EU funded WelFarmers Project Launches for Enhanced Pig Welfare across Europe

WelFarmers Project: Enhancing Pig Welfare Across Europe

Introduction

As of January 1st, the EU-funded project 'WelFarmers' commenced its mission to elevate animal welfare standards in pig production through collaborative efforts. The comprehensive initiative involves eight European countries and more than half of the continent's pig farming industry represented by farmers, research institutions, and universities within a collective consortium.

Project Launch

The WelFarmers project is embedded in the Horizon Europe program and kicked off officially with an assembly meeting in Montijo, Portugal earlier this month. The seventeen partners involved in the consortium came together to strategize and coordinate their efforts for the next three years under the leadership of FPAS as the project coordinator.

Focus on Four EU Thematic Groups

The initiative is divided into four key thematic areas that align with European Union priorities:

1. Cage Ban - Free Housing for Lactating Sows

2. Undocked Tls - Tl Docking-Free Pig Production

3. Castration Pn Prevention

4. Space and Flooring Standards for Growers and Finishers

Objectives

The core objective of WelFarmers is to integrate practitioners directly into the research initiatives, with a commitment to enhancing welfare solutions that are both accessible and acceptable across European pig farms. By identifying and sharing 'best practices', the project make significant improvements in farm management through practical, innovative methods.

Collaborative Approach

A unique feature of this initiative lies in its collaborative model where good practices from participating countries will be identified, evaluated, and recognized based on their effectiveness and feasibility for implementation across diverse European farms. These best practices will then be shared widely among farmers to foster a widespread adoption.

Regional Networks RNs Thematic Groups

Each of the eight participating countries will host a Regional Network that connects with farmers and farming organizations. The RNs play a crucial role in selecting innovative good practices specific to their regions for each of the four thematic groups. Additionally, Thematic Groups TGs, comprising experts like pig producers, policymakers, scientists, advisors, food chn representatives, and competent authorities will evaluate the best practices based on criteria that address the EU's mn challenges in the pig sector.

Quantitative Targets

The WelFarmers project identify a total of 192 good practices over its duration. Out of these, 40 will be recognized as exemplary standards under the 'best practice' category and shared widely with the farming community. This dissemination strategy is designed to accelerate adoption and implementation of these improvements.

WelFarmers represents an ambitious effort by European stakeholders to set new benchmarks in pig welfare through collective action. By focusing on practical innovations that can be easily adopted across various farm types, this project bring about sustnable change and elevate the standard of care for pigs in Europe's farming industry.
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