GRANADA WORKSHOP REPORT 11.

Priorities for development of sustainable livestock systems in Spain:

Research and development themes related to livestock production systems and the development of disadvantaged rural areas identified at the meeting promoted by a special action of INIA (12-May-97)

M. Cruz Fernandez-Durantez and J.M. Vassallo, INIA, Apdo. 8111, 28080 Madrid.

In line with the European LSIRD Concerted Action, I.N.I.A., the Spanish Institute of Agricultural Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, arranged a one day meeting to produce an assessment of the role of livestock production systems in rural development of disadvantaged areas.

The workshop of 12th. May was attended by 21 people, of different skills: six socio-economists and eight livestock production system researchers; three managers of national agricultural research programmes and four managers of private activities concerned with rural development. Participants were asked (and they did answer!) to send a couple of pages with their reflections on the bottlenecks and problems they saw, from their own experience, in relationship with the Concerted Action's theme, which in their opinion deserved some useful R+D.

The meeting was conducted by three leading talks, namely:

• Framework of agrarian and environmental policies, adapted to the Mediterranean region.
  François de Casabianca, I.N.R.A., Corsica.
• The livestock production systems in disadvantaged humid areas of the North of Spain.
  Koldo Osoro, C.I.A.T.A., Asturias.
• Tools of socio-economy on agrarian systems for rural development.
  Javier Calatrava, C.I.D.A., Granada.
  

Once the large group was divided into three subgroups, taking into account a summary of all particpant's written reflections, a general discussion within each subgroup was held for almost two hours, the fruits of which have been summarised in the following list of objectives for R+D which, I am sure, deserves careful attention.

I. Analysis of the various extensive systems and the potential of other complementary and external initiatives in rural "pilot" zones to promote their integrated development.

I.1 Establishment of models of integrated rural development, harmonised with the preservation of biodiversity.

I.2 Social-structural limitations to rural development.- Ownership and succession, demographics, services, associated organisation.

I.3 Strategies to stabilise the rural population. The role of rural women.

I.4 Development of technological handbooks.(including health, genetics, pasture management) for each species managed systematically in extensive conditions.

II. Impact of agricultural and other policies supporting grazing systems on rural development.

II.1 Identification of undesirable effects of the CAP.

II..2 Identification of contradictions between policies.

II.3 Analysis of the impacts of aids or subsidies, and models to focus them to the improvement of the viability of the enterprises.

III. Evolution of the vegetation cover in less favoured areas with grazing

animal species.

III.1 Soil - plant - animal interactions.

III.2 Mixed grazing - simultaneous by different species.

III.3 Improving forage production.

III.4 Combating erosion and deserfification

III.5 Maintenance of indigenous breeds.

III.6 Individual identification of the fitness of the grazing animals.

IV Products of extensive livestock systems.

IV.1 Analysis of potential markets

IV.2 Orientation of production to meet demand.

IV.3 Improvement of product quality through typificication and differentiation (and in this case, by their own qualities and/or by the establishment of their traceability to the consumer).

IV.4 Marketing strategies.

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