A €2m project called EU PIG has been launched to address health management, precision production, animal welfare and meat quality over the next four years.
Made up of a consortium of 19 organisations from all across Europe, the project is being led by AHDB.
Representing 13 Member States that together account for 92% of the EU’s pigmeat production and 89% of the EU’s pig herd in 2014, the new body will link national and regional pig producer groups, researchers, rural development boards and innovation practitioners, including a number of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
“EU PIG is a new concept which aims to improve the connection between producers and the latest science, husbandry techniques and technologies from within their industry via fellow producers, academics and advisors connected through thematic and regional platforms,” said AHDB.
It is funded by the European Commission’s research and development programme, ‘Horizon 2020’.
EU PIG partners are
- AHDB, UK;
- Beta Technology Ltd, UK;
- Zuidelijke Land- EN Tuinbouworganisatie Vereniging; (ZLTO), Netherlands;
- Stichting Wageningen Research, Netherlands;
- Institut De Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries, Spain;
- Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali, Italy;
- Boerenbondvereniging voor Projecten, Belgium;
- Teagasc – Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Ireland;
- Agrifood and Biosciences Institute, UK;
- Veterinaermedizinische Universitaet Wien, Austria;
- Interprofession Nationale Porcine, France;
- Seges PS, Denmark;
- Deutscher Raiffeisen-verband, Germany;
- Vagoallat – ES Hus Szakmakozi Szervezet es Termektanacs, Hungary;
- IFIP – Institut du Porc Association, France;
- Gran Suino Italiano, Italy;
- Szkola Glowna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Poland;
- Polski Zwiazek Hodowcow i Producentow Trzody Chlewnej Polsus, Poland, and
- Elainten Terveys ETT, Finland.