Updates & Events

The workshop was attended by five non-GRA member countries; Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as participants from GRA member countries from all around the world. During the first day the workshop focused on the policy context of the GRA with presentations on the importance of agriculture in Mid-Europe, the functioning and possibilities of the GRA and the reasons for countries to become members of the alliance. The second day focused on animal production within the context of the GRA. The activities of the various networks of the Livestock Research Group were presented, and the different countries presented their activities within the same field.

From the discussion is was obvious that there is tremendous potential for both sides when the mid-European countries join the GRA and become active in the various networks. In summary it was an excellent workshop with very active engagement of all participants, and a workshop that created energy amongst the participants to collaborate. The workshop identified two recurring points of attention which were farmers engagement and adaptation.

Day 1: The policy context for the Global Research Alliance on Greenhouse Gases

Presentation

• Welcome and Opening
  Ms Krystyna Gurbiel, Undersecretary of State, Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)
  Martin Scholten, co-chair of the GRA Livestock Research Group (LRG), Chair of the workshop
• Overview of the Globa Research Alliance, its aims and its Research and Cross-Cutting Groups.
  Martin Scholten, co-chair of the GRA Livestock Research Group (LRG)

Session 2: The importance of agriculture in Mid-Europe

Presentation

• Food security, agriculture and climate change
  Ms Gerda Verburg, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
• Agriculture, climate change and global food security: A country’s perspective.
  Ms Gerda Verburg, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
• Agricultural Sciences in Poland
  Eugeniusz Chylek, Department of Consultancy, Agricultural Education and Science, MARD Poland
• Agriculture, climate change and global food security: A coutry’s perspective
  Zigmas Medingis, Deputy Director Department of Economy and International Co-operation, Lithuania.

Session 3: The Global Research Alliance working on possibilities

Presentation

• Reduction of GHG-emissions in croplands, how does the Cropland Research Group work?
  Mark A. Liebig, USDA Agricultural Research Service, United States
• Why is Switzerland a member of the GRA?
  Dominique Kohli, Assistant Director of the Federal Office for Agriculture, Council Representative for Switzerland
• Irish Agriculture & Climate Change Policy: The story so far
  John Muldowney M.Agr.Sc Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Climate Change, and Bioenergy Division Ireland
• Expectations from the policy perspective from a non-member
  Waldemar Guba, Deputy Director of the Department of the European Union and International Co-operation, MARD Poland

Session 4: Round table discussion

Round table discussion on the challenges of agriculture in Central Europe regarding climate change and GHG-emission. Identify strategic opportunities for advancing agricultural GHG emissions research and building on current activities to develop, implement and recognise ways to reduce the GHG-emissions intensity of agriculture in Central Europe.

 

Day 2: Animal production within the context of the Global Research Alliance on Greenhouse Gases: Collaboration within the Livestock Research Group of the GRA

Session 1: Introduction to the Livestock Research Group and objectives of the workshop

Presentation:

• Introduction to the structure and activities of the Livestock Research Group
  Martin Scholten, co-chair of the Livestock Research Group

 

Session 2: How the Livestock Research Group operates

• Introductions to the networks of the Livestock Research Group:
• Animal Seletion Genetics and Genomics Network.
  Jan Lassen and Yvette de Haas
• Manure Management Network.
  Theun Vellinga
• Feed and Nutrition Network.
  David R. Yáñez-Ruiz
• Grassland Research Network.
  Gary Lanigan
• Animal Health Network.
  Alice Willett
  
• Improved Inventory and Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases in Livestock Production: Introduction to a pilot project in Southeast Asia, benefits for a country.
  Kalaya Boonyanuwat, Department of Livestock Development, Thailand

 

Session 3: Linkages from the Livestock Research Group within a global network

• Overview of other partners of the Livestock Research Group
  Martin Scholten, co-chair of the Livestock Research Group
• Presentation of Animal Change
  Professor Cledwin Thomas
  
• Link with the Croplands Research Group (CRG): Presentation on the themes of the CRG and the linkages with the Livestock Research Group
  Mark Liebig
  

 

Session 4: Stock take of regional activities and needs in relation to livestock research

The organisers invited institutes/universities or ministry steered research programmes from four countries to present a regional perspective on existing work and capabilities, status and knowledge gaps in national emissions inventories, and opportunities relating to the research strands set out in the LRG networks.

• Latvia
  Kristine Sirma, Ministry of Agriculture
  
• Lithuania
  Vaclovas Boguzas
  
• Poland: Presentation one
  Dorota Godyń, National Research Institute of Animal Production (KRAKOW), Poland
  
• Poland: Presentation two
  Adam Cieslak et al, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences
  
• Romania
  Ilie Voicu, National Research Development Institute for Animal Biology and Nutrition, Romania
  
• Slovakia
  Andrea Strmenova, National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, Slovakia
  

 

Session 5: Round table discussion

To identify:

• regional and national gaps in knowledge, expertise, and activities in relation to measurement and estimation of GHG emissions inventories and mitigation development, implementation, and capturing their effectiveness;
• regional research opportunities and capability initiatives to improve mitigation and adaptation related to the research strands set out in the LRG networks;

 

Summary of the Workshop

Identified regional research priorities, regional project ideas and capability building needs for LRG related to the role of the Livestock Research Group – Martin Scholten, Co-chair LRG

Conclusions about the added value of the GRA – Ms. Krystyna Gurbiel, Undersecretary of State, Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)

 

Future workshops

Further workshops are being planned for other parts of the world. If you are interested in the workshop series, please contact the Alliance Secretariat ([email protected]).