Survey on animal production projects in development cooperation

A survey was carried out among the members of the Italian Scientific Association of Animal Productions (ASPA), in order to obtain a profile of the characteristics of development cooperation projects started after 2010 in the field of animal productions. The questionnaire was sent by e-mail to all ASPA members. Eighteen projects were censused. Most of them are concentrated in Asia (45%, especially in the South and South-East), followed by projects in Africa (27%) and South America (17%). Eastern Europe is still deserving little attention (11%), but it will probably receive more in the next future. The trend of the number of projects funded per year is rather constant (about 3 projects/year). The species which deserve more attention are buffaloes (28% of the projects) and fishes (11%). Only one project was censused for each of the following species: small ruminants, cattle, pigs and camelids. However, the majority of projects focuses on many species at the same time (29%) and is directed to more than one sector (44%). Twenty-two per cent of projects are both in the milk and meat sector, 17% are on milk only and 17% on meat only. Research, education and technical assistance are the main aims of the projects. European (29%) and extra-European (35%) international organizations represent the most important sources of funding, but Ministries (12%), local bodies (12%) and private institutions (12%) also contributed to support these projects. Only 33% of the projects are carried out in collaboration with NGOs, whereas 72% are carried out with foreign partners. The results of the survey show that most of the activities have a multi-actor approach with complementary types of knowledge (scientific and practical). The projects take into account the needs and the problems of local breeders, and find complementary solutions using many existing research tools (animal nutrition an management programs; crossbreeding and genetic models; food production, conservation and marketing techniques; communication and dissemination of results). This multi-actor approach, based on the exchange of knowledge between Italian and foreign partners, has very often generated innovative solutions.