HaloSheep- PRIMA in the national news agency AA-Anadolu

After the third info day meeting organized by our project partner MAKU in Turkiye on february 13th 2025, Pr Ozkan Ozkan Elmaz, Pr Iskender Gulle from MAKU and Burdur breeding sheep-goat breeders association président vet #Mustafa Yildiz reported the HaloSheep- PRIMA project results in the national news agency AA-Anadolu

February 13th, 2025

MAKU team, from Turkiye oganized an infoday on 13 February 2025 to present the first results of HaloSheep- PRIMA project, obtained in Burdur and Yarish lakes. Fourty participants from the livestock stakeholders were present at this event.

Halosheep in the 27emes Rencontres autour des Recherches sur les Ruminants held on 4-5 december 2024, in Paris

One of the aim of Halosheep project, is to evaluate the quality the carcass and meat produced on spontanoues halophytes of the mediterranean basin and to study the possibiliy of discrimination. Carcass produced on the saline area of the archipelgo of Kerkennah could be authentified by using the visible and the near infrarouge spectrometey . The first results were presented at the 27èmes Rencontres autour des Recherches sur les Ruminants at Paris on December 4-5th 2024, by Dr Jesus-Donato Andueza-Urra, from INRAE, Theix Clermont-Ferrand, with the collaboration of ISA-CM, Tunisia

December 10th, 2024: Info day event in Kerkennah, Tunisia 

A special national event was organized as part of the Halosheep project on the 10th of December at the Ennakhla Hotel in the Archipelago of Kerkennah. The event brought together farmers, professionals, and socio-economic partners for a day of valuable exchange and discussion.  Forty participants were present, and the main goal of the day was to strengthen the connection between the research team from ISA-CM, project partners, and farmers, creating an opportunity for everyone to share knowledge, experiences, and insights.

Throughout the day, the research team presented the key findings of the project, providing a comprehensive overview of the results and their potential implications for agricultural practices. A series of presentations offered an in-depth look at the current state of agriculture in the region, along with the objectives, context, and impacts of the project.

The presentations also focused on a technical characterization of the sheep farming systems in the region, a detailed assessment of the pastoral flora on three grazing sites in the Kerkennah Archipelago as well as the nutritional value of spontaneous halophytes and local food resources for sheep farming and their potential effects on meat quality and animal health.  Additionally, the potential for utilizing agricultural by-products and improving pastoral practices in Kerkennah was addressed.

An open forum followed, where participants had the chance to engage in rich, interactive discussions. Afterward, a live demonstration was organized, showcasing the grinding of certain agricultural by-products.

This event proved to be a vital platform for collaboration, providing valuable insights and fostering stronger partnerships between researchers, farmers, and other stakeholders in the region.

November 7th, 2024: Initiation of professionnals to agoecological concepts in livestock production

During the kick off of the tunisian project 'feed rum' held on 7 November 2024 in Beja, Tunisia; Pr Linda Majdoub presented and discussed the interest of the integration of agroecology in livestock production as a strategy of resilience towards Cc. 

The Halosheep 3rd Annual Consortium meeting + 2nd Info day took place between 2 – 4 October 2024 at the Conde Luna Palace, León (SPAIN).

Organized by the University of León Partner, it started with the reception of authorities from the Local Council of León and University of León. After the welcome ceremony, and partners introduction, the project coordinator, Dr. Linda Majdoub-Mathlouthi, from Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, explained the current situation of the project and the progress at its different points. Then, different WP leaders and partners presented the tasks carried out. Firstly, Dr. Mounir Mekki, from Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, presented the progress in WP1. Subsequently, Elea Serrano Martínez, from the University of León, presented the results obtained in WP2. After the lunchtime, WP3 was presented online by Dr. Özkan Elmaz, from Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, from Turkey. After that, Dr. Carlos García Estrada, from the University of León, presented the situation of WP4. The introduction of WP5 was carried out by Dr. Evangelia N. Sossidou, from Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos - Dimitra, Veterinary Research Institute (Greece). 

The next day, the program included the visit to the IGM (Mountain Livestock Institute; CSIC) (Finca Marzanas-Grulleros), Vega de Infanzones (León) and a meeting with researchers and students. The project leader, Dr. Linda Majdoub-Mathlouthi presented the Halosheep Project to students and researchers, Dr. Sonia Andrés Llorente, researcher of the IGM, presented MEDGOAT (Goat farming systems characterization and novel strategies to sustain production in the changing climate scenario in the Mediterranean regions) Project (PRIMA Section 2 Multitopics Call 2022 ) and Dr. Evangelia N. Sossidou presented TechCare (Integrating innovative TECHnologies along the value Chain to improve small ruminant welfARE management). The visit to the facilities of IGM were hosted by Dr. María Martínez Valladares, researcher of IGM, and after that, we moved to a sheep farm and cheese factory (Quesería Los Payuelos) in Sahelices del Payuelo, a village 30 km far from León city. After the lunch time, Dr. Evangelia N. Sossidou and Elea Serrano finished the presentation of WP5. Then Dr. Linda Majdoub-Mathlouthi introduced WP6 and Dr. Dominique Gruffat and Dr. Jesús Donato Andueza Urra (INRAE), completed this presentation. The WP7 was presented by Dr. Annunziata Palamara, from the Fondazione CRPA Studi Ricerche Reggio Emilia. Finally, Dr. Linda Majdoub-Mathlouthi, as project coordinator, presented WP8 and the Wrap-up session, roadmap for the fourth year.

During these two days, cultural tours were included in the agenda, such as the visit to the Cathedral and San Isidoro Church and two partner dinners.

Many pertinent results will be available during the next months concerning the spatio-temporal dynamic of spontaneous halophytes, their nutritive value as a fodder for small ruminants, their possible effects on health and welfare and on meat and milk products. Best practices will be available for farmers to improve the sustainability of their activity.

July 2024

Whithin the framework of the halosheep project,  the student Teber Latrech, Imen Cheikh, Ghofrane Fhaiel et Omar Ben Salem, presented their dissertation at the Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, Tunisia. 

May 27th, 2024

Presentation of halosheep to general public on Radio Express FM

From 30 april to 3 may, 2024

Halosheep is present in the Salon mediteranéen des productions animales Pamed Expo held in Hammamet, Tunisia. Professionnals of the livestock sector, researchers and students participate to the event.It is a good opportunity to dissiminate some results concerning the interest of spontanoues halophytes as a potentiel fodder for small ruminants.

April 16th, 2024

Prof Elmaz Ozkan, from MAKU, Turkiye present a poster dealing with the valorisation of halophytes as a fodder in Turkiye in the SALAD-SUSTAIN Conference | Saline Agriculture: state of the art and the prospects of impact investment held on April 16, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium