Research project European advisors network for sustainable livestock production

General introduction

LiveNet aims to establish a European network of livestock advisors embedded in national Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) ecosystems. The project promotes knowledge exchange, dissemination of innovative advisory practices, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders. In Flanders, ILVO and Boerenbond contribute to the development of the network and support the integration of advisory services into the broader knowledge and innovation system.

Research approach

The approach combines bottom-up and top-down methods via national and European networks. Innovative advisory practices (IAPs) are collected and evaluated on technical, social, economic and environmental aspects, and adapted to local contexts. Strategies for further upscaling are also developed for a selection of IAPs. ILVO is responsible for developing the conceptual framework and evaluation guidelines for scaling, and for guiding the partners in carrying out their scaling activities.

Relevance/Valorization

In this way, LiveNet aims to contribute to the accelerated adoption of sustainable solutions by livestock farmers by strengthening the capacities of agricultural advisers. LiveNet will also contribute to better integration of advisory services into national and EU AKIS ecosystems by providing concrete policy recommendations and a roadmap for Member States to improve AKIS systems. Finally, LiveNet will identify good practices for scaling up innovative advisory practices, which is essential to support the long-term impact of the project.