BroilerNet, the first European network project aimed at improving the sustainability and resilience of the broiler sector, has completed its third and final working cycle. The initiative, which brings together partners from 13 European countries and more than 400 stakeholders from the poultry sector, concludes its work having identified and shared over one hundred practical solutions to address the sector’s main challenges in the areas of animal welfare, health management, and environmental sustainability at a European scale. Spain is represented in the project by the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentà ries (IRTA), as a scientific partner and coordinator of the animal health management area, and by the Federació AvÃcola Catalana (FAC), as a producer partner.
As a key milestone of this third cycle, the project has completed the full collection of Good Practice fact sheets, which compile solutions validated under real production conditions and are now openly available through the Broiler Knowledge Hub.
The most notable good practices from the third cycle include:
- Animal health management: relevant sector health challenges have been addressed, including the reduction of Salmonella risk and the decrease in the persistence and recurrence of Enterococcus, through management and prevention strategies based on field experience and scientific knowledge.
- Animal welfare: topics such as optimising lighting management to meet the needs of broilers and reducing stress during thinning have been addressed, with practical improvements in handling and process planning.
- Environmental sustainability: European-scale challenges have been tackled, including the reduction of ammonia emissions and the improvement of carbon footprint accounting, providing practical tools and approaches to advance towards more sustainable production systems.
Spain is represented in the project by the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentà ries (IRTA), as a scientific partner and coordinator of the animal health management area, and the Federació AvÃcola Catalana (FAC), as a producer partner.
An innovative approach: innovation networks and co-creation
One of BroilerNet’s defining pillars is its “innovation networks” approach. The project has established twelve national networks and three European networks bringing together producers, advisors, researchers, and value chain representatives. These networks identify the most pressing challenges and seek effective solutions collaboratively, enabling the co-creation and adaptation of innovative practices to the realities of each region.
Throughout the three working cycles, BroilerNet has identified, evaluated, and refined over one hundred Good Practices that combine scientific knowledge and practical experience from farms across Europe, incorporating in many cases cost–benefit considerations to support the day-to-day decision-making of poultry producers. The Thematic Expert Networks, comprising specialists from several European countries, have identified the sector’s main challenges and classified the various proposed good practices. They have also selected the BroilerNet champions, who have contributed the best good practices to address the three major challenges per theme.
As the project approaches its conclusion in May 2026, all these resources, together with more than 100 additional materials, will remain available on the Broiler Knowledge Hub and on the FAC website, ensuring continued access to practical tools that support innovation and sustainable development in the European broiler sector. The project will formally close at the BroilerNet Final Conference, to be held in Brussels on 7 and 8 May.
About BroilerNet
BroilerNet brings together partners from 13 European countries and more than 400 stakeholders from the poultry sector, including producers, researchers, veterinarians, advisors, and industry representatives. Its objective is to identify, share, and transfer innovative good practices that address the sector’s challenges in animal welfare, health, and sustainability. The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme.
All generated materials (technical fact sheets, summaries, and videos) are published on the Broiler Knowledge Hub, accessible through the project website www.broilernet.eu, and also on the FAC website https://www.federacioavicola.org/.
For more information:
-. Official website of BroilerNet.EU
-. News about BroilerNet