Project description
Training the next generation of researchers in sustainable livestock production
With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the FEATURE project will support the transition towards more sustainable, circular and resilient livestock systems in Europe. It trains doctoral candidates to study alternative animal feeds, including forages, nutrient-rich food industry by-products and insects suited to different European climates. FEATURE explores how these feeds affect animal productivity, methane emissions, food quality, and environmental, social and economic impacts; it also prepares highly skilled researchers for careers in academia and industry. Advanced research, testing and data-analysis methods are used to better understand how animals digest these feeds and use nutrients. Working closely with academic and industry partners, the project supports evidence-based adoption of sustainable feeding practices for European livestock, helping deliver healthy, affordable and environmentally responsible animal-derived foods.
Objective
The FEATURE doctoral network will train doctoral candidates (DCs) in international interdisciplinary research methodologies to assess
the potential of using alternative feeds (forages, food-industry by-products, insects), that are locally growing or available in different
European climates, and support transition to more sustainable, circular and resilient livestock systems, aligning with environmental
and economic targets and consumer demands. The 13 DC projects will explore alternative feeds’ nutritive value and the effect of
integrating them in livestock diets on animal productivity, efficiency; methane emissions and nitrogen outputs; food nutritional
quality and flavour/taste; and supply-chain environmental footprint and socioeconomic implications. Multi-omics techniques and
bioinformatics will be utilized to understand the role of gut ecology and host metabolism on the observed outcomes. FEATURE will
co-create, via dedicated DC programmes and in collaboration with the industry partners, adoption pathways and policies for the
sustainable integration of alternative feeds in European livestock value chains. The consortium involves 6 academic institutes, 4
research organisations, 7 industry partners, and 17 gender-balanced named supervisors across 7 countries. DC’s training involves
secondments at industry partners for industry data collection/analysis for environmental and socioeconomic evaluations. DC’s will
have access to personalised development plans, four consortium-wide training schools, skills workshops, secondments, and
engagement activities to enhance their scientific knowledge, personal, soft, entrepreneurial and communications skills and support
their transition to leaders in academia and industry. This expertise is crucial for bolstering the sustainability, circularity and resilience
of European food systems through the adoption of practices that produce healthy, affordable and safe animal-derived foods.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture industrial crops fodder
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals animal husbandry
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
RG6 6AH Reading
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.