Central Europe's animal drive
Proper respect for the planet we live in comes from understanding those who share it with us, i.e. the wide variety of animals on this earth. The EU-funded project 'Support to animal science organisations from central Europe candidate countries' (CEC ANIMAL SCIENCE) sought to invigorate the once flourishing discipline in this important region of the continent. Traditionally, Central Europe was known for its expertise in the field, but economic growing pains after the fall of the iron curtain have affected the discipline negatively. To counter this effect, CEC ANIMAL SCIENCE encouraged institutions in these states to join projects under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) related to animal production and science. The project surveyed institutes through online means to outline their capabilities in the field. This gave rise to a comprehensive report on research-related animal science, covering a total of eight countries. Furthermore, the project built two online databases that listed competencies and activities of research institutes and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implicated in the field. Other online resources included reports, newsletters and EU project participation links, which could all prove useful in furthering the discipline. All these resources have been made accessible through the project's website and related sites free of charge, enabling strong networking opportunities and partnerships in the region. With this, animal science research in Central European countries is back on track, representing a step in the right direction with regard to stewardship of the planet.