SCALA-MEDI - Improving sustainability and quality of Sheep and Chicken production by leveraging the Adaptation potential of LocAl breeds in the MEDIterranean area.

Sheep and chicken are the most important livestock species in the Southern Mediterranean countries. They are the basis of the local diets and are reared in marginal areas of the Northern Mediterranean. In Europe, management of local sheep and chicken breeds is well characterised, but in North Africa local and regional populations and breeds are poorly defined while possessing unique adaptation to harsh environment. Accelerated selection for thermal tolerance and resilience to new endemic diseases is becoming urgent to counteract the detrimental effect of climate change on livestock welfare, as it is the valuation and conservation of local breeds as reservoir of unique gene variants. Genomics plays a key role in this respect, together with phenotype recording, and the collection of epidemiological and environmental data. Breeding for adaptation to climate change and for mitigation of the impact of livestock on climate change is probably the hardest challenge that the sector has ever faced.

Tools to manage diversity, breeding and crossbreeding strategies will be designed to improve sustainable production and exploit adaptation, and hence increase the value of local populations. This will promote their use and safeguard local genetic resources through on farm conservation. The tools will be showcased in nucleus flocks and breeding centers, as part of a comprehensive dissemination and knowledge transfer plan to ensure project outputs are applied. The added value of local populations that will result will foster the exploitation of outputs beyond the end of the project. SCALA-MEDI will use the data collected on genetic diversity to optimise strategies for cryo-conservation to ensure a biodiversity back up in case of need. Existing local Biobanks in North Africa will receive training in the latest techniques and be reinforced by creating links with biobanks operating across the Mediterranean basin. SCALA-MEDI has an international, interdisciplinary team in including experts in animal farming, animal breeding, animal physiology, veterinary science, conservation biology, population genetics, molecular genetics, reproduction biotechnologies, statistics and socio economics, plus a super-computing centre, breeder associations and SMEs to ensure that the objectives are achieved.

SCALA-MEDI will deliver better knowledge of epigenetic and genetic processes in sheep and poultry by collecting genotype, epigenotype, production data and novel phenotypes on response to environmental stress for local sheep breeds and village chickens in Morocco, Algeria Tunisia, Italy and France. Remote phenotyping systems will be tested and the links between genetic and epigenetic processes will be improved by correlating production and adaptation phenotypes with low cost genotypes (IMAGE001 Array) and epigenetic variation (LUMA). Analyses of these data will give a deeper understanding of the way an individual adapts to changes in their environment and the genetic and physiological processes involved, leading to the adaptation of breeds to the changing Mediterranean environmental conditions. The in-depth genetic and phenotypic characterization of local North African sheep and chicken populations by SCALA-MEDI will provide detailed information on existing genetic variation, and identify admixture, including introgression of imported genetics. The most effective conservation strategy is to derive value from in-situ use of local genetic resources. SCALA-MEDI will develop breeding strategies to improve resilience, and hence sustainability of production using locally adapted genetics, while identifying and maintaining locally appreciated quality to ensure the genetic conservation of local best adapted breeds. Commercial breeds of sheep and chicken often suffer in harsh environments causing stress that leads to poor welfare and hence low productivity. Local populations are often better adapted to temperature extremes, poor feed and water shortages but their production levels are low. By integrating phenotypic, genomic and epigenomic analyses, SCALA-MEDI will identify genetic and epigenetic variants better suited to diverse environments. Breeding strategies will be developed to propose to the farmers new options of breeds adapted to the local conditions (matching genetic and epigenetic with environment). SCALA-MEDI will explore the current constraints on the local sheep and poultry farming industry and identify breeding and management practices better matched to production environments. Different breeding strategies will be tested and feedback from farmers will be collected to assess their impact. Tools based on genetic markers will be created to validate the authenticity and valorise products from local breeds and hence build trust and add value. This will increase small farmers’ incomes via the rearing of local breeds and the sale of products (raw or transformed) with high added value. Information from SCALA MEDI will be disseminated during training and technology transfer events to improve farmer education and know-how. Better flock management will increase production and farmer income to encourage young people and women to remain in their homeland, thus reducing the exodus from rural to urban areas and stimulate the creation of small businesses or start-ups in marginal areas. Application of the SCALA-MEDI strategies for breeding will increase the overall profitability of farming systems by developing adapted populations that can use local resources more efficiently and require lower inputs to survive harsh environments. Knowledge of breed adaptation will increase the value of some of the local breeds/populations. Climate change is a major risk for food security in Northern Africa. The improved resilience of sheep and chicken farming stemming from the SCALA-MEDI project will increase food security by ensuring sustainable production of local eggs, meat and milk. Establishing reliability in supply will ensure fair market prices for both producers and consumers, increasing accessibility to the high-quality protein that is fundamental for a balanced diet and enhanced human health.