IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE DIGITALISATION OF THE ENTERPRISES IN THE BIOECONOMY SECTOR

The COVID-19 outbreak has heavily influenced the way many businesses operate across all sectors linked to both changes in the consumer behavior, social-distancing restrictions and also the availability of resources and services (inc. public services) for businesses. These restrictions have influenced also the work of enterprises in the sector of bioeconomy � producers, processors and distributors of manufactured goods like food, clothing or home goods and other bio-based sectors both in the stages of primary production and processing and distribution. This study aims to assess the digitalisation process of the enterprises in the bioeconomy sector, the enterprise`s motivation for digitalisation and the impact of COVID-19 to the digitalisation of enterprises. It analyses the results of a survey carried out in Latvia in 2 phases � in 2020 and 2021 of entrepreneurs and employees of the enterprises working in the sector of bioeconomy, which allows to identify the digitalisation tools used by these enterprises and their motivation in moving towards the digital transformation.