On June 9, the final conference of the Erasmus+ project LIVET (Livestock Farming and One Health Approach), entitled “Bringing One Health into European VET and Advisory System”, took place in Brussels. During the event, the results achieved over the three-year project period were presented, and opportunities for integrating the One Health approach into European vocational education and training (VET) and advisory systems were discussed.
Representing the Chamber of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania at the conference were: Dr. Rūta Šveistienė, Chairperson of the Lithuanian Žemaitukas Horse Breeders Association and the Lithuanian Association of Breeders of Endangered Farm Animals; Gintarė Kisielienė, Director of the Lithuanian Sheep Breeders Association; Dr. Edvardas Gedgaudas, Director of the Lithuanian Cattle Breeders Association; Dr. Virginijus Uochis, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Animal Science of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences; Sigitas Dimaitis, Director of the Chamber of Agriculture; Ina Kalėdienė, Head of the Project Management Department; Modestas Rezgys, Head of the Legal Department; and Alvydas Pečiulaitis, Consultant.
The event was also attended by lecturers and specialists from the Aukštaitija Vocational Training Centre, a project partner that actively contributed to the implementation of LIVET activities in Lithuania.
The choice of Brussels as the venue for the final conference was no coincidence. As the city where key European Union decisions on education, agriculture, and rural development policies are made, it provided an ideal setting for presenting the project’s achievements to representatives of European institutions, academia, vocational education, and the agricultural sector.
The conference was opened by Professor Cesare Castellini of the University of Perugia (Italy), the project coordinator. Simona Huja presented the project’s objectives, activities, and European relevance. The keynote speech, entitled “One Health, Livestock Farming and Skills for the Green Transition,” was delivered by Laurence Bonafos, representative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI).
During the event, the main project outcomes were presented, including the development of a qualification profile, training curricula, and educational materials, as well as the results of pilot training activities and their evaluation. Presentations were delivered by project partners from Germany, Latvia, France, and other participating countries. Participants’ learning experiences were also shared, and discussions focused on integrating the One Health approach into vocational education and advisory systems at the local level.
During the final roundtable discussion, experts from Europe and other regions of the world explored how the One Health concept could become an integral part of European agricultural vocational education and advisory systems. The discussion brought together specialists in veterinary medicine, animal health, science, and education.
The One Health concept emphasizes the inseparable connection between human, animal, and environmental health. Therefore, integrating this approach into educational programmes is becoming increasingly important in addressing the challenges of sustainable agricultural development, animal welfare, food safety, and climate change.
It is expected that the results developed within the LIVET project will contribute to a broader understanding and application of the One Health approach in vocational education, higher education, and advisory services, promote cross-sectoral cooperation, and help prepare professionals capable of addressing contemporary challenges in agriculture and public health.