Svensk Fågel is one of the participants in the four-year research project Broilernet. The project aims to improve and strengthen the industry, and should be a platform for interaction between industry and research.
Maria Donis, CEO of Svensk Fågel, together with the industry organization’s sustainability strategist Anna Silvera, participated in the start-up days for the project in the Netherlands. Maria believes that Sweden has a long experience of working sustainably and that it is seen as important to share the experiences with others.
The Swedish model
– Sweden is seen by many European countries as an example of success in terms of animal welfare and food safety in chicken farming. Here we need to share our Swedish model with low antibiotic use and low campylobacter levels in combination with good animal welfare and a low climate footprint. For us there is also interesting research and new European innovations to be inspired by, says Maria in a press release.
Best practice
In the long term, the idea is that the collaboration within the project should lead to “best practice on the farm” at both national and international level. They also want to create a platform where they can exchange knowledge and innovations in order to achieve even better chicken breeding in the future.
The project includes participants from 13 different countries.
– In collaboration with nutrition experts and researchers, a network for knowledge exchange will be built up. The network will identify pressing challenges within the industry. Then we try to find possible solutions to meet these challenges. The usability of the solutions will be evaluated. And the best solutions will then be conveyed to chicken farmers in the EU. Our long-term goal is to increase sustainability within the sector, says Stefan Gunnarsson, university lecturer and doctor of veterinary medicine at the Swedish University of Agriculture.
Facts: Main objectives of the Broilernet research project:
- Create 12 national innovation networks (Broiler Innovations Networks, BINs).
The networks must consist of farmers, companies, trade associations, advisers, researchers and veterinarians. These networks shall promote the national cooperation between the parties, enable the exchange of knowledge and identify/create innovative ideas and approaches at the farm level.
- Create three expert networks (Thematic Expert Networks, TENs) at European level.
The networks must consist of companies, trade associations, advisers, researchers and veterinarians. The three network areas are: Climate/Sustainability, Animal welfare and Animal health. The TEN networks must compile ideas and best practices from the BIN networks, evaluate and make cost calculations on these, and disseminate the results within Europe.
- Collaborate with existing EIP-AGRI Operational Groups
- Identify and evaluate the most urgent needs in chicken farming based on the three areas; climate/sustainability, animal welfare and animal health.
- Compile and evaluate the feasibility of solving the urgent needs without compromising economy or sustainability.
- Disseminate the knowledge generated in the project via information materials, such as videos.
Source: Swedish Bird