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The meeting covered a lot of ground –
member countries provided updates on
domestic developments, progress in the
LRG’s six research networks was discussed,
relationships with other international
organisations were explored and in some
cases deepened, new opportunities for
research
collaboration
and
capacity
building were identified, and outreach and
promotional materials were reviewed.
Main outcomes
Strengthening the research networks
The research networks continue to be the
engine room of the LRG. However, with
several major projects coming to an end,
there is a need for new initiatives to ensure
momentum and profile are maintained.
Representation was also discussed with
several networks actively seeking more
global participation as well as ways to
encourage young scientists to join up.
Additional funding support to manage
networks remains an ongoing concern and
the networks were encouraged to continue
publicly demonstrating progress and
achievements. For individual updates from
the network coordinators, see pages 9-12.
The seventh meeting of the Livestock Research Group took place from 23-24 June 2015 in Lodi, Italy coinciding with
Expo Milano 2015 (for more on the Expo, see page 5). The meeting was very well attended with representation from
21 Alliance member countries, six observer countries and a range of invited guests from Italian and international
organisations.
Livestock Research Group
meeting
Update from the
Linking with other organisations
There were useful discussions with other
international organisations that share
similar interests and objectives as the LRG.
The meeting heard from the Global Alliance
on Climate Smart Agriculture and agreed
to increase the exchange of information
and understanding, and to identify areas
where the goals and objectives of the two
organisations most strongly align (see
page 3). Strong potential for increased
collaboration and joint activities was also
identified between the LRG and the low-
emissions flagship programme of the CGIAR
Research Program on Climate Change,
Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
and the Co-chairs will undertake follow-up
work. The European and World Associations
of Animal Production (EAAP and WAAP)
indicated their willingness to work with and
promote the LRG’s activities through their
well-established communication channels
– offers that will particularly help the LRG’s
research networks engage more widely.
New opportunities for research
collaboration and capacity building
Several possibilities were discussed to
participate in a second European funding
round similar to the earlier FACCE-JPI round
that several LRG countries were involved in.
In addition, the European Commission also
highlighted the ‘International Research
Consortia’ (IRC) model as a potential way
for the Alliance to organize its own funding
round in future. This approach supports
international cooperation in pursuit of
commonresearchgoals. Under suchamodel,
Participants at the LRG meeting in Lodi, Italy