Research project Towards a future-proof, sustainable and animal-friendly chain of Vlaams Hoeverund

General introduction

The EIP project B-WISE BEEF aims to help a Flemish beef cattle production cooperative develop a set of specifications that prioritizes both animal welfare and sustainability throughout the entire supply chain—from raw materials to retail. The goal is to involve supply chain partners in this initiative. The Vlaams Hoeverund cooperative was launched in 2019 to facilitate the direct sale of Belgian Blue cattle to retailers. Over the past seven years, collaboration among producers, as well as between livestock farmers and their market (supply chain partners), has matured. This research project aims to deepen collaboration with all supply chain partners.

Research approach

Specifically, the supply chain partners will jointly draft a balanced set of specifications that combines animal welfare and sustainability. In addition to the specifications, a calving protocol will also be developed that addresses the requirements for animal-friendly cesarean sections and the specific requirements regarding the calving pen (i.e., calving environment) on the farm. The plan is to test the protocol for its social acceptability.

Relevance/Valorization

The desired outcome is a supplementary specification that can be integrated into Belbeef’s existing specifications. The specifications will facilitate sustainability calculations within the Klimrek environment, while also providing data to support retail objectives. The EIP project is part of the “Blanc-Bleu-Vert” production environment.

Financing

EIP