Registration deadline extended to June 14
As a first step on the young journalists programme, ENAJ is pleased to invite three young journalists to its upcoming press trip from 5 to 8 July in Brittany, France. It is organised in partnership with the European programme EU Farmbook and Idele, the French livestock technical institute. Please find the detailed programme attached.
The region is home to a majority of French livestock farming in dairy, pig, poultry and beef, so this year’s trip will focus on innovation in livestock farming and how it is disseminated and adopted by farmers.
The programme begins with a pre-trip to Lamballe with Cooperl, the leading pig cooperative (meeting on 5 July at 6:00 PM in Rennes). Cooperl will showcase, for example, its initiatives to generate income for pig farmers from livestock effluents, as well as its applied research farm.
Following this, the journalists will participate in the EU Farmbook panel at the Rennes Agricultural Institute and in the innovation marketplace with several technical institutes. Take the opportunity to have a look at the historical tools used by students to learn about physiology, including the model of the horse of Dr Auzoux, a century-old device – far removed from artificial intelligence.
The field visits continue on Tuesday 7 July with a visit to Cirveau, the only research station dedicated to veal production from dairy herds, and demonstrations on the use of drones for managing mixed dairy herds on pasture.
We then visit the Romillé farm, part of the French Pig Technical Institute (Idele), to learn about current research topics and see the pigs in their barns.
The final stop on Tuesday is the Lepage farm in Iffendic, a pioneering commercial farm that quickly adopts innovations. We will see the ComiSens system, which uses AI based on microphones and cameras installed in one of the turkey production buildings.
Finally, on Wednesday morning, we will visit the Ferme des Trois Vallées (Three Valleys Farm), which has installed a feeding robot to save time – more than 20 hours per week – and learn about Idele’s work in helping farmers invest wisely in the new technologies available to them.
We will also take the opportunity to taste some Breton specialities such as galettes saucisses and crêpes. And we will pass through a region rich in legends, including the famous Brocéliande forest, a mythical and enchanted forest linked to the legend of King Arthur. The oldest texts that mention it date from the Middle Ages and feature Merlin, the fairies Morgana and Viviane, King Arthur and some knights of the Round Table.
Registration for young journalists will close on 14 June, so please be quick and reply to this email as soon as possible.
ENAJ’s invitation covers the cost of meals, hotels and transport during the tour. Transport to and from Rennes must be arranged and paid for by participants.