GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Feed resources are important components of livestock production systems, and their efficient use is the primary determinant of animal performance and productivity. There is the need to design more precise and resilient feeding systems while ensuring requirements of biodiversity protection and restoration.

The following elements should be incorporated:

• Determine and adjust net energy-based nutritional requirements (macro and micronutrients) for local breeds and different management conditions, addressing both conventional and organic livestock farming;
• Assess on-farm practices and equipment to use feedstuffs more efficiently (post-harvest technologies, crops mixture, foraging strategies, rangeland management);
• Take advantage of between and within breed genetic diversity to optimize the use (acceptance and feed efficiency) of local feedstuffs;
• Evaluate the impacts of processing technologies on the efficiency of local feedstuffs
• Improved knowledge on the effects of functional additives (enzymes, gut flora stabilisers, natural plants, vitamins, etc.) on farm-scale animal performance, health and welfare;
• Assess and minimize the risk of anti-nutritional factors or contaminants such as biotoxins in feedstuffs,
• Analyse and monitor the performance of the animal production systems and the quality of animal-based products under novel feeding strategies;
• Determine better indicators of animal nutritional requirements and the nutritional value of locally produced feedstuffs
• Assess the economic sustainability and environmental impact of identified resilient feeding systems and related structural changes (at local level).

Due to the scope of this topic, international cooperation is strongly encouraged, in particular with China.

Actions will contribute to implementing the EU-China Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology (FAB) flagship initiative, which aims to ensure sustainability of agri-food systems, catering for the needs of a growing population, the reduction of food and agricultural losses and waste, and the provision of safe and healthy foodstuffs. Interaction with other actions developed under the EU-China Climate Change and Biodiversity (CCB) Research Flagship and the Flagship on Food, Agriculture and Biotechnologies (FAB) is encouraged if relevant.