Ποια ήταν η πρόκληση/πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίστηκε?

Livestock farmers in Crete face considerable challenges in maintaining their farms’ competitiveness. Island environment entails increased input costs for feed, veterinary medicines, fuel etc. The local geomorphological background of the steep terrain, with its poor and degraded pastures, adds further degrees of difficulty to practicing animal farming.

This project- which is a collaboration of the Agricultural Cooperative of Sfakia and local breeders with the Agricultural University of Athens- focuses on flocks of indigenous breeds (including the breeds Sfakion, Asterousion, Sitias and Anogion), which is a valuable livestock resource and a pillar for local farms’ sustainability. The project aims at the restriction of farms’ inputs, the rational feed management and pasture management, the improvement of animal productivity as well as ensuring products’ quality and traceability in terms of their farm of origin.

 

Πώς λύσατε το πρόβλημα?

A sequence of actions will be undertaken by the partnership of the University researches, the advisors employed by the Cooperative and local breeders. Firstly, the phenotype and genotype of each breed will be determined. Then special sensors will be fitted to individual animals, thus, making easy the identification and monitoring of animals throughout the whole production cycle (π.χ. when moving with the herd to grazing, και τα λοιπά.). An economic and zootechnical study will be carried out with the aim of establishing a standard for certifying each local breed and also comparing their performance with foreign breeds (inputs/outputs ratio per farm). Laboratory analyses will be carried out to determine the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of products (including nutritional value and organoleptic characteristics).

Standards will be developed for the management/rearing of indigenous breeds, which will be used for the marketing of dairy and meat products. Training events for breeders and communication and dissemination events will be organize at local and regional level.

 

Αυτό που είναι καινοτόμο στην πρακτική σας περίπτωση?

The project introduces new technologies and practices in sheep and goat breeding in the area. Ωστόσο, their implementation and full utilization require the uptake of new knowledge and skills from the breeders, who have to establish new routines at their farms. In this respect, the project combines characteristics of a technical and organizational/ social innovation.

Ποιοι είναι οι παράγοντες επιτυχίας στην επίλυση του προβλήματος?

Establishing communication channels and building trust with breeders are key to achieving the objectives of the project.

Διδάγματα

Since it is the first year of the project, it is too early to draw conclusions.

Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος του συμβούλου ή της συμβουλευτικής υπηρεσίας με την πρακτική περίπτωση?

The role of advisors focus on building communication channels between breeders and researchers, translating new knowledge and improving breeders’ capacity to implement the new managerial standards and the ensuing best practices. Their role is important in increasing awareness and further disseminating the result of the project at local and regional level.

Μπορεί η προσέγγισή σας να μεταφερθεί ή/και να προσαρμοστεί για άλλες προκλήσεις και περιοχές καινοτομίας?

Ναί

Εκτιμώμενη δυνατότητα μεταφοράς σε κλίμακα από 1 ΜΕΤΑ ΜΕΣΗΜΒΡΙΑΣ 5

(όπου 1 είναι εύκολο και 5 πολύ δύσκολο)

1

 

Για την ανταλλαγή εμπειριών σχετικά με την καλή πρακτική, παρακαλώ επικοινωνήστε

Iosif Βizelis

jmpiz@aua.gr

Σύνδεσμος με εξωτερικές πληροφορίες