Project description
Knowledge exchange to keep Europe’s sheep sector sustainable
Sheep meat and milk production are important farm enterprises in Europe and neighbouring countries. Despite a 50 % decline in the sheep sector since 2000, Europe is still home to 85 million sheep on 830 000 farms. Efforts to increase productivity sustainably are high on the EU agenda. The EU-funded EuroSheep project is creating a self-sustained EU/international network on 'sheep profitability through health and nutrition'. It will facilitate knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders and disseminate best practices. The project will also bring together experts for a transdisciplinary approach to sheep production, taking into consideration aspects related to animal health and nutrition, grassland management, precision livestock farming, breeding and genetics, as well as sociology and economics.
Objective
The future of the sheep farming industry, in Europe and other associated countries, will be heavily influenced by its capacity to respond to several challenges including sustainability and profitability; environmental (in part due to climate change); and new societal expectations. To address these challenges, animal health and nutrition management are key levers which can be used by farmers EuroSheep will focus on those 2 topics.
The overall objective of the EuroSheep project is to create a self-sustainable EU/international Thematic Network on “sheep profitability through health and nutrition” designed to stimulate knowledge exchange and cross-fertilisation among a wide range of actors & stakeholders in the sheep sector in order to widely disseminate relevant and ready to use best practices and innovations, and to value the grassroots input and knowledge exchange from farmers to farmers. EuroSheep gathers experts for a transdisciplinary approach to “sheep production” (animal health, animal nutrition, grassland management, precision livestock farming, breeding and genetics, as well as sociology, economics), which will allow undertaking a multifactorial approach of practical solutions and capturing innovations on sheep farms.
EuroSheep multi-actor approach engages farmers, farmers’ organizations, scientists, trainers, veterinaries and staff from advisory services involved in the sheep value chain. EuroSheep will promote a crowd-innovation approach, through networking workshops, which will stimulate wider opportunities for the collection and exchange of the existing knowledge, as well as the cooperation and dissemination of information and best practices. EuroSheep strengthens links between the EU and Turkey, with partners located in the main sheep producing countries. It covers dairy and meat sheep production and the main different EU livestock farming systems, ensuring the selection of the best and relevant innovating solutions useful for all of EU sheep producers.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.2.1.1. - Increasing production efficiency and coping with climate change, while ensuring sustainability and resilience
- H2020-EU.3.2.1.3. - Empowerment of rural areas, support to policies and rural innovation
- H2020-EU.3.2.2.3. - A sustainable and competitive agri-food industry
- H2020-EU.3.2.4.1. - Fostering the bio-economy for bio-based industries
- H2020-EU.3.2.1.4. - Sustainable forestry
- H2020-EU.3.2.1.2. - Providing ecosystems services and public goods
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
75012 Paris
France