TransformDairyNet will harness the expertise of 26 European partners to create 11 National Innovation Practice Hubs and a European Knowledge and Innovation Network of dairy farmers, veterinarians, advisors, supply chain actors, farmer organisations, researchers and policy makers, to work together to upscale cow calf contact (CCC) dairy production and beyond. Keeping cows and calves together for months rather than the usual hours/days promotes health, growth and normal, pleasurable behaviour, and is the most consumer accepted ethical practice for increasing the sustainability of dairy systems in line with the Green Deal. TransformDairyNet aims to accelerate the adoption of CCC orientated-practice through: (1) compiling existing knowledge and identifying end-user needs; (2) co-creating new CCC knowledge–generating ideas and solutions; (3) sharing knowledge ready for practice, and (4) CCC legacy and tools for transforming systems. Through a multi-actor approach, TransformDairyNet will bring science and practice together to create a comprehensive CCC knowledge map, champion farmer-led innovation and share practice to upskill European dairy farmers and advisors at differences stages of adoption. TransformDairyNet will build resilience and normalise and spread CCC practice by co-creating harmonised, farmer–facing tools, materials and peer-to-peer activities, leveraging trusted channels and networks and engaging with existing and new dairy and CCC focused EIP-AGRI Operational Groups. TransformDairyNet will work with EU FarmBook to maintain the Knowledge and Innovation Networks beyond the project as a community of practice, able to pivot to other issues for the continued transition to sustainable dairy production into the future. Looking forward, TransformDairyNet will provide insights and recommendations for the acceleration of other novel agricultural practices with high citizen and practitioner demand, through reflecting on the thematic network processes.

SAPHIR aims to develop vaccine strategies effective against endemic pathogens responsible for high economic losses in livestock in order to strengthen the profitability of food animal systems, improve animal welfare and reduce xenobiotic usage in farming with a One Health perspective. SAPHIR will bring novel vaccine strategies to the market i) at short term, with several promising vaccines brought to demonstration (RTL6), ii) at long term, with cutting edge strategies brought at proof of concept (RTL3) and iii) in line with socio-economic requirements. SAPHIR has selected two representative pathogens of pigs (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae), chickens (Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens) and cattle (Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Mycoplasma bovis) to develop generic vaccine approaches applicable to other pathogens. SAPHIR will issue i) knowledge of immune mechanisms of protection, ii) affordable, safe and multivalent vaccines with DIVA properties, iii) efficient adjuvants targeting dendritic cells, optimal formulations, new mucosal and skin delivery systems, a new generation of DNA vectors and viral replicon platforms for fostering an earlier and longer duration of immunity including the perinatal period, and iv) basal biomarkers of individual immuno-competence for future breeding strategies. The SAPHIR dissemination and training programme includes creation of an integrated health management website, launch of a Global Alliance for Veterinary Vaccines and organization of workshops directed at food animal system stakeholders. This will ensure optimal research translation of SAPHIR outputs to market and field applications. SAPHIR brings together interdisciplinary expertise from fourteen academic institutes including a Chinese partner, five SMEs and two pharmaceutical companies.

Recent developments in genomics have advanced innovation in European aquaculture. However, despite the creation of reference quality genome sequences for the main species, our understanding of genome functions remains limited. AQUA-FAANG will deliver a step improvement in understanding of genome function and exploitation of genotype-to-phenotype prediction in the six most important European farmed fish species. The project brings together world-leading interdisciplinary expertise and industry partners providing direct pathways to commercial exploitation. AQUA-FAANG will functionally annotate the genomes of all six species, employing standardized experimental assays and analysis pipelines defined by the FAANG initiative. AQUA-FAANG datasets will be shared and coordinated with other FAANG initiatives via the FAANG data coordination centre, and made available through the Ensembl genome browser. As infectious disease is of paramount concern for sustainable aquaculture, the project focuses on understanding functional genomic regions in both healthy and immune-challenged fish. This will improve knowledge of the genomic basis for disease resistance and is complemented by novel approaches to increase understanding of immune cell heterogeneity. Standardized comparative analyses will provide essential insights into genome functions that cannot be gained from study of single species. Functional assays will be used to study intermediate phenotypes and prioritise causative genetic variants in trait-associated genomic regions to accelerate selection of disease-resistant stocks. Functionally-enriched marker panels will be developed to improve accuracy of genomic selection. An active programme of stakeholder engagement and dissemination will ensure uptake of project outputs by industry, academia, the public and in policy. The outputs will enhance precision breeding, drive competitiveness within the aquaculture sector, and enhance food and nutrition security in Europe.

EUAqua.Org is aimed at boosting organic fish production in Europe by developing highly innovative solutions to fill key knowledge gaps and overcome the most relevant factors limiting the competitiveness for organic farming of Atlantic salmon, European sea bass, gilthead sea bream, and rainbow trout. Key technological advancements in phenotyping, genotyping, and genomic prediction methods will be developed by EUAqua.Org through the integration of different disciplines and approaches. This will provide essential tools for cost-effective, welfare- and environment-friendly organic aquaculture. The implementation of these tools at the industry level will be ensured by a comprehensive scientific, public, and industrial communication and dissemination programme, with exploitation of the project objectives and key results to create impact, including a multi-module open-access online training course that will be co-developed with key stakeholders (breeding companies, fish farmers, feed producers). In parallel, a tailored set of intervention strategies will be designed to promote awareness and acceptance of OA products in European consumers, through a behavioural economics approach. The project will build upon outputs of completed and ongoing national and EU projects, fully exploiting existing knowledge and leveraging the direct involvement of EUAqua.Org partners in multi-disciplinary research on advanced fish genomics, fish nutrition, fish health and welfare, consumer studies.