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03/02/2024 10:49
Giving animal husbandry a future
The two-day “Livestock Forum” at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) focussed on animal welfare and brought together high-calibre experts from politics, practice and research.
“What is the future of livestock farming? How can politics, society, agricultural practice and research work better together and jointly develop concepts for the future of animal husbandry?” said FBN director Prof Dr Klaus Wimmers, welcoming the 150 or so invited guests.
Over two days, experts from science, politics, research and practice discussed issues relating to improving animal welfare in Germany. Claudia Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, welcomed the participants on Friday and emphasised the importance of the forum: “After many years of crisis, animal husbandry in Germany has already undergone a structural change. The future-proof reorganisation of animal husbandry is one of the BMEL’s key projects in this legislative period. We have already taken the first major steps with mandatory animal husbandry labelling for pigs, simplifications to building law and immission law, origin labelling and the launch of the federal programme to restructure animal husbandry. However, the reorganisation can only be achieved together. Places such as the livestock Forum are therefore important opportunities for stakeholders from politics, science and practice to exchange experiences and discuss viable approaches. Only by working together can we give animal husbandry in Germany a future.”
Animal welfare was placed at the centre of the debate in four main topics. “I am delighted that the FBN Dummerstorf, together with the State Research Institute, has succeeded in organising another top-class conference after a break of several years. The past two years have been used intensively to set new accents, to face the social and political challenges even more strongly and also to focus more strongly on aspects of sustainability, environmental and climate protection and animal welfare. The topic is highly topical. Livestock research is facing major challenges. The view of modern animal husbandry and animal products has changed. Animal welfare is also the subject of numerous discussions at a political level. This makes it all the more important for scientists to exchange ideas on all aspects of this context. The Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology has a long tradition, has an international reputation in the field of farm animal research and will continue to build on this,” explained State Secretary Elisabeth Aßmann from the Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, who addressed the guests at the opening on Thursday.
The keynote speeches by scientists and representatives from politics, business and practice addressed the political and economic framework conditions, the expectations of consumers and society, the latest research approaches to animal behaviour and adapted husbandry and management measures from practice to improve animal welfare. “Livestock farming is facing immense challenges in order to fulfil the wishes of the market, politics and society. It is undisputed that agricultural research must play an important role here. This is why events such as the two-day Livestock Forum in Dummerstorf are of fundamental importance in bringing together the players in the value chain and in bridging the gap to categorise animal welfare. The livestock forum provided important food for thought in this regard. Pooling capacities in the field of livestock research and integrating data and facts into discussion and decision-making processes is the order of the day,” said Dr Peter Sanftleben, Director of the State Research Centre for Agriculture and Fisheries Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which co-organised the Livestock Forum, summarising the various perspectives.
“We need scientifically sound findings and solutions for greater animal welfare and animal health and for dealing with conflicting goals in the context of animal, environmental and climate protection,” commented Prof Dr Klaus Wimmers. “This is the only way to create a modern, sustainable agriculture that fulfils both the needs of the animals and the requirements of society.”
The Farm Animal Forum at the FBN is the successor event to the Wilhelm Stahl Symposium, which was last organised in 2018 and brought together experts in farm animal biology in Dummerstorf every five years. In its new form, the conference will take place every two years from now on.
The FBN would like to thank the sponsors of the Livestock Forum: Arla Foods Germany, Fleischwerk EDEKA Nord, Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, RinderAllianz, Zoetis Germany.
Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN)
Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf
Director Prof Dr Klaus Wimmers
T +49 38208-68 600
E wimmers@fbn-dummerstorf.de
Press and public relations
Anja Thomanek
T +49 38208-68 799
E presse@fbn-dummerstorf.de
http://www.fbn-dummerstorf.de
LinkedIn: @forschungsinstitut-nutztierbiologie-fbn
Twitter: @FBNDummerstorf
Instagram: @forschungsinstitut_fbn
Images
The FBN conducts research into responsible and resource-conserving livestock farming of the future.
Photo: FBN/Thomas Häntzschel
FBN
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists, Scientists and scholars
Biology, Environment / ecology, Oceanology / climate, Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
transregional, national
Scientific conferences
English
