Priority Innovations for European Sheep and Goat Industry Members

Abstract

Innovation and innovative practices can improve the sustainability of sheep and goat sector, however, they are not extensively used, tested or validated. In this context, iSAGE project aims to explore the potential of key innovations that may contribute increase the sustainability of sheep and goat production system in Europe. Key innovations were identified using a survey and 2 workshops with 18 European industry and science organizations. Industry partners then selected 35 innovations to test on farms. The main reason for industry partners to test these innovations was related to economic sustainability. However, direct and indirect social and environmental benefits of the selected innovations will also be explored using farm data, surveys and interviews. Some remarkable innovations were related to the development and implementation of genomic selection and individual recording technologies, and to the increase social sustainability of sheep farming by boosting the generational turnover and support new entrants.