Improving animal welfare

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Domaine de recherche :
Environnement et ressources
Type de financement :
H2020
Type d'instrument :
Recherche & Innovation Action
Budget indicatif :
10 millions max. par projet
Budget total :
10 millions d'euros
Code de l'appel : SFS-08-2018-2019
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À noter :

Specific Challenge:

EU animal welfare legislation has evolved on the basis of scientific knowledge, improving the quality of animals' lives taking into account citizens' expectations and market demands. Nevertheless, a number of problems remain unsolved and the sector faces challenges to cope with them. Research is needed to further improve the management of animal welfare, by looking into new opportunities offered by technological developments, development of appropriate business models and linking animal welfare with other production parameters, including animal health and environmental performance.

Scope:

[2018] Organic and low-input farming (RIA)

The special needs for animal welfare in organic and low-input production systems should be explored. Proposals will investigate how to meet organic production standards and take into account ethical and positive welfare approaches, with a focus at least on alternatives to mutilation. Such comprehensive approach should at least address issues related to mutilations, solutions for the killing of male day-old chicks and supply of robust slow-growing poultry breeds/products fit for outdoor rearing.

Proposals should fall under the concept of the multi-actor approach, ensuring that all the stakeholders, from farmers to consumers and regulators, will contribute to the building of new animal welfare approaches to further add value to EU foods of animal origin.

Expected Impact:

Provide the knowledge base for further improvements in animal welfare management and policy making. More specifically, activities will contribute to:

  • a better understanding of animal welfare and associated animal behaviour;
  • a broader range of animal welfare management strategies and tools;
  • solving long-standing welfare related issues in organic farming, notably in poultry
  • increase the range of animal welfare management strategies and tools.

In the long run, projects shall increase the sustainability of the livestock sector by better responding to consumer demands and/or increasing competitiveness of the sector.