SEBASTIEN

Topic: Public Open Data - Type of Action: CEF-TC-2020-2

The livestock sector is gaining attention in the context of climate change mitigation, due to its high greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, including adaptation of farming systems to new climate regimes, including variability and extreme events.
The main goal of the project SEBASTIEN is to deliver a Decision Support System (DSS) for a more efficient and (economically and environmentally) sustainable management, and consequent valuing, of the livestock sector in Italy and in particular cattle, sheep and goat breeding.
The DSS will address extensive and intensive cattle, sheep and goats' farming systems to meet the needs and priorities of different actors, i.e., breeders, assisting practitioners, researchers in the field, governments, market operators, entrepreneurs, and SMEs.
The DSS will alert about the expected occurrence of uncomfortable conditions for animals affecting their general behavior, productivity, reproduction, mortality, as well as feed availability.
The project will mainly build on environmental, sectoral and other geospatial datasets:

• In situ sensors will allow measuring parameters related to animal body conditions.

• Historical and future climate simulations at unprecedented spatial details over Italy will be combined into indicators of environmental comfort/wellbeing conditions.

• Satellite images will be integrated for multi-dimensional analyses of feed availability.

Data will be integrated into user-tailored information through different techniques, from empirical/statistical indicators to Machine Learning algorithms. Produced information will be accessed and exploited through a Platform of customized tools and services.