Strategic Plan

A. Introduction

1. EAAP was established over fifty years ago and is concerned with all key elements in the development of animal production in Europe and the Mediterranean region. EAAP is very aware of the need for keeping the content and forms of activities of the Association in line with changing needs of Member Organisations and with developments in social and economic environments affecting animal farming and animal research in the EAAP Member Countries.

2. This Strategic Plan has been prepared at the request of the EAAP General Assembly held in August 2003 in Rome, Italy, and based on replies to the questionnaire received from representatives of Member Organisations as well as from Council Members and Presidents and Secretaries of Study Commissions and Working Groups.

3. A summary of the replies to the questionnaire is presented in the annex to this document.

4. Bearing in mind the Association’s objects “promoting ever better economic and organisational conditions for animal production, inter alia through the active collaboration among national organisations that are Members of the Association, in the fields of scientific research, experimentation, animal husbandry and technical assistance” (Article 1 of the EAAP Constitution), the document presents priorities and adjustments in EAAP activities as indicated by Member Organisations and office bearers of the Association.

5. The vast majority of replies favoured on continuation and improvement  in quality and professional relevance of traditional EAAP activities (annual meetings, publications, symposia, working groups).

6. At the same time, they strongly supported proposals for improved benefits for Member Organisations through a strengthened representative role of the Association and the establishment of new services.

B. Strategic directions and priorities 2004-2008

Role of EAAP

7. The Association should play a more active role in promoting the interests of European animal production and animal science and its Member Organisations and in presenting their views to European and international governmental and non-governmental organisations and associations.

8. In addition to its representative role as a member society of the World Association of Animal Production, EAAP should further improve co-operation and promote joint actions with other global associations and sister associations from other regions. Cooperation with European and sister organisations could include the joint organisation and cost sharing of secretarial and other support services.

9. Bearing in mind that that over two thirds of its Member Organisations come from EU member countries, EAAP should endeavour to strengthen its working relations with relevant bodies of the European Commission.

10. EAAP will develop various forms of cooperation with industry, including up- and down-stream sectors and encourage more active participation of researchers from the private sector in EAAP activities.

11. EAAP will investigate the possibility to establish individual membership.

EAAP Activities - Annual Meetings

12. The Association will continue to improve the scientific quality and relevance of Annual Meetings.  The basic responsibility for this rests with Study Commissions. They will pay particular attention to selection of invited speakers and ensure quality of papers for theatre presentation. Poster sessions will be further developed as points of discussion on current research and specific issues of particular interest.

13. Annual Meetings should improve their present structure and duration. Improvements in the structure of meetings could include concentration of inter-disciplinary themes in joint sessions and giving more time for specialised thematic sessions.

14. Every effort will be made to reduce costs of meetings and to keep registration fees at the level acceptable to majority of participants. Study Commissions and organisers of annual meetings will strive to mobilise additional financial resources from potential sponsors. Sponsorship of meetings and sessions could include provision of funds or services without direct influence on the content and themes of these events.

15. The importance of enlarging the level of participation of researchers from private industries must be well analyzed.

16. EAAP Council and Member Organisations hosting EAAP Annual Meetings will further improve logistic and organisation of meetings.

17. Participation of young scientists will be supported by the EAAP funds and contributions from individuals, private sector, governments and inter-governmental organisations. Special seminars and training courses will be organised for young scientists, including post-doctoral courses.
18. Annual Meetings must be more advertised through general and specialised media
Satellite symposia

19. Themes of satellite symposia and meetings of working groups organised on the EAAP Annual Meetings could be complementary or independent of main themes of Annual Meetings.
Presentation of EAAP activities to public

20. Conclusions and recommendations of annual meetings, symposia, workshops and other activities having particular public interest will be presented to general and specialised media.

21. There is the need to better identify and to defend the image of EAAP. The image of the name and the logo of EAAP must be standardized.

Council’s working groups

22. Working groups should continue to study issues not covered by Study Commissions. Reports on their work will be presented to the Council and published on the EAAP web site and in the EAAP News.

23. Regional working bodies (Mediterranean and East European Working Groups), in addition to carrying out programmes of specific interest to the participating Member Organisations, will be in charge of bringing specific regional problems to the attention of the Council and Study Commissions, and also of facilitating scientific and economic co-operation among all countries belonging to the EAAP system.

24. Council’s working groups will be encouraged to initiate research and discussion on specific themes and issues by Study Commissions concerned.

25. Based on the experience of WG “Cattle Network” and subject to the interest of national producers’ associations, the Council will facilitate the establishment of other specialised business support networks.

EAAP Publications

26. The present form of the “Book of Abstract” will be retained. The Council will examine technical and other possibilities for reducing production costs of publication.

27.  Publication of the EAAP scientific series “EAAP Publication” will be continued. The series will maintain and further improve its scientific quality and relevance.

28. EAAP will continue to publish its official scientific journal “Livestock Production Science.” Every effort will be made to develop further its role as a leading animal science periodical in the world.  

29. The “EAAP Technical Series” will publish technical and research papers on issues having an immediate or short-term impact or being of particular interest for specific groups of professionals or countries.

30. The content of the “EAAP News” will be expanded to include more information of specific interest to the scientific community and professionals. Costs of publication and distribution will be reduced.

31. The “EAAP Home Page” will be further developed with a view to provide for fast dissemination of information and access to EAAP publications, as appropriate.

New Initiatives and Services

32. In developing and strengthening its role as the representative European association in the field of animal production and science and in improving benefits to its Member Organisations, the EAAP will:

a) Strengthen the co-operation with relevant services of the European Commission so as to ensure the EAAP participation in the development of science-based norms and sustainable animal production practices and promoting the implementation of such;

b) Improve its co-operation with European producers’ representative organisations, and, in particular, with lobbying organisations working with the European Commission. This could include the exchange of information, initiatives for action and provision of science based proposals for policy and technical measures related to animal farming;

c) Strengthen the co-ordination of European researchers to comply with projects and strategies outlined by the European Union.

d) Develop and up-date the European animal researchers database.

33. Taking into account that over two thirds of the EAAP Member Organisations come from the European Union, the EAAP Council will establish a special working group to monitor developments in EU policies in fields of animal production and animal science, to develop proposals for EAAP/EU cooperation and to initiate programmes and activities of specific interest for Member Organisations concerned.

34. EAAP will explore the possibility to find donors/sponsors to sustain EAAP activities and young scientists participation to EAAP meetings

35. As one of the oldest European scientific associations, EAAP will initiate the establishment of a European inter-disciplinary system for exchange of experiences and information among European representative scientific societies. Other functions of the system, such as advisory services to European inter-governmental bodies, could be developed in agreement with interested associations.

36. Communication with Member Organisations and dissemination of information will be further improved. Profile and content of “EAAP NEWS” and the EAAP Home Page will be adjusted accordingly.

37. In addition to information on activities of the Association, electronic and printed issues of the “EAAP News” will contain:

· Summaries and reviews of books and of research papers from scientific periodicals 
· Information on research funding;
· Calls for project proposals;
· Demands and offers for jobs and scholarships;
· Web sites of relevant specialised periodicals.

38. The EAAP Home Page, in addition with its present content, will include:

· Expanded abstracts of papers for presentation at Annual Meetings;
· Electronic form of “Livestock Production Science”;
· “EAAP Technical Series”;
· “EAAP News”;
· Information on new research, including the EU calls for project proposals;
· Links with Member Organisations;
· Links with co-operating international organisations;
· Links with relevant scientific periodicals.