is revolutionising forest data collection and wood volume calculations. By transforming images into highly accurate 3D models, photogrammetry offers a fast, precise, and cost-effective alternative to traditional manual methods.
Tools and Devices for Smarter Forest Work
Audrius Smilgius (UAB “Smilgius”) introduced participants to the newest field devices designed for forestry professionals. These tools enable faster, more efficient measurements and support the broader shift toward digital forest management.
A Growing Community of Digital Forestry Enthusiasts
The active participation, questions, and shared experiences of attendees underscored the strong interest in digital forestry solutions. Forest 4.0’s mission is to create a space where technology providers, researchers, and practitioners come together to drive innovation in the sector — and this webinar was another important step forward.
The “Smart Solutions for Forests” webinar series continues, with upcoming session foreseen in mid December, focusing on the latest tools, research, and best practices shaping the forest sector. Follow the Forest 4.0 to stay updated on our events and resources.
Missed the webinar? The full recording is available below (Lithuanian only).
Forest 4.0 Event Invitation: Digitalisation in the Wood Value Chain
Digitalisation is becoming essential for the wood sector. With rising raw material and energy costs and a shrinking workforce, data-driven processes and automation are key to staying competitive. That is why Forest 4.0 invites you to the national conference and discussion “Forest 4.0: Digitalisation in the Wood Value Chain” which will take place on 20 th November at the Agriculture Academy of Vytautas Magnus University.
During the event, we will:
🍃discuss the most pressing digitalisation needs and challenges in the sector,
🍃hear insights and experiences from industry and academic experts,
🍃work in thematic groups to explore concrete solutions for companies.
Thematic groups: Saw-milling and primary processing; Panels, composites, and cellulose; Furniture industry; Biofuel; Timber construction. When registering, please choose the thematic group most relevant to you.
📆 Date: 20 November 2025 (9:30–17:00)
📍 Venue: VMU Agriculture Academy, Building III
🔗 Registration (limited seats): https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=iRNwEFtPeEC66iCeOcYhDhdMpebSEB5ElDJ0-hDNgKZUOEFXTDdPWTEwUUFIVTRJMFA0TVFaUTBZTC4u&route=shorturl
📢 The event is free of charge and will be held in Lithuanian.
Let’s build the digital future of the wood industry together.
Building Collaboration for Innovation: Highlights from the Forest 4.0 Partner Meeting in Kaunas
On 3–4 November, the Forest 4.0 consortium gathered in Kaunas for two inspiring and productive days dedicated to co-creation, knowledge exchange, and exploring new partnership opportunities across the forestry and furniture sectors.
Co-creating the Future Centre of Excellence
The first day of the meeting focused on a series of co-creation workshops aimed at shaping the vision and role of the upcoming Centre of Excellence (CoE). Partners explored how the CoE can become a vibrant meeting ground where researchers and companies collaborate, exchange expertise, and turn scientific knowledge into real-world innovation.
Discussions centred on how to ensure the Centre becomes a trusted hub that supports the entire forestry value chain—from research and development to technology transfer and industry application.
Visiting Furniture Factories Around Kaunas
The second day was dedicated to field visits, offering participants a closer look at the operations and business models of furniture manufacturers in the Kaunas region. These on-the-ground visits provided rich insights into production processes, innovation practices, and potential areas for collaboration.
A big thank you to our hosts: Baldai Jums – A company that oversees the full journey from log in the forest to the final product on the showroom floor, and Virūna – A factory known for its strong expertise in tailor-made, bespoke furniture solutions.
Exploring New Collaboration Opportunities
The knowledge gained during the visits set the stage for a productive business lunch, where partners were joined by representatives from the business community and policy-making institutions. These discussions highlighted several promising paths for future cooperation and strengthened the ties between research, industry, and public stakeholders.
The Forest 4.0 team continues to work on developing the Centre of Excellence into a reliable, forward-thinking partner for stakeholders across the forestry value chain. The ambition is clear: to build a top-of-mind innovation support hub for Lithuania and, in time, the wider region.
Balancing Society’s Needs and Ecosystem Protection: Insights from the Vilnius GreenTech Forum
At the Vilnius GreenTech Forum, a high-level discussion on the future of Lithuania’s forests brought together experts from policy, science, and industry. The session was moderated by Nerijus Kupstaitis, CEO of the Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence, who opened the conversation by reflecting on the remarkable progress Lithuania has made in developing its forest sector.
Over the past five decades, Lithuania has expanded its forest cover from 20% to 33% of the country, established productive timber-rich forests, and designated nearly 35% of them as protected or ecologically valuable areas. The forest sector now generates more than 5% of GDP, provides around 60,000 jobs, and supports a growing wood processing industry and biomass energy sector.
Yet today, climate change, biodiversity loss, and evolving societal expectations are reshaping what Lithuania needs from its forests. Kupstaitis emphasised that these challenges require not only changes in forestry practices but also stronger political will to make long-term strategic decisions. The National Forest Agreement (2021–2023) demonstrated that balancing competing interests: economic use, recreation, conservation, and climate goals - is impossible without compromise and a clear strategic direction.
During the discussion, experts explored several critical questions:
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How can multifunctional forests and protected areas be managed to reflect diverse societal needs while safeguarding ecosystems?
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What types of forests - more diverse, naturally developing, or actively managed—will best serve future generations?
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Are current forestry practices sufficient, or should Lithuania expand approaches such as continuous-cover forestry, precision forestry, or agroforestry?
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How can the interests of nature conservation and sustainable timber use be better aligned?
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Is there a viable alternative to the current timber-based financing model?
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And what role should science, education, and digital innovation play in shaping the next Lithuanian Forest Strategy?
The conversation highlighted a shared understanding that Lithuania’s forests face both significant challenges and significant opportunities. As Kupstaitis noted, finding balance will require evidence-based decisions, innovative technologies, and close collaboration across sectors.
The Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence will continue contributing to this dialogue, supporting smarter, more sustainable solutions for Lithuania’s forests.
Digital Transformation: Toward New Business Models for the Forestry Value Chain
Digital transformation has reshaped almost every part of our daily lives - from how we shop and learn to how we manage work and personal tasks. It’s hard to imagine a world without the internet; the thought alone feels uncomfortable. This shift is powered by the rapid development of digital technologies that are fundamentally changing how we live and do business.
Innovation today is inseparable from technology. With digital infrastructure at the core of modern life, disruption is inevitable. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the current headline topic - every industry is exploring how to use it, even if not everyone fully understands it yet. The Internet of Things (IoT) is another driver, transforming physical objects into connected, data-driven components of integrated platforms. Blockchain, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) are also blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds, and they are already entering traditionally conservative sectors such as furniture manufacturing and forestry.
Technology-driven change is not new. History shows a steady wave of industrial revolutions: Steam power and mechanization (Industry 1.0), Electricity and mass production (Industry 2.0), Automation and electronics (Industry 3.0), today’s cyber-physical systems and data-driven innovation (Industry 4.0). What’s different now is the scale and speed of data generation. Every day, each of us produces an astonishing amount of digital information - about 1.7 megabytes per second. Photos, calls, clicks, and online interactions leave a constant data trail. This data doesn’t disappear; it’s stored, analyzed, and monetized, powering decisions and shaping new business models.
Tech adoption is accelerating faster than ever. Consider how long it took to reach 100 million users for different platforms: Google Translate was growing for 78 months, ChatGPT hit this milestone in just 2 months. On the other hand, companies that fail to adapt risk disappearing. Once-dominant brands like Nokia and Kodak illustrate what happens when businesses ignore technological change. Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Netflix reinvented entire industries without owning physical stores or traditional broadcasting channels.
For sectors like furniture and forestry, long seen as stable and traditional, this is a wake-up call. The question is no longer if digital disruption will come, but how to move from reacting to it toward proactively shaping it.
This is where the concept of Forest 4.0 emerges - envisioning a forestry value chain that leverages data, automation, and digital platforms to innovate sustainably and create new business models for the future.
Interested on how these developments will take place? Follow the Forest 4.0 journey online and find out!
Insights from Arianit Kurti’s presentation in the international conference in Tranas.
Digitalisation Meets the Forest – First Webinar Recap
On September 19th, we launched the Forest 4.0 webinar series - a journey of ten online sessions exploring how digital technologies can transform forestry and help address the challenges our forests face today. The first webinar set the stage by looking at the big picture: what is Forest 4.0 and how can digitalisation help manage forests more sustainably and effectively than current approaches?
During the session, Nerijus Kupstaitis, CEO of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) Forest 4.0 in Lithuania, pointed out that the digital maturity level in the country’s forestry sector varies widely. While some areas have begun integrating technology, many are still taking their first steps. Tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), and robotics are emerging but remain in the early stages of adoption. These technologies have the potential to transform data collection, forest monitoring, and decision-making, opening doors to smarter and more efficient forest management.
Gintautas Mozgeris, scientist at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), emphasized that if we truly want to protect forests and the benefits they provide, we need innovative solutions based on scientific research and reliable information. Tackling today's challenges requires new tools built on solid scientific data and reliable information. Advanced digital technologies can monitor forests in real time, increase transparency and accountability in forest management, boost operational efficiency, and support long-term ecosystem sustainability. By combining science with cutting-edge digital tools, we can better understand our forests and protect them for future generations.
And review the presentation slides (only in Lithuanian): Slides about Forest 4.0 & Slides about Smart Forestry
The Forest 4.0 journey is just beginning. Our next webinar will take place on October 17, 13:00–15:00 EET, focusing on the discussion on forests and digitalisation. Follow Forest 4.0 to receive your invitation and stay connected as we continue exploring how technology can help safeguard and enhance our forests.
https://youtu.be/s9eT3sE0UKw
September Highlights: Forest 4.0 Sharing Insights at Key Innovation Events
September was an intensive and exciting period for the Forest 4.0 team, filled with presentations, international visibility, and the launch of new initiatives. Our experts were invited to share insights on how digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and innovative research can transform forestry and contribute to sustainable development in Lithuania and beyond.
The Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence (CoE) kicked off a new free webinar series, “Smart Solutions for Forests.” The series is designed to bring together policymakers, foresters, forest owners, researchers, businesses, and everyone who cares about the future of forests. Participants can expect insights into advanced forestry in Lithuania, digitalisation trends, practical tools for forest inventory and data analysis, international case studies, and discussions on nature-based forestry and innovation. The first introductory webinar set the stage for open dialogue and knowledge exchange on how technology can support sustainable forest management.
The team also participated at an event organized by the Research Council of Lithuania, dedicated to exploring Innovation Perspectives for Businesses. The gathering brought together forward-looking innovation leaders from companies such as ELINTA, Blackswan Space, and Agrokoncernas Group, alongside representatives from academia and government institutions. Tomas Krilavičius, lead partner of Forest 4.0, shared his vision on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence:
“Artificial intelligence is like the new electricity or the new internet – we will need to explore and fine-tune how we can use it effectively and ethically. It will shape many areas of our daily lives, businesses, and even state governance. With Forest 4.0, we are exploring how AI can support sustainable forest management and bring innovation into the very traditional field of forestry,” said Tomas Krilavičius.
Forest 4.0 took part in the GO Furniture Meta-Cluster Hub Meeting 2025 in Tranås, Sweden - an event led by Interior Cluster Sweden, which brought together professionals from academia, cluster organisations, public authorities, and businesses to accelerate the green and digital transformation of the furniture, interior, and forestry sectors. The discussions focused on how breakthrough technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain are reshaping even the most traditional industries and ecosystems. The Forest 4.0 team also visited EFG headquarters and participated in the Möbelriksdagen conference, gaining valuable insights into innovation trends in the Nordic furniture and forestry industries.
The project was also showcased on the global stage at the Venice Architecture Biennale, where a symposium was hosted by the Lithuanian pavilion. Nerijus Kupstaitis, CEO of the Forest 4.0 Centre of Excellence, together with Dr. Marius Aleinikovas, Deputy Director of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, joined discussions on how forests, wood, and innovative research are shaping the future of sustainable architecture. Lithuania’s contribution highlighted the importance of sustainable forestry and advanced research in creating new opportunities for climate-conscious design and construction.
Finally, Tomas Krilavičius participated in the KoDi’25 conference in Šiauliai, which brought together experts in computer science, AI, ICT, cybersecurity, and digital innovation in education and business. He spoke on “Information Technology in Lithuania: Challenges and Opportunities” and presented Forest 4.0 as a practical example of how coding and digital tools can bring innovation and sustainability to forestry, connecting one of the most traditional sectors with modern technologies. More about the conference here.
These activities demonstrated the growing importance of technology and innovation for the future of forestry and highlighted Forest 4.0’s role as a bridge between cutting-edge research, digital transformation, and practical solutions. By engaging with leaders in technology, business, design, and academia across Lithuania and Europe — and by creating platforms such as the Smart Solutions for Forests webinar series — the project continues to shape the dialogue on how artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation can redefine the future of forestry and its contribution to a more sustainable world.