WP1 - Production system metrics: Assessing the systems context

WP Leader: Florian Leibner - Forschungsinstitut fur Biologischenlandbau Stiftung (FiBL)
Associate WP leader: Simon Moakes - FiBL
Involved partners: FiBL, TEAGASC, CITA, EFFAB, IDELE, RAFT, SRUC, DLO // WR, INTERBULL/FA, UNIPD​
The general challenges of climate change to agriculture are known, but it is also important to determine how this will vary by region and farm system. WP1 focusses on understanding the regional ​or system specific implications of the challenges to resilience and efficiency (R&E) of cattle. The development of existing models covering the different production systems in Europe is necessary to achieve this aim.
 
System-level indicators will be developed, and used, to quantify local production environments when developing and adapting these existing models. This will be done in such way that the main existing and future challenges to animal resilience and to efficiency (animal production goals, feed availability, diseases, etc.) under changing climatic and socio-economic conditions are characterized. This will provide a framework, which allows development of tailored breeding and management strategies counteracting the identified challenges.
Objectives
​WP1 aims to develop database and modelling tools that integrate geographical, physical and socio-economic data in order to identify the current and future challenges to R&E of European cattle systems (conventional and organic) in response to climate change and socio-economic alterations across varying pedo-climatic and economic zones. Subsequently these tools will be used in WP4, WP5 and WP6.
WP 1 will:
  • Use European agricultural databases in order to characterize cattle production systems, their natural (geographic and climatic) environment, and challenges to their resilience and efficiency.
  • Utilise regional stakeholder knowledge and farm assessments in reference regions to approve and adjust factors impacting resilience and efficiency on a regional scale.
  • Identify farm-system characteristics and factors challenging or fostering cattle resilience and efficiency (geographical, socio-economic and climatic environments).
  • Assess the potential gains in R&E at a regional scale through improved breeding management.

Tasks
T1.1. Characterising typical European cattle systems and challenges to their resilience and efficiency.

T1.2 – Refining regional information through stakeholder consultation and farm assessment.
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T1.3 – Synopsis of challenges to resilience and efficiency in European ruminant production and the potential for resilience and efficiency traits to improve future productivity and sustainability 
PROJECT
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