The third ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT to Brittany in July 2026 brought together agricultural journalists from nine EU Member States, Switzerland and Norway for an in-depth exploration of one of Europe’s leading livestock-production regions. The press trip was organised in cooperation with IDELE, the French Livestock Research Institute in Rennes. The topic was digital innovation, data technology and sustainability in livestock farming, providing participants with direct access to farmers, researchers and industry experts.
During the ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT, agricultural journalists from nine EU countries, Switzerland and Norway explored livestock farming in Brittany. Photo: Katharina Seuser.
Cooperl: Circular Economy and Sustainable Livestock Production
Before the official programme started on the 6th of July in Rennes, Yanne Boloh, chairwoman of ENAJ had organised a pretour with the topic “Pig farming in Britanny”. The journalists were invited at the headquarters of Cooperl Arc Atlantique in Lamballe-Armor. As one of Europe’s largest pig producers and pork processors, Cooperl operates an integrated cooperative model covering the entire production chain. Chairman Bernard Rouxel welcomed the group and presented the cooperative’s circular-economy approach, highlighting the principle that all by-products are utilised.
Vice-Chairman Mickaël Benoit outlined the importance of livestock farming in Brittany, while Public Relations Director Bertrand Convers explained how major investments in manure-treatment facilities have helped address regional nitrogen-management challenges. Participants also visited Cooperl’s FarmLab, an experimental unit where innovations in feed efficiency, environmental performance, animal welfare, genetics and digital technologies are tested under practical farming conditions.
Cooperl-Chairman Bernard Rouxel Vice-Chairman Mickaël Benoit welcomed the agricultural journalists to the ENAJ-pretour. Photo: Katharina Seuser.
Keynotes highlight the role of EU-FarmBook for innovation transfer
After the visit of Cooperl’s headquarter and farm lab, the journalists headed to Rennes to participate in the programme of the ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT. At the Institut Agro Rennes-Angers in Rennes, the journalists were welcomed by Patrick Sarzeaud, Senior Innovation Manager at IDELE. Sarzeaud pointed out the importance of digital innovation in livestock production, and he explained the role of the Horizon founded project EU-FarmBook: In this project a digital platform is developed, where all results of EU-funded projects are uploaded and made available to practitioners. He said that IDELE had been involved in 40 European projects already. “We are quite proud to say that last year we filled as ambassador for France EU-FarmBook with more than 2 000 files. And we will of course keep on going with this involvement”, he added. This seminar was a way to present innovations in the French livestock sector to European agricultural journalists and guests of IDELE.
Keynote speaker Inge De Bo, Scientific Coordinator of EU-FarmBook and researcher in Biosystems Control and Gaseous Emissions in Livestock at Ghent University, highlighted the open access to EU-FarmBook in 24 EU languages. “You can ask the AI-based chatbot – the “farm assistant” – in your own language and then you have the translations”, she explained. De Bo is convinced that this will be a very important function for the practitioners. “Right now, the platform is still under development”, she said. “Every day, there will be more content uploads and improvements.”
Inge De Bo, Scientific Coordinator of EU-FarmBook, is demonstrating the online platform at the “Innovation Market” in the Institut Agro Rennes-Angers. Photo Katharina Seuser.
Yanne Boloh, chairwoman of ENAJ, explained the role of ENAJ in the cooperation with EU-FarmBook and pointed out that the EU-FarmBook could provide a lot of good stories for journalism. “ENAJ and IDELE are pursuing the same goal: to encourage farmers to adopt these innovations on their farms”, she said. The strength of European agriculture depended on collaboration between farmers and researchers, between innovators and practitioners.
Keynote speakers Yanne Boloh (ENAJ) and Patrick Sarzeaud (IDELE) explain their cooperation with EU-FarmBook. Photo: Katharina Seuser.
Research and Innovation at Institut Agro Rennes-Angers and IDELE
Researchers from the French Livestock Institute (IDELE) presented current projects focused on digital technologies for livestock farming.
Scientists presented current livestock projects in the lecture hall of Institut Agro Rennes-Angers during the ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT. Photo: Katharina Seuser.
A field visit to the CIRBEEF and CIRVEAU experimental farms of IDELE in Mauron allowed journalists to see these innovations in practice. Adrien Lebreton demonstrated the MorphoR3D platform, which uses advanced 3D imaging technologies to improve cattle phenotyping and rapidly estimate body weight and morphological characteristics. The group also learned about the growing use of drones for monitoring cattle and sheep on pasture, offering significant labour savings and improved herd management.
The ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT gave journalists an insight into the use of drones for monitoring cattle and sheep herds on pasture. Photo: Katharina Seuser.
At CIRVEAU, discussions focused on the future of veal production, including research into animal welfare, housing systems, antibiotic reduction and changing consumer expectations.
The participants of the ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT visit the experimental farm CIRVEAU, which focuses on veal production. Photo: Katharina Seuser.
IFIP: Precision Technologies in Pig Production
The visit to the Pig and Pork Institute (IFIP) in Romillé showcased ongoing research aimed at improving efficiency, sustainability and animal welfare in pig production. Journalists toured the experimental facilities, where researchers are investigating precision-feeding systems, innovative ventilation technologies and digital monitoring tools. Projects using microphones and cameras to analyse sow–piglet interactions and to detect welfare issues attracted particular interest. The programme also included presentations on water-use efficiency, batch-management strategies and meat-processing research.
ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT facilitated a guided tour of farrowing pens at IFIP. Photo: Klaus Knippertz.
Artificial Intelligence for Poultry Flock Management
In Iffendic, participants visited a family-run poultry farm operated by Chantal Lepage and Ludovic Perrin. The farm is participating in trials of the AI-based monitoring system coMI SENSE. Developed by Groupe Michel Nutrition Animale, the system combines sound and video analysis to identify anomalies within poultry flocks and support management decisions. Discussions also covered labour availability, production flexibility, market requirements and the challenges posed by changing climatic conditions.
The turkey farm in Iffendic is participating in trials of an AI-based flock monitoring system and opened its doors for the ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT. Photo: Klaus Knippertz.
Robotics Reducing Labour Requirements on Dairy Farm
The final visit took place at the dairy farm Des Trois Villages in Carentoir. Farmers Guillaume Buchet and Anthony Bagot demonstrated how robotics can improve efficiency and reduce labour requirements. The farm, which manages 150 dairy cows producing approximately 1.5 million litres of milk annually, has invested in a rotary milking parlour and an automated feeding robot. According to the farmers, the feeding robot alone saves around 650 working hours per year while ensuring consistent feed distribution. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss farm succession, investment strategies and the impact of international trade agreements and environmental regulations on future business decisions.
The feeding robot saves a lot of time at dairy farm “Des Trois Villages” in Carentoir, the ENAJ EU-FarmBook LBPT’s participants learnt. Photo: Klaus Knippertz.
Key Takeaways
The Brittany study visit highlighted the rapid development of digital technologies across important livestock sectors. From artificial intelligence and precision monitoring to robotics and advanced imaging systems, innovation is increasingly supporting productivity, sustainability and animal welfare. For participating journalists, the programme offered valuable insights into both the opportunities and challenges facing European livestock farming. Equally important, it facilitated direct exchanges with farmers, researchrs and industry leaders, reinforcing the value of ENAJ study visits as a platform for professional learning and international networking.
ENAJ thanks all hosts, speakers and participants for contributing to a highly informative and successful press trip, which was funded by the EU.
Author: Katharina Seuser