Living Lab Animal Husbandry

The Living Lab Animal Husbandry (LLAH) is hosted by Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO). Main goal of the LLLAH is promoting practice-oriented innovation in the pig, cattle and poultry industry by co-creation, knowledge exchange and controlled experiments in research facilities and on commercial farms. Unique characteristics of the LLAH arise from its combination of translating research towards practical implementation and innovation by the farmers and industry. Within the LLAH the Pig Information Center, Cattle Information Center and Poultry Information Center act as an easily accessible contact, meeting, and communication platform in Flanders, providing information for all stakeholders, and bringing together and integrating the needs of the stakeholders into future practice-based and demand-driven research and co-creation. Enhancing transfer of both scientific and tacit knowledge towards and between all stakeholders is essential for the competitiveness and sustainability of the Flemish livestock sector. The LLAH has access to pilot halls that are equipped with semi-industrial scale processing machines to develop innovations in the agri-food chain. Also test benches, an accredited plant diagnostic centre, equipment for precision farming, a seed reception and processing unit and accredited laboratories for feed, animal-end products, plants, soil, genetics are available. The infrastructure is used for own research, other private/research partners, and multi-partner research (projects).

Areas of work:

• Agriculture and (Agri-)Food
• Circular Economy
• Environment/climate change
• Rural
• Water (Blue economy)
• Zero pollution & decarbonization