Association Užventis health centre
Association is a vibrant hub of sustainability and innovation in the North region of Lithuania, where nothing goes to waste. We believe that nature’s gifts – fruits, vegetables, berries – can share their goodness long after harvest. That’s why we create innovative products from what remains. We press oils, extract natural fibers, and craft eco-friendly packaging – giving a second life to resources others might dismiss as waste.
To achieve this, we harness cutting-edge technologies. Our workshop is equipped with an ultrasonic homogenizer, a pasteurizer, modern dryers, a mill, a fermenter, and a cold-press oil extraction system. This advanced equipment allows us to provide high-quality processing services from small local farmers to big businesses.
Our work doesn’t stop at production. In partnership with researchers from Vytautas Magnus University (VDU), we delve into biochemical, microbiological, and socio-economic research to deepen our knowledge. We share our ideas on a larger scale, participate in the European Union’s Horizon programs to bring our innovations to the international stage.
Our mission and vision
Our mission is to sustainably harness nature’s gifts to create innovative, healthy products, while uniting our community through collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Our vision is a world where nothing is wasted: communities thrive by embracing sustainable and innovative solutions, science and people work in harmony, and the future is healthier and brighter for everyone.
The Užvenčio health centre Association is based in the historic Užventis Manor Estate, located in the Kelmė district – a charming corner of history on the banks of the Venta River, surrounded by an old park and echoing the spirit of noble times. Here stands the only surviving wooden manor house from the late 17th century in Lithuania. The writer Šatrijos Ragana found inspiration here for her novella “In the Old Manor”, and the historic lime tree alley beside the house still thrives today.
In the early 20th century, the manor was purchased by Jonas Smilgevičius – a signatory of Lithuania’s 1918 Act of Independence – who transformed it into a modern farm with a brick factory, watermill, and even a spirits distillery, reminding us that this place has always had its own kind of “brewing” – both in culinary creations and community traditions.
Today, the former granary houses the Užventis Local History Museum, while another historic building is home to the Užventis health centre Association, led by Audronė Ispiryan, a descendant of renowned Lithuanian cultural figure Povilas Višinskis. Here, culinary self-expression and food traditions are not just a mission, but a heartfelt calling – where history and innovation come together like an old recipe with a new spice.
Projects
Innovative solutions in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, bioeconomy, and management sectors.
Production of Health-Friendly Products
2019-2020
We implemented project that revitalized the production of health-friendly products in the Užventis region. This project is based on scientific research and best practices while preserving local horticultural traditions – using modern scientific knowledge, we renewed the age-old berry and fruit processing heritage in a modern and efficient way. A new processing facility was established: we acquired two modern industrial infrared dryers, a freeze-drying line, milling equipment, and other tools that allow the production of high value-added healthy products from berries, fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. The strong scientific foundation ensured that advanced drying and milling technologies maximized the preservation of nutrients, vitamins, and flavor – resulting in functional food products beneficial to health and possessing valuable properties even for the pharmaceutical market. We contributed to sustainability: food waste was reduced, as farmers can now dry and process their harvests, fully utilizing their potential.
The project has provided tangible social and economic benefits to the local community. With the creation of new processing services, residents of our region gained the opportunity to preserve fruits and berries for the winter, develop new products from them, and increase their income. Local farmers and small entrepreneurs can now use the association’s equipment for drying and milling – opening new opportunities to establish businesses in rural areas and encouraging young people to take initiative. The project also created a new full-time job – an administrator-manager responsible for maintaining the equipment and assisting community members in using it. Special attention was given to engaging local youth and unemployed individuals, encouraging them to participate in berry cultivation, harvesting, and processing activities, where they gained new skills and motivation. Ultimately, the project strengthened our community – reviving the heritage of Užventis by combining it with scientific progress and giving people hope that, with the help of innovation, it is possible to build a healthier and economically vibrant future for the region.
Development of Services, Leisure, and Traditions in the Wellness Sector
2021-2023
Our association implemented a project aimed at expanding services, leisure activities, and traditions in the field of wellness. The project had a strong scientific foundation – its activities were based on the latest research and collaboration with specialists to ensure the provision of safe and effective health-promoting services for local residents. As part of this initiative, we created a modern material base: we acquired an oil press, a pasteurizer, a liquid dispenser, fermentation equipment, and an ultrasonic homogenizer, enabling us to produce natural food products and cosmetic raw materials from locally grown berries, fruits, and vegetables. Technological progress allowed us to create innovative products such as fruit vinegar and cold-pressed oils for cosmetics, which are grounded in scientific knowledge and retain their beneficial properties.
This project brought significant benefits to the local community – reducing social exclusion and opening new opportunities for learning and creativity. We organize educational programs and hands-on workshops where residents (especially young people and other inactive groups) learn to produce wellness products at home. This not only strengthens people’s knowledge and self-confidence but also preserves our region’s traditions by integrating them into tourism and leisure activities. Through the project, we created new jobs – hiring a part-time production manager and a part-time training specialist from a socially vulnerable group, thus fostering inclusion. We are proud that the association can now offer unique wellness products and services previously unavailable in the region, while local residents have more opportunities to grow, unite for common goals, and build a more sustainable well-being together.
Youth Opportunities Space
2022 - ongoing
We are a certified organization authorized to host young volunteers under the Youth Voluntary Service Program. Our goal is to give young people the opportunity to develop their skills, discover their strengths, and gain hands-on experience in areas close to their interests – from wellness, ecology, and tourism to food product development, communication, and artistic activities. We collaborate with academic institutions, including the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, allowing volunteers to engage not only in community-based activities but also in scientific research and experiments in university laboratories.
Our team strives to make volunteering not only meaningful but also inspiring. Here, young people can contribute to event organization, educational activities, creative projects, communication, and other initiatives. For each volunteer, we create an individual activity plan tailored to their interests, abilities, and the skills they wish to acquire. This approach encourages youth initiatives, helps them find their path, fosters responsibility, and supports them in becoming active, socially conscious members of the community.
Green Products Lab
2021 - ongoing
Imagine a place where the scent of freshly picked raspberries drifts in from one side, while on the other, a lively discussion about artificial intelligence in the food industry is taking place. The Green Products Lab will be exactly that – a space for unexpected encounters and idea exchanges, where healthy living meets creativity. Here, not only products are born, but also stories: about an experimental tea bar serving drinks that change every time; about a palette of natural dyes created from plant pigments; about desserts that could be called “small scientific miracles.”
In the lab, every project will begin not with a recipe but with the question, “What else can we create from what we already have?” – whether that’s vegetable pulp, wild herbs, or even “forgotten” heritage orchard varieties. We will invite artists to create edible art, scientists to test new extraction techniques, and community members to serve as the tasting panel for experimental products.
The Green Products Lab will become an open playground for the curious, the bold, and those who believe that a rural area can be the epicenter of innovation. Here, every berry seed, every idea, and even every mistake will be valuable – because from them, true progress is born.
Our success is built on strong partnerships.
We work with research institutions that help us conduct high-quality scientific studies and bring the latest knowledge into practical application. Our equipment suppliers from Lithuania and abroad ensure that we operate with modern, reliable technology that meets global standards. Together with creative colleagues, we develop product ideas, share expertise, and create new solutions for the market. Our partner network is strengthened by distributors who help us reach consumers, and by sponsors who believe in our vision and contribute to making it a reality. This robust collaboration ecosystem enables us to create innovations rooted in science, technology, and community engagement.
