Organic and low intensive, traditional sheep farming in the Polish Carpathian Mts

The Polish Carpathians Mts. occupy about 19.6 thousands km2, which constitute over 6 % of the area of the country. The length of this mountain chain within Poland 's territory is 330 km and width is 60-80 km. In described agricultural land the permanent grasslands dominate. At lower elevation, i.e. about 600-650 m a.s.l. they are moved, and the above this elevation land is utilised as a pasture. In whole area the low input agriculture is practised, usually as sub-sistence farming, i.e. feeding the farmer and his fam-ily. Possible surpluses of food are sold in the local markets or directly to the tourists and holidaymakers, who are rather numerously visiting this glamorous mountain region. The described specific agriculture is favouring the organic production. Hence also in the area under consideration a numerous number of or-ganic farms occurs as well as the farmers who apply-ing for a certification. The majority of the remaining are following the principles of good agricultural practices, manifesting among others, in careful use of manure and signifi-cant limitation in applying the chemical fertilisers. In the paper the characteristics of husbandry and breeding of mountain sheep (stock, breed) will be presented as well as grazing management of large flocks, which are utilised for dairy production. Apart from natural determinants, production possibilities referring to plant and animal output will be presented as well as low-input, beyond technical method of pasture and sward improvement All of the above will be analysed, based on the examples of several organic sheep farms, which are interested also in agro-tourism during summer and winter period. (on the limited scale). Those Farms are localised on an elevation 600-900 m. a.s.l. (the Tatry Mts.) and will be characterised in details as the typi-cal organic farms belonging to the group which are adapting the EC Regulation 2092/91 through local legislation. An analysis will be made of the principal crops (meadow, pasture), stocking rate, welfare, applied medicaments, manuring, and hygienic meas-ures. The results will be supplemented by a synthesis of research data derived from different sources, in-cluding the own research work

Key challenges and priorities for modelling European grasslands under climate change

Grassland-based ruminant production systems are integral to sustainable food production in Europe, converting plant materials indigestible to humans into nutritious food, while providing a range of environmental and cultural benefits. Climate change poses significant challenges for such systems, their productivity and the wider benefits they supply. In this context, grassland models have an important role in predicting and understanding the impacts of climate change on grassland systems, and assessing the efficacy of potential adaptation and mitigation strategies. In order to identify the key challenges for European grassland modelling under climate change, modellers and researchers from across Europe were consulted via workshop and questionnaire. Participants identified fifteen challenges and considered the current state of modelling and priorities for future research in relation to each. A review of literature was undertaken to corroborate and enrich the information provided during the horizon scanning activities. Challenges were in four categories relating to: 1) the direct and indirect effects of climate change on the sward 2) climate change effects on grassland systems outputs 3) mediation of climate change impacts by site, system and management and 4) cross-cutting methodological issues. While research priorities differed between challenges, an underlying theme was the need for accessible, shared inventories of models, approaches and data, as a resource for stakeholders and to stimulate new research. Developing grassland models to effectively support efforts to tackle climate change impacts, while increasing productivity and enhancing ecosystem services, will require engagement with stakeholders and policy-makers, as well as modellers and experimental researchers across many disciplines. The challenges and priorities identified are intended to be a resource 1) for grassland modellers and experimental researchers, to stimulate the development of new research directions and collaborative opportunities, and 2) for policy-makers involved in shaping the research agenda for European grassland modelling under climate change

Challenges and priorities for modelling livestock health and pathogens in the context of climate change

Climate change has the potential to impair livestock health, with consequences for animal welfare, productivity, greenhouse gas emissions, and human livelihoods and health. Modelling has an important role in assessing the impacts of climate change on livestock systems and the efficacy of potential adaptation strategies, to support decision making for more efficient, resilient and sustainable production. However, a coherent set of challenges and research priorities for modelling livestock health and pathogens under climate change has not previously been available. To identify such challenges and priorities, researchers from across Europe were engaged in a horizon-scanning study, involving workshop and questionnaire based exercises and focussed literature reviews. Eighteen key challenges were identified and grouped into six categories based on subject-specific and capacity building requirements. Across a number of challenges, the need for inventories relating model types to different applications (e.g. the pathogen species, region, scale of focus and purpose to which they can be applied) was identified, in order to identify gaps in capability in relation to the impacts of climate change on animal health. The need for collaboration and learning across disciplines was highlighted in several challenges, e.g. to better understand and model complex ecological interactions between pathogens, vectors, wildlife hosts and livestock in the context of climate change. Collaboration between socio-economic and biophysical disciplines was seen as important for better engagement with stakeholders and for improved modelling of the costs and benefits of poor livestock health. The need for more comprehensive validation of empirical relationships, for harmonising terminology and measurements, and for building capacity for under-researched nations, systems and health problems indicated the importance of joined up approaches across nations. The challenges and priorities identified can help focus the development of modelling capacity and future research structures in this vital field. Well-funded networks capable of managing the long-term development of shared resources are required in order to create a cohesive modelling community equipped to tackle the complex challenges of climate change