Bee populations face a number of threats, including pesticide use. With a third of global crop production dependent on pollinators, it is a troubling situation. The EU-funded PoshBee project provides evidence, tools and policy proposals to enhance bee health. The work supports more sustainable beekeeping and the continued competitiveness of European agriculture.
Illegal fishing destroys marine habitats and threatens species living at sea. An EU-funded project is helping authorities to crack down on these operations by developing the world's first seabird ocean-surveillance system.
Oysters, mussels, clams... marine molluscs are valued as tasty sources of nutrients. They are also valuable sources of income for many regions. EU-funded research is developing new knowledge and innovative techniques to help tackle diseases that can affect the health of bivalves and the livelihoods of producers as well as consumer health.
An EU-funded project developed new natural plant pest and disease control products that some farmers are already using on their farms. The aim is to reduce the use of chemicals to protect crops - a benefit for human health and the environment.
An EU-funded project has researched lesser-known and not industrially farmed pig breeds in a bid to help Europe's pork industry diversify and become more sustainable. This could help save endangered breeds, benefit the environment and result in new, high-quality meat options for consumers.
Novel livestock vaccines developed by EU-funded researchers could improve animal welfare, save money, reduce the need for environment-damaging chemicals, and tackle alarming levels of antimicrobial resistance.
Infectious animal diseases represent a serious threat to farm animals as well as to humans' public health. An EU-funded project is building a transnational network of bio-containment research facilities, industry partners and international organisations that allows for safe research on high-risk pathogens causing highly contagious animal diseases.
An EU-funded project demonstrated how farmer-led networks can generate practical farm-level innovations. The project created networks in the laying hen sector that came up with solutions to make businesses more efficient and more sustainable.
With the growing use of synthetic nanoparticles in consumer and industrial products, EU-funded researchers are examining how they affect organisms including plants, worms and bivalves, laying the foundations for an integrated approach to environmental nano-safety.
Preventing parasites in poultry, cattle and other livestock is a major concern for Europe's farmers. As current treatments prove less effective or desirable, EU-funded scientists are working on new vaccines to keep animals healthy and safeguard our food supply.
