Full Name of the Project: "Efficient Environmental and Animal Welfare Farm Monitoring"

Project No.: 21-00-A01611-000017

Project Acronym: EIP

Program: European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Project Implementation Period: 14.07.2022 - 30.06.2025

Lead Partner: Latvian Rural Consultation and Education Center

Project Partners:

• Latvia University of Agriculture,
• Ventspils University of Applied Sciences,
• Association "Latvian Farmer Federation",
• Association "Latvian Sheep Breeders Association",
• Agricultural Cooperative "Piiratud Vastutusega SCE E-Piim Latvian Branch",
• Association "Beef Cattle Breeders Association of Latvia",
• Association "Latvian Holstein Cattle Breeders Association",
• Limited Liability Company "Saimniecība Nākotne",
• Limited Liability Company "Adams Farm",
• "MEŽOKI" Farm of Edole Parish,
• "DRUVAS" Farm of Dekšāres Parish,

VUAS Content Responsible: Kristaps Felzenbergs

Project Objective:

The long-term goal is to promote sustainability and competitiveness in the Latvian livestock sector, taking into account the guidelines of the European Green Deal. In recent years, global issues related to the environment and climate have become increasingly relevant, and it can be reasonably assumed that in the future, consumers will demand products produced in an environmentally friendly manner. These future challenges compel farmers to reconsider their current management practices and delve into environmental and sustainability issues. To achieve the goal, an innovative farm monitoring system will be developed for the livestock sector, which will ensure comprehensive data collection and analysis in one place, promote compliance with animal welfare requirements, sustainable environmentally friendly farming, facilitate monitoring of daily activities, and reduce time spent on preparing various reports.

Planned Activities and Results of the Project:

• Identified needs and problems of the livestock sector farms (current and future).
• Established a farmer focus group involved in the development of the farm monitoring system, thereby ensuring that feedback from end-users is received during system development.
• Developed a livestock farm management system that can be integrated into the farm management system Manslauks.lv.
• Farmers, consultants, and other stakeholders interested in farm management are informed about the newly developed system and its operations, and are trained in its use. Increased awareness of the project and its funding source.
• Successful project implementation, submission of project reports, fulfillment of obligations to the funding provider, promotion of cooperation between partners and involved institutions.
• Publicity and marketing activities, including training on the use and functionality of the developed farm monitoring system.

Project Funding: EUR 499,994.22, including Ventspils University of Applied Sciences's share of EUR 114,984.51.

The project implementation is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) with a support intensity of 90%.

More information about the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development is available on the European Commission's website: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rural-development-2014-2020/index_lv.htm

Contacts: Project Manager Ieva Rozenberga, ieva.rozenberga@venta.lv