Launch of the ARDI2 project
The launch meeting of the ARDI2 project was held on March 13 in Hendaye, at the headquarters of the Euroregion Aquitaine Euskadi Navarre.
The launch meeting of the ARDI2 project, “Towards the consolidation of common work in research, development, and innovation in sheep farming,” was held on March 13 in Hendaye, at the headquarters of the Euroregion Aquitaine Euskadi Navarre.
ARDI2 is a project approved in the first call of Interreg POCTEFA 2021-2027 that capitalizes on the results obtained in a previous POCTEFA project, ARDI. Its objective is to optimize the common management methodology of genetic improvement programs for the native Latxa and Manech sheep breeds by introducing new technologies, consolidating the ARTALDEAN AEIE created in ARDI, and defining new genomic evaluation models that increase the sustainability of the process. It also aims to support the incorporation of innovations into genetic improvement programs and the absorption of new technologies that increase the competitiveness of farms and make the activity more attractive for the incorporation of young people.
The project is led by NEIKER as the lead partner and benefits from the participation of the French INRA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria), IDELE (Institut de l’Élevage), and CDEO (Centre Départemental Elevage Ovin), the Navarrese association ASLANA (Asociación de Criadores de Ovino de Raza Latxa de Navarra), and ARDIEKIN (Centro de Selección e Inseminación Artificial de ovino de raza Latxa y Carranzana).
The results of ARDI2 will strengthen the dairy sheep farming sector on both sides of the border and will allow sheep farmers and the territory to benefit from improved competitiveness of the native Latxa and Manech breeds.