EU PiG is a thematic network to increase the health, welfare, meat quality and use of precision farming within the European Union (EU) pig industry. Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, EU PiG fosters the development and dissemination of practice-based innovations in pig farming, targeting key challenges faced by the pig industry across the EU. EU PiG commenced on 1st November 2016 with an expected project duration of 36 months. EU PiG spans 13 countries, encompassing 93% of the EU’s pig meat production (92% of slaughterings) and 90% of the EU’s pig herd (88% of the breeding herd) in 2016.
The project adopts the interactive model of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), putting farmers at the centre of practice-based innovation, adapting and developing new and existing scientific knowledge to produce implementable solutions, which can then be shared across the network. In EU regions, multi actor ‘RPiGs’ (Regional Pig Innovation Groups) come together to target specific challenges for the pig industry. EU PiG partners have been active to stimulate the establishment of these ‘multi-actor’ groups, and the network will link these cross-border, so that innovations identified in one country/region, can be shared with another. The project aimed to establish 32 (8 per year) of the most innovating pig farmers across Europe to demonstrate best practice, and push boundaries in the application of new knowledge. These innovative farmers are to be decided through a Grand Prix of innovation, with winners decided by the RPiGs.
Specific objectives are, to:
- Map and consolidate existing knowledge from producers, advisers and the EU research base on four specific themes (health management, precision production, welfare and meat quality)
- Stimulate dialogue and knowledge exchange between ‘actors’ in the industry including producers, producer groups, innovation support organisations, levy/development boards and researchers to enhance farm-driven innovation
- Close the gap between research and commercial pig production by facilitating the application of science led innovations into practice
- Facilitate user driven knowledge exchange by identifying and sharing best practice within the industry (both nationally and internationally)
- Develop and disseminate end user material to demonstrate best practice and affect behaviour change by EU pig producers
- Encourage the sustainable integration of science and practice through innovation by enhancing dialogue between the scientific and farming/advisory communities