College of Ag Sciences and Lithuania advance agriculture through partnership

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A longstanding relationship between Pennsylvania and the Baltic nation of Lithuania is expanding through a newly formalized partnership between Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania.

The two universities recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining their shared commitment to exploring collaborative opportunities in research, teaching and education.

The agricultural partnership represents the latest chapter in a broader formalized relationship that dates to the early 1990s. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States established what would become the State Partnership Program, pairing state National Guards with foreign countries to share best practices and knowledge across a broad swath of areas. Pennsylvania was one of the first three states in the program, and as home to roughly 10% of all Lithuanians living in the United States, the state was paired with Lithuania in 1993.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding have built on that foundation in recent years, with a focused commitment to expanding the partnership into other critical areas, such as agriculture. In 2024, Redding led a Pennsylvania delegation to Lithuania. As Pennsylvania’s only land-grant institution and home to strong agricultural expertise, Penn State representatives were invited to explore opportunities to integrate research and provide student exchanges.

Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of Ag Sciences Global in the college, was a member of that delegation. The 2024 delegation built the groundwork for the current MOU between Penn State and Vytautas Magnus University, which Behring said will be key to achieving shared goals.

“This partnership demonstrates how Penn State can support Pennsylvania’s broader economic, diplomatic and national security objectives in collaboration with the governor’s office and the Department of Agriculture,” Behring said. “Universities play an important role in these efforts, and we are excited about the opportunities that can emerge through working together.”

She added that the memorandum of understanding reflects shared priorities between Pennsylvania and Lithuania, including faculty exchanges, research collaboration and educational opportunities for students. Lithuania and Pennsylvania both have strong forestry, dairy and livestock sectors, as well as a mutual interest in addressing agricultural pests and zoonotic diseases that affect both regions.

It also highlights opportunities for innovation in sustainable agriculture and bioproduct development, particularly research focused on converting waste materials into valuable food and energy products.

A recent effort that further strengthens the partnership involved Ali Demirci, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State, who traveled to Lithuania to teach a four-day intensive course, “Production of Value-Added Products from Renewable Sources Using Microorganisms,” at the Agriculture Academy of Vytautas Magnus University.

The course provided students, doctoral candidates and faculty members with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of biotechnological processes, the application of microorganisms and the development of value-added products derived from renewable resources.

“This workshop focuses on value-added agriculture through fermentation, and I have delivered similar programs in countries around the world over the past several years,” Demirci said. “Participants spent part of each day in the classroom and part in the laboratory, applying the concepts and techniques they learned.”

Looking ahead, Demirci said he envisions future projects that will involve student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research opportunities and courses and training for both universities. 

“The first workshop will open the door for future relationships,” he said. “It’s great that both universities signed a memorandum of understanding, but real success comes in the relationships that are being built through action.”