13 Interdisciplinary Research Projects
One Shared Mission
Research Topics
FEATURE's research spans the full livestock value chain, from feed composition and animal physiology to food quality, environmental life-cycle assessment, and policy adoption pathways.
1. Feed Evaluation
- What nutrients do alternative feeds contain, and how well do animals digest them?
- Which feeds reduce methane emissions most effectively?
- DC1, DC2, DC3, DC4, DC5, DC6, DC7, DC8
2. Animal Performance
- How do alternative feeds affect animal growth, health, and greenhouse gas outputs?
- What role does the gut microbiome play in animal productivity?
- DC1, DC2, DC3, DC4, DC5, DC6, DC7, DC8
3. Food Quality
- Do alternative feeds change the nutritional quality of meat, milk, cheese, and eggs?
- How efficiently do nutrients pass from feed to the final food product?
- DC8, DC9, DC10
4. Environment & Socio-Economics
- What is the real environmental and economic cost of switching to alternative feeds?
- Which feed scenarios offer the best sustainability trade-offs across EU livestock systems?
- DC11, DC12
5. Adoption & Policy-Making
- Are farmers willing to adopt alternative feeds, and under what conditions?
- What policy changes are needed to make the transition happen at scale?
- DC12, DC13
Training Schools
FEATURE's training programme is structured around 4 training schools, 3 thematic workshops for future careers, and DC Development Programmes (DCDPs).
1. Feed evaluation techniques
Hands-on training in feed nutritional analysis, with a strong emphasis on reducing animal use in research.
- November 2026
- Granada, Spain
- Hosted by CSIC
2. Animal Gut Microbiome: Biological Roles & Bioinformatics
Introduces the science of gut microbiota in ruminants and monogastrics, how it is shaped, why it matters, and how to study it using state-of-the-art sequencing technologies.
- February 2027
- Grange, Ireland
- Hosted by Teagasc
3. Animal Food Products: Nutrients & Flavour Analysis
Provides a thorough grounding in the quality, safety, and nutritional value of animal-sourced foods — milk, cheese, meat, and eggs — and the influence of diet on product composition.
- September 2027
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Hosted by KIS
4. Sustainability Assessment & Policy Analysis
Equips DCs with tools to assess the environmental and economic impacts of alternative feed adoption and to understand how research evidence translates into agricultural policy.
- January 2028
- Reading, UK
- Hosted by UREAD
Workshops for future careers
FEATURE's training programme is structured around 4 training schools, 3 thematic workshops for future careers, and DC Development Programmes (DCDPs).
1. Transferable skills
Two-session workshop building the personal, communication, and professional skills doctoral candidates need throughout their careers.
- September 2026 & February 2027
- Granada, Spain & Grange, Ireland
- Led by RAINNO
2. Careers in academia
Prepares doctoral candidates for an academic career, covering teaching, scientific writing, research integrity, and EU grant applications.
- September 2027
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Led by KUL
3. Careers in industry
Equips doctoral candidates with practical knowledge for careers in industry and entrepreneurship.
- January 2028
- University of Reading, UK
- Led by RAINNO & UREAD