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COORDINATOR
Partner name: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC)
Department: Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition
Country: Italy
Website: https://www.unicatt.it/
Description:
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) is the largest Italian free academic Institution, with more than 40,000 students.
The Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition is located in the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science in Piacenza and has strong international connections, collaborating with e.g. the International Agency for Atomic Energy (IAEA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others, and with many Institutions in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. The Department is a leader in Animal Science and has been funded in FP5, FP6, FP7, H2020 and AGRI-GENRES.
Profiles of the staff involved
Paolo Ajmone Marsan, PI (male): Full Professor of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Director of the Proteomics and Nutrigenomics Research Center and of the Agrisystem Doctoral School. He has participated in many national and international projects, twice as coordinator of EU Consortia. He has authored 160+ papers in ISI journals; H-index=40 (Scopus); associate editor of “Genetics Selection Evolution” and “Genes” and guest editor of “Frontiers in Genetics”; Scientific Advisor of several FAO/IAEA projects.
Team members:
- Licia Colli (female)
- John Williams (male)
- Mario Barbato (male)
- Pasqualino Loi (male)
- Elisa Somenzi (female)
- Yosra Ressaissi (female)
Partner name: INAT, University of Carthage – Tunisia
Department: Department of Animal Sciences; National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia
Country: Tunisia
Website: http://www.inat.tn/fr
Description:
Established in 1898, INAT’s work focuses on a wide range of topics, including sustainable development issues, biodiversity, environment, climate changes, functioning and engineering of natural and cultivated ecosystems, biotechnologies, marine ecosystem, water, and animal sciences and management.
The Department of Animal Science, is located in the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia and has strong international connections, collaborating with University of Laval, IRDA Quebec, INRAE Rennes France and The University of Perugia In Italy, as well as many other institutions.
Profiles of the staff involved
Naceur M’Hamdi, PI (male): Associate Professor of Animal Biotechnology and statistics, member of the Ecosystems and Aquatic Resources Research Unit and member of Animal Science Department of INAT; graduated from Higher School of Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage, in 2002, master’s in 2006 and PhD in 2011.
Team members:
- Professor Nizar Moujahed (male)
- Dr Bochra Bejaoui Kefi (female), Associate Professor
- Dr Cyrine Darej (female), Assistant Professor
- Dr Hajer M’Hamdi (female), Veterinary
- Dr Samia Mliel Khnissi (female), Assistant Professor
- Dr. Moahmed Chniter (male), Assistant Professor
- Dr Jamel Nasr (male), Assistant Professor
Partner name: Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC)
Department: Advanced Scientific Computing Division (ASC)
Country: Italy
Website: https://www.cmcc.it
Description:
CMCC is a non-profit research institution that investigates our climate and its interactions with society to stimulate sustainable growth, protect the environment, and develop science driven policies to mitigate climate change.
Profiles of the staff involved
Giovanni Chillemi, PI (male): Professor of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics at DIBAF, University of Tuscia and Associate researcher at CMCC; PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and a Master Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”; Author of more than 125 articles in ISI indexed peer reviewed journals (Orcid ID 0000-0003-3901-6926; Scopus h-index = 30Coordinator of the Italian node of ELIXIR infrastructure for Bioinformatics.
Team members:
- Giovanni Aloisio (male)
- Alessandro D’Anca (male)
- Antonio Aloisio (male)
- Marco Milanesi (male)
Partner name: University of Sciences and Technology of Oran-Mohamed Boudiaf (USTO-MB)
Department: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Genetics (LGMC)
Country: Algeria
Websites: https://www.univ-usto.dz/ – https://lgmc.webnode.fr/
Description:
The laboratory of “Molecular and Cellular Genetics” is a research laboratory affiliated to the department of “Applied Molecular Genetics” at the level of the faculty of “Nature and Life Sciences” of the University of USTO-MB, was created in 1990 and was then approved in 2009 by the DGRSDT as a research laboratory. The laboratory includes 4 research teams specialized in different areas of Genetics. One of them is the Animal Genetic Resources Management and Improvement Team which aims to characterize and enhance animal genetic resources in Algeria. Since 1990, several studies have been carried out for this purpose, these studies were carried out on different species: sheep, chicken, cattle, horses, camels and bees.
Profiles of the staff involved
Nacera Tabet Aoul (female): Full Professor, Doctor Es-Sciences Genetic and Biology Molecular (2006) at the University Es-Senia of Oran, president of Scientific Comity of Department Biotechnology since 2019, teacher in genetic and genetic engineering at the department of biotechnology, University of Oran 1, Oran, Algeria since 1994; permanent researcher and head of the team of animal biodiversity at the LGMC / USTO-MB, head of research projects national (PRFU and PNR) and international (Tassili, PHC).
Team members:
- Fatima Zohra Mahammi (female), Teacher-Researcher
- Selma Boudali (female), Researcher
- Youcef Amine Cherifi (male), Researcher
- Schaherazed Kheira Kassouar (female), Teacher-Researcher
- Sarra Belkhadem (female), PhD student
Partner name: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA-Maroc)
Country: Morocco
Website: https://www.inra.org.ma
Description:
INRA-Maroc is a Moroccan public organisation mandated to undertake research for agricultural development, with the objectives of increasing productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of agricultural production; characterising and preserving genetic resources; improving quality, and diversifying plant and animal products; analysing the social demand and the production systems. One of its strategic domains is the understanding and the characterisation of the distribution of genomic diversity in livestock species to improve their productivity sustainably. It is active in various production areas where different management environments exist.
Profiles of the staff involved
Badr BENJELLOUN, PI (male): Research Scientist in Livestock Genomics; 15 years of research experience in livestock genetics; researcher in livestock genomics at INRA and visiting scientist at Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, CNRS/UGA in France since 2015; postgraduate education as an Engineer in Livestock Production; PhD in Biodiversity, Ecology and Environment at the University of Grenoble Alpes in France; involved in many national and international collaboration initiatives, e.g. the NextGen, IMAGE, and the VarGoats initiative of the International Goat Genome Consortium; studies on genome diversity and the bases of local adaptation using WGS data in small ruminants, use of various Omics technologies for implementing sustainable breeding schemes of terrestrial livestock; head of one of the 10 INRA regional centres in Morocco (CRRA of Tadla) since September 2020.
Team members:
- Hayat Lionboui (female), Researcher
- Abelmajid Bechchari (male), Researcher
- Mohammed Benbati (male), Researcher
- Mustapha Ibnelbachyr (male), Researcher
- Mohamed Boughlala (male), Researcher
- Bouchra El amiri (female), Researcher
- Ibtissam Nejjam (female), Researcher
Partner name: The North West Sylvo Pastural Development Office (odesypano)
Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries
Country: Tunisia
Website: www.odesypano.agrinet.tn
Description:
The North West Sylvopastural Development Office (ODESYPANO) is a non-administrative public establishment (EPNA) with civil legal personality, financial autonomy and placed under authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fishing. It’s created in order to promote sustainable development in mountainous and forested areas of the North West part of Tunisia located in the governorates of Beja, Jendouba, Kef, Siliana and Bizerte. These areas are characterized by small fragmented farms.
The main objective of the odesypano consisted in increasing incomes through support of agricultural and non-agricultural activities and the improvement of living conditions for the population by the establishment of a socio-economic infrastructure. Participatory and integrated approach adopted by the odesypano provided significant tools to achieve development programs in partnership with rural population and development actors.
Profiles of the staff involved
Hichem KHemiri, PI (male): Director General of ODESYPANO; General Engineer; graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia USA in 1991; in charge of Management and implementation of an integrated development project at the ODESYPANO; author of many research reports and papers; member of many national and international committees.
Team members:
- Moncef Kthiri (male), Head of Rural Animation and Technical Support Division
- Lazhari Boudali (Senior technician and advisor in agricultural production)
- Beya Hdhiri (Technician and advisor in agricultural production)
Partner name: Université Abou Bekr Belkaïd – Tlemcen
Department: Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences and Earth and Universe Sciences
Laboratory: Physiopathology and biochemical of nutrition (PpaBioNut)
Country: Algeria
Website: www.univ-tlemcen.dz
Description:
The University of Tlemcen is the only Algerian university ranked in the Times Higher Education 2017; it is 1st in national rank, 74th in the Arab rank and 801st at the world level. The research activities of the PPABIONUT laboratory are at the crossroads of many scientific disciplines : genetics, medicine, biology, physiology, biochemistry, food sciences, as well as socio-economics. Field data collection, phenotype recording and analysis of genetic data is commonplace.
The PPABIONUT team has over 90 papers in biodiversity managed and genetic studies on sheep and chicken and will ensure an effective translation of the scientific results of the SCALA-MEDI Project, also thanks to the support of the house of entrepreneurship and the UABT BLUE.
Profiles of the staff involved
Semir Bechir Suheil Gaouar, PI (male): Full Professor, Doctor es Sciences in Molecular Biology and Genetics (2009) at University of Es-Sénia, Oran, Algeria; President of the scientific council about the biology department and responsible of genetic training in university of Tlemcen; 2009-2013 team leader of Lab Molecular and Cellular Genetics at the University of USTOMB (Algeria); member and focal point of the EU-funded project ARIMNET2 CA.RA.VA.N. (Toward a CAmel tRAnsnational VAlue chaiN); responsible for the scientific activities of several research projects of national interest (PNR, CNEPRU) funded by the Algerian ministry of high education and scientific research; currently involved in some bilateral North-South projects; Director of the laboratory Genetic applied in agriculture, ecology and public health (GenApAgiE); over 120 papers in international journals, books, and conferences; peer-reviewer for many reputed journals and Editor in chief for Genetics and Biodiversity Journal (GABJ).
Team members:
- Djamil Merad Boudia (male), Assistant professor-researcher, Economist, University of Tlemcen
- Omar Behadada (male), Assistant professor-researcher, Administrator, University of Tlemcen
- Abdelkader Ameur Ameur (male), Assistant professor-researcher, Geneticist, University of Tlemcen
- Fatima Zohra Belharfi (female), PhD student, Geneticist, University of Tlemcen
- Sidi Mohamed Kalai (male), PhD student, Geneticist, University of Tlemcen
- Rachid Aissani (male), chicken breeding
- Tabet-Aoul Wassila (female), Professor-Researcher, Economist, University of Tlemcen
- Hadj Slimane Hinde (female), Assistant professor-Researcher, Economist, University of Tlemcen
- Ghomari Souhila (female), Assistant professor-Researcher, economist, University of Tlemcen
- Bentayeb Hidayat (female), Assistant professor-Researcher, economist, University of Tlemcen
- Djaout Amel (female), Senior researcher, Zootechnician, INRAA, Sétif
- Gherissi Djallel Edinne (male), Assistant professor-Researcher, Veterinarian, University of Souk Ahras
- Tefiel Hakim (male), Assistant professor-Researcher, Zootechnician, University of Tissemsilt
- Lezzar Nawel (female), Assistant professor-Researcher, Veterinarian, Université Frères Mentouri de Constantine
Partner name: Nature 4.0 Società Benefit Srl
Via Fortunato Zeni, 8 Rovereto (TN) – Italy
Website: www.nature4shop.com
Description:
NATURE 4.0 is a for-profit Benefit Corporation SME specialized in development and production of high innovative and unique systems for environmental, forest and agricultural monitoring. The main focus of the company is to transfer scientific knowledge and front-end ideas into market-based applications. One of its innovative product is the TreeTalker device and its new development such as the TT-Wine device to continuous monitoring water transport in plants and related physiological parameters, derived by analysis of light transmission spectral bands. The company was built in 2018 by its founder Prof. Riccardo Valentini. Its main area of business is the application of IoT technologies and wireless data transmission (i.e. LoRa/LoRaWan) to environment monitoring.
Nature 4.0 is providing the necessary IoT sensors for real time monitoring in sheeps and chickens. It is contributing to WP1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9.
Profiles of the staff involved
Riccardo Valentini, PI (male): Professor of University of Tuscia is a pioneer of terrestrial carbon flux measurements and coordinator of a global network of more than 600 flux towers (FLUXNET) placed in ecosystems around the world. Prize for the Environment as member of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board (2006); “Ernst Heckel” Prize of the Federation of European Ecological Societies (2015); Medal of the Italian Academy of Science for Physics and Natural Sciences (2018); Thompson Reuters highly cited scientist in 2016 and 2017 and Clarivate highly cited scientist in 2018; four Laurea Honoris Causae. h-Index 86.
Team members:
- Francesco Renzi (male)
- Michael Gobbi (male)
- Guglielmo Zampiccoli (male)
- Micaela Onorati (female)
Partner name: Regional Agency for Agricultural Research (Agris Sardinia)
Research Unit : Genetics and Biotechnologies
Country: Italy
Website: http://www.sardegnaagricoltura.it/innovazionericerca/agris/
Description:
The Department for Research on Livestock Production of Agris Sardinia is the body of the Regional Government of Sardinia in charge of research, and innovation for the development of the livestock sector in Sardinia. It consists of 79 employees, 18 out of them are permanent researchers. It is organised in 5 research units: Genetics and Biotechnologies, Animal Nutrition, Reproduction, Farming Systems and Fish Products. The research unit Genetics and Biotechnologies is in charge of research on livestock genetics and provides scientific and technical support to the National Association of Sheep and Goats (ASSONAPA) for the genetic management of the Sarda sheep breed. The team manages the experimental farm of Monastir (South of Sardinia) with around 800 milking ewes.
The main topics of the Genetics and Biotechnologies team are:
- Dairy sheep breeding and management
- Management of breeding programs in sheep
- Genetic evaluation
- QTL detection and genomic selection (methods and implementation)
- Molecular biology and DNA array analysis
- Bioinformatics
- Management of experimental flocks
Profiles of the staff involved
Antonello Carta, PI (male): leader of the Genetics and Biotechnologies team which is focused on the genetic improvement of the Sardinian sheep; from 2010 to 2014 President of the Italian Society of Pathology and Husbandry of Small Ruminants; member of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Sardinian Sheep Inter-professional Organisation (OILOS) officially recognised by the Italian Minister of Agriculture; National Committee in charge of planning national programs of genetic improvement of sheep and goat officially recognised by the Italian Minister of Agriculture; Sheep and Goat Working Group of the International Committee of Animal Recording (ICAR); Mediterranean Working Group of the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP).
Team members:
- Sara Casu (female), Researcher, PhD
- Sotero Luca Salaris (male), Researcher, PhD
- Mario Graziano Usai (male), Researcher, PhD
- Tiziana Sechi (female), Researcher, PhD
- Sabrina Miari (female), Researcher, PhD
- Severino Tolu (male), Technician
- Giuliana Mulas (female), Researcher
Partner name: Institut de l’Elevage (IDELE)
Department: Genetics & Phenotypes
Country: France
Website: www.idele.fr
Description:
The French Livestock Institute (IDELE) is a R&D organization focused on ruminants’ species. The Genetics and Phenotypes Department has a team devoted to the monitoring and management of genetic variability of ruminant breeds including rare breeds. pedigrees) and to the genetic and phenotypic evaluation.
IDELE is one of the twelve members of the French National Cryobank. IDELE holds the secretariat and manages the French National Cryobank’s funding since its creation in 1999. Part of the work is to perform an assessment of the ruminant collections, in comparison with the active (in situ) populations. IDELE is also an active member of the French observatory on cattle genetic defect (ONAB).
Profiles of the staff involved
Valérie Loywyck, PI (female): PhD in Animal Genetics with a thesis focus on genetic variability analysis for selected populations combining molecular, phenotype and pedigree information; in charge of the genetic evaluation of meat sheep; leader of the OVIGEN project that aims at developing a genomic platform for the French sheep populations; involved in the SMARTER project (Small ruminant breeding for efficiency and resilience).
Team members:
- Coralie Danchin (female)
- Pierre-Guillaume Grisot (male)
Partner name: National Gene Bank of Tunisia (NGBT)
Department: Animal genetic resources
Country: Tunisia
Website: http://www.bng.nat.tn/
Description:
NGBT started its activities in November 2007. Its main mandate is the conservation of animal, plant and microorganism genetic resources as well as the coordination and promotion of conservation activities and the sustainable use of genetic resources.
The animal genetic resources department is located at the National Gene Bank of Tunisia. It is responsible for the evaluation and conservation of local, acclimatized and exotic animal resources, and in particular those which are rare, threatened with extinction and those which are of economic, ecological and / or medicinal interest.
Dr Haifa El Hentati represents the NGBT in the national animal genetic resources committee.
Profiles of the staff involved
Haifa El-Hentati, PI: engineering degree in Biological Engineering (National Engineering School of Sfax-Tunisia, year 2001); master in genetics (Faculty of Sciences of Tunis-Tunisia, year 2003); PhD in biological sciences (Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte-Tunisia, year 2013); permanent research professor and head of laboratory at the National Gene Bank of Tunisia in animal biotechnology since 2015; University teacher from 2009 to June 2015.
Team members:
- Mrs. Wissal Derouiche
Partner: FISA, Fédération Interprofessionnelle du Secteur Avicole au Maroc
Country: Maroc
Email: direction@fisa.ma
Website: www.fisamaroc.org.ma
Description:
FISA is a recognised professional organisation at the service of the poultry sector. It includes:
- AFAC: Association of Composite Food Manufacturers;
- ANAM: National Association of Moroccan Incubators;
- ANAVI: National Association of Industrial Poultry Slaughterhouses;
- ANPO: National Association of Egg Producers;
- APV: National Association of Poultry Meat Producers.
Main missions: to represent the interests of the profession to the guardianship administration; to improve the technical and economic environment for the production and marketing of poultry products; to build bridges of communication with the administrative bodies for a sustainable development; to provide support for operators in the poultry sector; to promote communication actions.
Profiles of the staff involved
Mr Chaouki Jerrari, is the Executive Director of FISA. He passed 40 years working in the poultry sector in Morocco and contributed substantially for making FISA the main interprofessional actor in the Moroccan poultry industry.
Team members:
- M. Mustapha Hasnaoui
- M. Zakaria Maiden
Description:
ITELV is a public institution created in 1999, from the merger of ITEBO and ITPE. It organizes breeding and selection programs of several animal species for “conservation of local breeds”, development of food processing systems and valorization of farm products and testing technical innovation, technological transfer in an environment popularization and distribution of acquired results.
Profiles of the staff involved
Ghania Zitouni, PI (female): Research Master 1989/1994 National School of Agronomy (ENSA_Zootechnics / animal production – Engineer in Agronomy). Principal agricultural engineer since 2011. Academic training (s) / Master 2 Research in: “Ecology, Environment”. Eco-engineering of wetlands, Biodiversity, Bioindicators (2009/2011) University of Angers / UFR sciences Course / Specialty: Practical internship carried out in the Ecotoxicology laboratory at INRA d’Avignon, “Bee and Environment” Unit. Head of Monogastric Department at the ITELV Technical Institute for Livestock 2013-2020.
Team members: Housseyn Aidani (male)
Description:
ANOC is a professional organization of public utility since 1988. Its missions are: Defend the interests of breeders and the sector, Improve the productivity of sheep and goat farming, especially the genetic performance of animals; Increase and diversify the income of breeders; to implement genetic improvement programs among breeders across the country. ANOC currently supervises 14,850 breeders with a workforce of 3 million heads of sheep (13 breeds) and goats (12 breeds).
Profiles of the staff involved
Dr JANNOUNE Abderrahmane, specialized in livestock genetics. Engineering degree in livestock productions, Ph.D. at the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute HII in Rabat. Head of the Genetic Improvement and Product Promotion Department at ANOC with 12 years of experience in the development and implementation of sheep and goat development programs. Author of several studies of genetic characterization of indigenous races in Morocco. Member of the National Advisory Committee for drafting the national report on the State of Animal Genetic Resources in Morocco. A great international experience with involvement in many partnerships (FAO, cooperation: French, German, Swiss, Belgian, USA …).
Team members:
Partner: High School of Agriculture of Mateur (ESAM)
Country: Tunisia
Website: www.esamateur.agrinet.tn
Description:
Research and training at ESAM include fodder production, sustainable development, biodiversity, environment, climate changes, functioning and engineering of natural and cultivated ecosystems, biotechnologies, and management.
Profiles of the staff involved
Manel Ben Larbi, PI (female): Assistant Professor of Animal production and genetic since 2015; member of Research Unit of biodiversity and resource development in mountain areas of Tunisia (UR17AGR14), Higher School of Agriculture of Mateur, University of Carthage and member of Animal Science Department of ESAM; graduated from the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, a master’s in 2006 and PhD in 2013; 1st World Prize for Best Paper and Best Oral Presentation (Genetic Session) at World Rabbit Congress 2012 Sharme chikh-Egypt.
Team members:
- Abderrahmen Ben Gara (male)
- Raja Chalghoumi (female)
- Leila Ben Haj-Said (female)
- Bayrem Jemmali (male)
Partner: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (CNR-IBBA)
Country: Italia
Website: www.cnr.it
Description:
IBBA-CNR comprises 45 units in three different locations. The main research themes of the Milan and Lodi units, involved in the present Project, include: 1) Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and ‘omics technology; 2) Systems Biology; 3) Bioinformatics and Biostatistics. In the last years, this research team published 1 international patent and more than 300 scientific papers. infrastructure brings together the latest generation of equipment for integrated studies on genomics, transcriptomics and metagenomics, and informatics and statistical resources with computing power, relevant software and libraries, and the staff necessary to analyse complex large datasets.
Profiles of the staff involved
Alessandra Stella, PI (female): Research Scientist; 25 years of experience in the application of statistical and bioinformatic methods to the analysis of plant and animal genetic and genomic data; collaborated in the development of research and application of innovative methods with breeders association and industry in Canada, US, and Europe. Research interests focus on the application of novel models and algorithms to the analysis and integration of -omics data; modelling plans for breeding and conservation; data integration. She has been scientific coordinator of 9 National project, and WP leader in 12 European (FP7, H2020). She published over 110 peer-reviewed papers and has an H-index of 26.
Team members:
- Stefano Biffani (male)
- Emanuele Capra (male)
- Flavia Pizzi (female)
Partner: National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE)
Country: France
Website: www.inrae.fr
Description:
INRAE is one of the world top research institutes proposing front line research in a large range of fields of agriculture, food, and environmental sciences, in order to address the challenges related to climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss.
Profiles of the staff involved
Michèle Tixier-Boichard, PI (female): senior scientist at GABI, working on chicken genetics since 1985 and on animal genetic resources since 2000; coordinator of the H2020 IMAGE project (Innovative Management of Animal Genetic resources, 2016-2020); over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals; chiar of the French National Cryobank; coordinator of the national infrastructure of biological resource centres for domestic animals (CRB-Anim).
Team members:
- Mathieu Charles (male)
- Denis Laloë (male)
- Florence Plisson-Petit (female)
- Isabelle Grasseau (female)
- Deborah Jardet (female), Technician
- Laurence Drouilhet (female)
- Elisabeth Blesbois (female)