Objectives
This project will train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative PhD graduates to investigate how economically and environmentally sustainable ruminant livestock products of enhanced nutritional value can be developed through a pasture-based production system while complementing soil, sward, animal, environment and ultimately human health.
Objective 1
To train these PhD graduates through an innovative, integrated research training programme in the multidisciplinary topic of soil-to-society - including soil science, sward science and biodiversity, farming systems, environmental impact assessment and data modelling, animal production, and farm system optimisation, societal embeddedness and modelling the human health effect of food from a re-designed farming system.
Objective 2
Design, implement and evaluate a soil, sward, and grazing farm management system (HEARTLAND Management Plan) aimed at maximising the positive impact on the environment, improving the nutritional and sensory quality of meat, and consequently improving human health using both component and systems research (WP2 and 3)
Objective 3
To assess societal requirements and preferences for sustainable food production and to upscale the findings of HEARTLAND to contribute to the sectoral development of sustainable production systems and land management
Objective 4
To communicate, disseminate and exploit the findings of HEARTLAND to a broad range of stakeholders (including policy-makers, communicators, food producers/farmers and the general public) to enhance the innovation capacity of the partners involved, and to integrate new knowledge into the European agriculture and food sectors
Objective 5
To effectively coordinate and manage all aspects of the project, in accordance with the EC grant agreement.