The European Network on Livestock Phenomics (EU-LI-PHE) held its annual meeting on June 11-12, 2024, in Bologna, hosted by the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Bologna. The venue and technical support provided by the University facilitated a seamless and productive event, organized at the highest level by the Animal Food and Genomics Group.
During the two-day meeting, Action members had the opportunity to update one another on network developments and contribute ideas for future activities. The hybrid participation format enabled all interested members to engage actively, ensuring comprehensive input and consistent progress tracking. Key highlights included adjustments to the working plan based on prior achievements and refining the timeline to meet all deliverables and engage stakeholders punctually.
The Management Committee meeting was particularly productive, with several critical decisions made to advance the Action. Notably, the establishment of a Young Researcher and Innovator Committee was approved. This committee, comprising eight Action members, will focus on developing and implementing effective communication and dissemination strategies to raise awareness and foster engagement among the scientific community and stakeholders.
A standout feature of the meeting was the Young Researcher and Innovator session, where ten young Action members presented their research on various livestock species, including cattle, pigs, and hens. Dong Liu from KU Leuven received the best oral presentation award for his work on digital phenotyping of pigs, while Wim Gorssen, also from KU Leuven, earned the best poster award.
The networking session provided an opportunity for EU-LI-PHE members to learn about the latest updates from other initiatives and networks, including EFFAB/FABRE-TP, AG2PI, FAO, SYSAAF, LUKE, and the fellow COST Action Insect-IMP.
Participants expressed their utmost satisfaction with the event, appreciating te opportunity to connect and collaborate, and shared a collective optimism about the future of the Action.
