Organisation
The Research Centre on Animal Production (CRPA), founded in 1972, is
a research and consulting organisation active in the improvement of
the livestock sector and the related agro-food industry by means of
research, studies, dissemination and technology transfer actions.
Its objectives are the conduct of research and the management of
technology transfer with the aim of promoting technical, economic
and social progress in the livestock farming sector and promoting
the dissemination of the most advanced forms of environmentally
friendly agriculture. The Centre employs a staff of 40 researchers
and 20 fulltime consultants.
CRPA is specialised in practical research in the livestock sector
and supply chains and focused in particular on the application of
innovative production techniques in farms and in the processing
industry. Next to research an important and incisive activity of
CRPA is the transfer of knowledge to the livestock sector by means
of the organisation of seminars and conferences as well as the
publication of reference books, articles in the livestock sector
press and Internet. The research group Economics of CRPA has built
up expertise in the economic analysis of supply chains of animal
food products in Italy covering livestock farms, processing industry,
retailers and consumers. The research group Animal Housing of CRPA
has expertise in the construction of animal housing systems and
equipment and in the design of livestock structures. The group is in
particular involved in studies concerning the evaluation of animal
welfare in relation to the different animal housing systems of dairy
cows, beef cattle, pigs and poultry.
Main task in project
CRPA is WP manager of WP2 on the stakeholder analysis to identify
the (in)adequacy of current welfare standards. CRPA is involved in
WP0, WP1, WP3 and WP4 and is part of the core team.
Experience and network
Currently the research group Economics is partner of the following
EU projects: a) Welfare Quality research project (FOOD-2004-506508)
b) Cross-Compliance (Facilitating the CAP reform: compliance and
competitiveness of European agriculture, SSPE-CT-2005-006489) and c)
COFAMI (Encouraging Collective Farmers Marketing Initiatives (SSPE –
2005-006541). The research group Economics is member for Italy of
European Dairy Farmers (EDF), European Pig Producers (EPP) and the
International Farm Comparison Network for dairy and beef (IFCN). The
research group Animal Housing is working together with the research
group Economics in the Welfare Quality research project.
Staff members
Dr. Kees de Roest (Ph.D) is head of the Research Group Economics of
CRPA since 1984 and has a 23 year research experience in the
economics of animal production systems and supply chains. He has
coordinated and executed regional, national and European research
projects on the technical and economic efficiency of animal
production farms and processing firms. He has carried out specific
research on supply chains of PDO and PGI products, the
multifunctional role of agriculture and the economic assessment of
environmental legislation on intensive livestock farms. Since 1988
he is member of European Association of Agricultural Economists and
Italian Society of Agricultural Economics.
Mr. Franco Torelli (M.Sc.) has a 27 year research experience and is
an expert in marketing and consumer behaviour research. His areas of
competence are analysis of trends in consumers’ behaviour, marketing
techniques for food products and statistical analysis of
quantitative research and has managed over 600 focus group
discussions. He has courses at the Universities of Modena, Parma and
Piacenza. He carried out qualitative and quantitative consumer
research in the EU projects carried out by the research group
Economics of CRPA (PDO-PGI, Marketing Red Meat, Dolphins, Welfare
Quality)
Mr. Alberto Menghi (M.Sc.) is since 1999 researcher of the Research
Group Economics of CRPA. He is directly involved in the Welfare
Quality Project, managed a regional research project on organic
animal production systems and prepared an EU evaluation report of
Regulation 2078/92, is involved in the national production cost
analyses of milk on behalf of the ISMEA, participates at the annual
congresses of the International Farm Comparison Network dedicated to
dairy. He completed a four month stage period at DGIV of the
European Parliament and carried out a study on the implications of
the EU enlargement on organic farming in the EU.
Mr. Paolo Rossi (M.Sc.) is heading from 1988 the Research Group
Animal Housing Systems of CRPA. He is coordinating several regional
research project on animal welfare and has developed an indicator
system for the assessment of animal welfare on farms. This dairy
indicator systems (IBA) has been tested and approved by the Regional
Government of Emilia-Romagna and is used as a tool in the new Rural
Development Programme 2007-2013 for the granting of subsidies for
farmers who invest in measures which go beyond the minimal legal
requirements.
Mr. Paolo Ferrari (M.Sc.) is since 1990 researcher of the Research
Group Animal Housing of CRPA. He is involved in the Welfare Quality
project and in national and regional projects concerning effects of
housing systems on animal welfare, outdoor pig production system and
dairy housing systems for organic production. He is member of
Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering (AIIA), European
Society of Agricultural Engineers (EurAgEng) and International
Commission of Agricultura Engineering (CIGR).