November 10, 2016
The European Commission has allotted €2 million (US$2.19 million) to fund a four-year project that will look at health management, precision production, animal welfare and meat quality of swine across the 28-member European Union.
Dubbed EU PIG, the project involves a consortium of 19 organisations in Europe and is led by the UK Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), an independent statutory levy board funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain.
The consortium represents 13 member states that together account for 92% of the EU's pig meat production and 89% of the EU's pig herd in 2014. It consists of or will have links to national and regional pig producer groups, researchers, rural development boards and innovation practitioners, including several 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", according to a press release of the pork division of AHDB.
"The next four years will see tools created and practical guidance available for all parts of the industry. Innovative best practice combined with scientific knowledge will be identified and shared via comprehensive website explaining in detail the project objectives and how to get involved", it added.
Following is the list of the 19 EU PIG partners:
-- Elainten Terveys ETT RY (ETTAnimalHealth), Finland
