Strategic Plan

A strategic plan is intended to guide the EAAP annual programme by providing a long-term objective. We will expand this so as to include a proactive process for guiding short-term plans to assist in focusing available EAAP resources to maximize their value for our members. The development of short-term goals will not only provide direction for the staff but will also create our incremental steps towards the accomplishment of our long-term objectives.

In 2003 EAAP decided to introduce a strategic plan for the future four year period to better direct the efforts and to be prepared for the future challenges of our organization. The 2004-2008 Strategic Plan was approved by the General Assembly and it is currently leading the development of EAAP.

A new Strategic Plan should be developed for the four years period (2008-2012) on the basis of the experience gained from the current plan and of the development of needs and activities of the animal science community and industry in Europe. For this reason an ad hoc committee was created: Dunixi Gabina (Spain), Matthias Gauly (Germany), Ilan Halachmi (Israel), Dorota Krencik (Poland), Kor Oldenbrook (the Netherlands), Joszef Ratki (Hungary), Markku Saastamoinen (Finland), Erling Strandberg (Sweden), plus the President, Jim Flanagan, and the Secretary General, Andrea Rosati, of EAAP. The ad hoc committee prepared a draft to be submitted to the General Assembly in Dublin for initial consideration. The 2007 draft version was revised by the member countries and by the ad hoc committee. Further revision was done by the President-elect, Kris Sejrsen, and by the Secretary General. It is planned to submit a fully developed strategic plan (2008-2012) to the 2008 General Assembly for approval

 

Mission

To promote the generation and dissemination of knowledge in animal science and production and to represent the science based views of the European animal science community.

 

Vision

To consolidate and develop the recognition as an important contributor in the European and Global animal science community through the organization of annual meetings and workshop of the highest scientific quality, through publishing an excellent scientific journal and through cooperation with relevant national, international and scientific organizations.

 

Strategic Plan EAAP 2008-2012

What will be the position of the EAAP in 2012 and what activities will be performed by the organization? This strategic plan identifies the actions and attention points for the organization to reach in the coming years the desired position and achieve the expected activities in 2012. It is based on a scan of the environment of EAAP and a SWOT analysis. It rephrases the mission of EAAP and outlines a strategy based on a vision of what EAAP should be like in 2012.

EAAP’s environment in a rapidly changing European Animal Production

General - Keywords

• The global food shortage
• Environmental effects - including those caused by the climate change
• Animal welfare aspects
• Different levels of economic development
• Continued focus on human health effects
• Growing use of information technology (IT) in the societies

Europe (political and societal challenges)

• Growing role of science and technology in innovation in the animal production field
• Increased role of information technology in communication and dissemination of knowledge
• Countries are at very different stages of economic development (also within EU)
• Increased focus on human welfare aspects and high expectations for quality and safety of food
• Increased use of animals in other purposes than for food production only
• Continued rise in the attention to animal welfare
• Intense focus on environmental aspects of production and sustainable production in general
• Increased competition in food production from the Americas and Asia

Animal Science (challenges for animal production)

•  For most of the EAAP countries the EU Commission and/or national governments are of growing importance on respect of animal production (science)
• Animal production has relatively lower economic importance in many countries
• Less public investment in R&D for animal production at national levels
• Increased awareness of trade offs: biodiversity, environment, animal welfare
• Development of high tech production chains
• Animal production science is not popular among students
• Large variation in farm development
• Increased role of large/international private companies
• A strong consolidation of the industries involved in food production from animals
• Farming systems become consumer driven, large retailers set quality standards and prices
• Revival of local/traditional meat and cheese products, required local breeds, local farming and unique food processes and recipes
• Application of research in the farms requires long time periods
• Use of information technology at the farm and in the herds

SWOT-analysis EAAP 2007

On the way to a strategic plan for the EAAP in the coming period (2008-2012) the ad hoc strategic plan committee reviewed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A long list was produced and was analyzed to indicate the three most important issues for each part of the SWOT. By definition strengths and weaknesses are internal factors and opportunities and threats are external factors. Therefore strengths and weaknesses below are those of the EAAP organization itself and can be, possibly, managed by the organization. Opportunities and threats will affect the EAAP organization and require an adequate response. To avoid an overload of strategic actions, we started to select the main three issues for each quadrant of the SWOT. In the development of a strategy we focus on the weaknesses, the opportunities and on the threats which EAAP can eliminate. Actions to maintain the strong points of the organization will be mentioned briefly.

Strengths

EAAP meetings are meeting points for European scientists and dissemination vehicles for science in the field of animal production

• EAAP is a partner in setting the European agenda for research and education in animal production as a result of an effective lobbying strategy and of improving contacts with the industry
• EAAP has an efficient operating headquarters still improving working processes to maintain an informative website, for the organization of meetings and the production of publications and to lobby and coordinate European animal science activities

Weaknesses

• EAAP meeting visitors have different needs in knowledge and knowledge development through science and their expectations are not completely clear. EAAP is not playing in the major league of science where more fundamental scientists and R&D scientists of the industry would like to play
• EAAP member fees are paid by a variety of organizations in the respective countries and are sometimes not guaranteed in the long term
• EAAP annual meeting fees are too high for young scientists and scientists from countries with less limited financial resources

Opportunities

• Required “professionalization” (quality assurance) of animal production
• ICT developments facilitate communication with scientists/dissemination of results
• Animal production is back on the research agenda of the EU

Threats

• Increased competition in animal production at the global level
• Reduced importance of agriculture in the European economy
• Information gap in various countries between the member organizations and the scientists

To maintain the strengths

• To emphasize scientific quality of the program in the preparations of the annual meetings and to invite top scientists as speakers
• President and secretary continue to play a role in EU activities
• Secretariat continue to incorporate ICT developments in working processes of the organization
• Secretariat continue to participate in the EU FP7 research programs, aiming to transfer knowledge from research to animal production farmers (dissemination)

To eliminate weaknesses

• Develop an attractive few days programme for each of the different types of visitors with different needs. The approach of developing efficiently a flexible programme able to attract scientists and industry representatives should be our leading concern, consequently the role of the commissions will be more oriented towards cooperation with the commissions/working groups so as to obtain more improved programmes. The current programme follows only the objectives of each one of the study commissions and working groups.
• Develop a long term contract for the organizations paying the member fees in the different countries (note: this could be very difficult to achieve)
• Develop a system of scholarships for any EAAP events to support the participation of young scientists and a more flexible fee structure taking into consideration the offered scientific and social services to accommodate different needs and economic possibilities

To take up the opportunities together with industry

• Continue the publication of EAAP series and focus on the description of the state of the art in the scientific fields and its proper application in animal production to professionalize production methods
• Improve the EAAP website further and inform scientists about calls for proposals, seminars and congresses outside EAAP and about important scientific developments
• Initiate activities to take up the funds for science and education within EU frameworks

To eliminate the threats

• Stimulate the publication of the state of the art in the European Animal Production, its science and its education
• Focus on research and education for product quality, food safety and animal welfare
• Exchange best practices in improving the communication between member organizations and individual scientists in the respective countries to attract more participants at the annual meetings from the animal science and education sector.

The main goals of the EAAP are as follows:

• Goal 1: Promote the generation of knowledge in animal science and production
• Goal 2: Facilitate dissemination of knowledge in animal science and production
• Goal 3: Represent the science based views of the European animal science community

Vision

In 2012 the Annual Meeting of the EAAP is attended by 1500 people: 500 students in Animal Science, 500 scientists and teachers, 250 leaders of industry or R&D heads and 250 extension workers. They are offered a five-day programme based on their particular interests. Twenty- five per cent is coming from overseas: the Mediterranean region, the Americas and Asia. Sessions, workshops and courses are opened by guest speakers working at the avant-garde of the various scientific areas. In open working sessions new EU projects are prepared. The meeting is held at the campus of a university or at a Conference Centre in an attractive city. The fee is still €500 for the whole week or €100 per day due to the support of the EAAP donor fund.

Enhance the quality of all the other EAAP activities, especially the relevance of the journal “Animal”

A more flexible membership of EAAP will involve allowing a wider participation in the activities of the Association. Fellow-memberships, special memberships for industries and for research institutes will be discussed and planned to allow a larger involvement of all stakeholders.

Since part of the expertise and the research activities belongs already to private industries, the participation of industries in the life of EAAP is envisaged. Industry representatives will be part of the Scientific Commissions and of the Council to fully represent their interests and activities. Above all a larger representation of the industries is important to give due consideration to the practical application of animal science.

In 2012 most of the EAAP sessions will be supported by sponsorship, allowing therefore more participation of outstanding scientists. Moreover sponsorships of EAAP sessions might facilitate the participation of young scientists through scholarships and to reduce the registration fees for every participant. The direct involvement of industries in the sessions organization will facilitate sponsorship.

Three key strategic actions up to 2012

1. Program annual meetings: top science, diversity of audience, young scientists oral presentations, lower fee
2. EU relationship: preparation and assisting individuals and organization preparing calls, education, etc (lobby, information and stimulation and, when required, coordination of projects)
3. To anchor EAAP in national member organizations and institutions and improve relationship with the industry and donor funds

Goals

The following is intended as a starting point for the development of our future goals and objectives. Each of the short-term plans should aim towards the long-term vision and be consistent with overall goals. Although, this list is not intended to be exhaustive, it rather identifies the most important and higher profile corporate objectives. One should expect that there will also be a number of ongoing projects and activities that the Secretariat will be involved in at any stage.

As the General Assembly sets the goals and objectives, it will be the responsibility of the Council to coordinate and allocate resources within the budget to achieve them.

Long-Term Objectives

1. Increase average participation at EAAP annual meeting to 1500 people by 2012
2. Increase the number of member countries to 45 by 2012
3. Have at least a scientist in each Study Commission from private industries
4. Obtain an average of 10 sponsorships from private industries
5. Offer yearly at least 40 scholarships as an average for the attendance at EAAP events

2008 Objectives

We will accomplish the following by December 31, 2008:

1. Prepare a draft revision of the annual event
2. Prepare a draft revision of the structure of the Scientific Committees
3. Reshape the website
4. Prepare a list of potential animal industries interested in EAAP activities

Future Planning Cycle

Every successful organization must plan and set goals and objectives. EAAP is particularly challenged since the Council meets annually only on two occasions. It is also important for the staff to have a clear understanding of the expectations of the Council in order to best focus and manage limited resources. To this end, it is proposed to integrate the following planning cycle within the existing meetings cycle of the organization. This is intended as a starting point in order to facilitate discussion.

• Spring - Council
  - Review previous year performance against set goals
  - Review current year performance against set goals
  - Draft goals for the next year
• Summer – Council
  - Receive report on previous/current year performance
  - Review and approve objectives for the next year
• Summer - General Assembly
  - Report on previous/current year performance
  - Present next year objectives