GREENPIG - Development of a new protocol to reduce the impact on biodiversity and increase animal welfare in domestic pigs raised in naturally protected areas.

Name: Edoardo

Surname: Collarini

Tutor (surname): Norscia

In Piedmont, swine farming plays a primary role in the food production chain. However, intensive farming causes strong water pollution, greenhouse gas emission, soil consumption, and biodiversity loss. The resulting problem is how to maintain a sector that is economically important to the territory and reduce at the same time its strong environmental impact. Extensive farming is a solution foreseen by the Agenda 2030 (objectives 12 and 15) and regional policies. Nonetheless, without appropriate buffering measures the impact of domestic pigs on habitats is destructive. It is therefore necessary to develop a protocol – not available at the present day – to deal with this issue by taking into consideration the species biology. This project tackles this need because it aims at developing such a protocol, to be used by stakeholders.

By doing so, the project contributes to the “promotion of high environmentally compatible agro-forestry systems (PNR 2021-2027, research domain 5.6 “Food products, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”, topic 5.6.4 “Knowledge and sustainable management of agro-forestry systems”, research priority 4.a “Management of farming and grazing systems for animal welfare”). The research includes an eco-ethological data collection at the ethical farm “Parva Domus” that raises domestic-pigs in semi-free ranging conditions within “Parco Fluviale del Po”, Site of Communitary Importance (SCI-IT1110009) with protected habitats and species as per the Habitat Directive (92/43/CEE). Expected results: protocol of measures elaborated, leading to the reduction of the environmental impact on natural habitats and to the increase of animal welfare (Italian law D.Lgs. 26/2016; European Directive 2010/63/EU) in extensive swine farming via stress reduction and increase of positive states associated with social affiliation.