Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BROILERNET (Practice and Science Broiler Production Innovation Network)
Période du rapport: 2022-08-01 au 2024-01-31
The Horizon Europe funded project BroilerNet is aiming to closing this divide and strengthening research and innovation in the broiler sector through a new and interactive approach to innovation. BroilerNet created thirteen national level innovation networks of broiler farmers and other actors to address the challenges faced by broiler farmers in DE, EI, EL; ES; FI; FR; IT, NL, PL, PT, SE, SI and UK. Furthermore, three EU level networks are focusing around three main fields of concern: (1) environmental sustainability; (2) animal welfare; and (3) animal health management. Through a multi-actor approach, the most urgent Sector challenges of the European broiler farmers were be identified and the networks collected and evaluated good practices that are able to mitigate the Sector challenges. BroilerNet are in the process of also engage with existing and new broiler-focused EIP-AGRI Operational Groups and in order to enhance their impact. The selected best of good practices are spread through communication and dissemination activities to reach the vast majority of broiler farmers in the countries of the participating consortium partners, but also to all broiler farmers across Europe.
For the first series of BIN meetings, the facilitators were tasked with asking their BIN for common Sector Challenges experienced across the sector, and then to collect and rank the ideas generated during the discussions. This resulted in a list of Top Sector Challenges from each national BIN.
The 3 thematic expert networks (TENs) in environmental sustainability, animal welfare and animal health management, respectively, were initiated and coordinated by the WP-leaders. Each TEN consists of ~10-12 experts from all partner countries. In total across the three TENs there are ~36 people from across Europe involved. The TENs have used their expertise and research-led knowledge to select and review the lists of the most urgent Sector Challenges facing the European Broiler Sector. A short list of nine of the most pressing Sector Challenges across Europe was developed.
In the second series of BIN meetings, the BINs were tasked with identifying Good Practices (GP) in their country based on the Sector Challenges previously identified, and to discuss these based on guidelines outlined in a Good Practice collection form. Thereafter, the TENs analysed, evaluated and ranked these GPs collected. This has resulted in the selection of nine Best of the Good Practices (three per theme), which are being assessed for their Cost-Benefit ratio. For this purpose, the Cost-Benefit (Effect) Analysis (CBA) method was applied to compare the costs and benefits of an action, expressed in monetary terms. The evaluation included presentation data of the typical farm models and CBA carried out for three of ‘best of GPs’ practices that improve environment per themes (nine in total). However, complete CBA was possible to perform for two of ‘best of GPs’ practices per themes (N=6), due to insufficient monetary data in description of three best of GPs’ practices.
The BroilerNet Championship is based on the outcomes from the developed Good Practice Evaluation Tool (GPET) and reflects the nine Best of the Good Practices (i.e. there are 9 champions in total; i.e. three from each theme). These individuals and groups are expected to promote the GP and will take part in a video tour of their farm/site in the national language with English subtitles, as well as an interview that can be disseminated as a podcast, factsheet, blog and as social media posts.
As far as we know, this is the first systematic collection of Sector challenges, as well as, potential Good Practices to mitigate the challenges within European broiler farming that has been performed. The thematic expert networks (TEN) within the BroilerNet ensure that the challenges and the GPs are checked for quality and practicality, and the cost-benefit assessment evaluate the economic impact of the practices.