Nofima Marked is representing Norway in a two-year European commission-funded project (BrightAnimal) to study the use of modern technology in the farming of cattle, pigs, chicken and salmon.

During the two-year project, a best practice framework will be developed and aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises in the farming industry worldwide. The recommendations in the framework will take into consideration efficiency, the use of IT tools for identification, monitoring and traceability, as well as animal welfare and sustainability.

At the conclusion of the project in 2011, all the results will be compiled in a text book entitled "Precision Livestock Farming" (PLF).

In order to improve the health and welfare of farmed species, as well as increase profitability, the project will assess various technologies to gain the best possible utilisation of food and other resources. This will contribute to environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development for the farming industry, in order to meet the challenges associated with food safety and an anticipated 40-percent increase of food demand in the next 15 years.

"We are aiming to develop a set of recommendations that are so understandable and practical that the farmers will easily be able to use them in practice," said Senior Scientist Petter Olsen.