CREA

About

The Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) is the leading Italian research organisation dedicated to the agri-food supply chains. CREA operates as a legal entity under public law, and is supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (Masaf). CREA’s scientific activity covers agricultural crops, livestock, fishery, forestry, agro-industry, food science – and socio-economics. CREA commitment is to deal with the great challenges of the twenty-first century related to food production sustainability, following the principles of the circular, bio-based economy through a multidisciplinary approach that includes innovation transfer. CREA know-how ranges from genetics and physiology to mechanics and robotics; from innovative techniques for the management of sustainable productions, including practices to improve soil fertility and plant protection, to silviculture, under natural and cultivated ecosystems, and livestock farming; from agro-food industry processes to the nutritional properties of foods and dietary aspects. Consumer protection and education as well as waste reduction are also a top priority in all our activities. CREA employs over 2,000 people, half of whom are researchers and technologists. CREA possesses several farms and experimental fields, allowing the carrying out of studies in the same conditions farmers operate under. This enables the validation of research results, the verifying of their feasibility and eases dissemination to the final users. CREA consists of 12 research centres (6 related to specific supply chains and 6 dedicated to horizontal topics).

Vision

The increasing global demand for meat, dairy products and aquaculture species creates several challenges: the products must be safe, healthy and come from sustainable production based on high standards for animal welfare and environmental impact. To face these challenges, CREA counts on specialized researchers on livestock farming and on aquaculture: they strive to make relevant contributions to induce changes in the European livestock sector. These changes shall be science-based and measurable. Specialized Research Centres of CREA perform research activities across all disciplines of animal production.

CREA in the Animal Task Force

CREA represents the Italian scientific community in ATF. As the leading institution in agricultural research, CREA provides expertise in basic as well as applied research on livestock systems. Its assets lead to an interdisciplinary vision of the animal sector in facing societal, economic and ecological issues. According to its vision, CREA is committed to contribute to the success of ATF.