Newly puplished article – Organic and Low-Input Dairy Farming: Avenues to Enhance Sustainability and Competitiveness in the EU

SOLID — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 09:13:26 +0000

The objectives of the EU-funded project SOLID were to evaluate competitiveness and environmental sustainability of organic and low-input systems, to investigate ways to increase their profitability, and to disseminate knowledge to key stakeholder groups.

Read about the results and recommendations in the newly puslished article at Wiley.com

Visit SOLIDs new website – targeted farmers, advisors and students

SOLID — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:04:06 +0000

On www.farmadvice.solidairy.eu you can read about the outcome of the European project ‘SOLID’ and learn about how to improve sustainable organic and low-input dairying.

The website covers three areas which the project believes are particularly important for organic and low-input farming:

Feeding of ruminants with forage-based diets and home-grown feeds
Animal management for health and welfare
And wider issues of the environment and economics.

Go to farmadvice.solidairy.eu

Presentations from final conference

SOLID — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 09:48:05 +0000

The outputs from SOLID were presented at the final conference March 22 2016 in Brussels. The focus was on the challenges that face organic and low input dairy systems and how the EU-funded project Sustainable Organic and Low Input Dairying (SOLID) has worked to develop solutions to improve the viability of such systems from an environmental, economic and social perspective.

The conference was held at Welsh Higher Education, Brussels Tuesday 22nd March 2016.

Go to the presentations.

Scholarships for early-career scientists!

SOLID — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 14:11:01 +0000

SOLID has funds (up to €500 pr. pers.) to support attendance of a limited number of early career scientists from European regions at the final conference in Brussels.

Deadline: The 8th March 2015, 18.00h (GMT)
Apply for the financial support here

Applicants must be:

From Europe
Actively involved in research, extension, industry, or policy in subjects related to the aims of SOLID
Within 10 years of degree or post graduate qualifications

We will carefully select the candidates using the above criteria and to ensure a good regional and gender representation. If you are chosen to receive support, we will inform you by 10th March 2016 and you will need to reply, accepting the conditions by 12th March. Please ensure that you can access your email during this period. Our decisions on successful applicants will be final.

You will be responsible for organising your travel, accommodation and for any additional costs beyond your scholarship amount. You must keep all the receipts and attend the conference. You will only be reimbursed for expenses with original receipts shortly after the event by transfer into your bank account.

Apply for financial support here

Deadline for all financial support applications is 8th March 2015, 18.00h (GMT).

SOLID final conference on March 22 in Brussels on future challenges

SOLID — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 13:31:55 +0000

The SOLID final conference will focus on the challenges that face organic and low input dairy systems and how the EU-funded project Sustainable Organic and Low Input Dairying (SOLID) has worked for the last 5 years to develop solutions to improve the viability of such systems from an environmental, economic and social perspective.

Date: Tuesday 22nd March 2016, 09.00 – 16.30

Venue: Welsh Higher Education Brussels, Wales House, 11 Rond-Point Schuman, Brussels.

This Conference will present the outputs from SOLID which has developed a range of novel methodologies to contribute to the competitiveness of organic and low input dairying systems whilst, at the same time, increasing the effectiveness of delivery of the multi- functional benefits that these systems offer.

Topics being presented include:

Organic and low input dairy systems? The challenges.
Organic and low input dairy breeds – fact or fiction?
There is a feed for every need.
The environmental footprint of organic and low-input dairying.
Driving competitiveness in dairying.
Policy recommendations as a results of SOLID.
Future directions for organic and low input dairying in Europe.

The conference will end with a round table discussion on future challenges in organic and low input dairying.

A detailed programme with speakers can be found here

Attendance at the conference is free. You can register here.

The deadline for registration is 16^th March 2016.