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Consumer-driven demands to reframe farming systems

Project description

Balancing sustainability and quality in livestock production

As demand for livestock products increases, intensive production systems are on the rise. However, these systems face criticism for their environmental impact, animal welfare issues, and potential effects on product quality. On the other hand, contributing to biodiversity conservation and supporting rural communities, extensive systems grapple with economic challenges due to limited resources and adverse conditions. This disparity highlights the need for better understanding of the links between production systems and product quality. The EU-funded Code:Re-Farm project aims to bridge this gap focusing on more resilient poultry and goat production systems. Through innovative technologies and a comprehensive quality assessment, the project seeks to shine light on the aforementioned links and align production practices with consumer expectations and environmental sustainability.

Objective

Intensive livestock production systems (ILPS) are growing fast to satisfy demand. However, there is public scepticism about intensification in livestock production driven primarily by adverse links to environmental aspects and sustainable utilization of natural resources. Moreover, ILPS are perceived as being detrimental to animal health & welfare and may potentially undermine the quality of derived products. Extensive livestock production systems are low-input systems which are critical to support the development of rural communities. However, economic sustainability of such systems is often questioned as they are challenged by natural resource limitations, adverse climatic conditions and diseases. Products from extensive systems are considered of superior quality, but their resource-limited environment undermines their safety. Understanding key strengths & weaknesses of different farming systems is crucial for sustainable production and delivery of quality products. Therefore, strategic planning and a profitability analysis considering the system-oriented challenges and the added-value resulting from consumer-driven demands and niche products are necessary. Dairy cattle and swine production are the most significant livestock sectors in Europe. However, our proposal will take a different approach. When compared to cattle & swine production, both poultry and goat production systems are more resilient, sustainable and adaptable to change. Code:Re-Farm focuses on poultry & goat production systems with the goal of understanding the links between husbandry systems and intrinsic quality of derived products. Novel technologies will also be exploited for assessing the intrinsic quality of products along the value chain, farm to fork. The insights from this assessment, combined with insights on societal demands and sustainability of production processes will drive alternative solutions (to be openly shared with the community)that fit sustainable, consumer-driven business.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) H2020-FNR-2020

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Coordinator

CY.R.I.C CYPRUS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER LTD
Net EU contribution
€ 576 875,00
Address
AGIAS ELENIS 6 AGIAS ELENIS BUILDING 4TH FLOOR FLAT OFFICE 43
1060 LEFKOSIA
Cyprus
SME
Yes
Region
Κύπρος Κύπρος Κύπρος
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 576 875,00

Participants (20)