On 5 and 6 February 2025, 16 pioneering pig farms and representatives from FiBL, BLE and BMEL met at the Haus Düsse Agricultural Research and Education Centre in North Rhine-Westphalia for a networking meeting of pioneering pig farms. The event provided an excellent opportunity to discuss current issues and challenges in pig farming.

The official programme began with a welcome address by Dr Christian Lambertz from FiBL Germany. Dr Sophia Schulze-Geisthövel from the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture then presented the Haus Düsse Research and Education Centre and the concept of the "barn of the future". The subsequent tour gave participants practical insights into innovative husbandry concepts.

Another highlight was the guided tour of the pig construction exhibition with Henrik Ohlendorf from the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture. The focus here was on topics such as modern farrowing pens, cooling options for the barn, lighting concepts and various insulation and ventilation systems. Various funding opportunities for pig farming were also discussed.

The afternoon provided an opportunity to discuss current developments on the participants' farms. They had the chance to bring their own pictures, share updates from their farms and describe the challenges they face.

The second day was dedicated to organic piglet production. After breakfast together, the participants drove to Wilhelm Schulte-Remmert's LebensWert GbR organic farm in Lippstadt. There they gained an insight into organic sow husbandry with a special focus on free-range farrowing pens. The intensive exchange showed that these topics are of great interest to many farms.

Overall, the network meeting offered valuable insights into innovative housing concepts and practical solutions for sustainable pig farming. The technical exchange and the farm tour contributed significantly to expanding the participants' knowledge and providing new impetus for operational practice.

Author: Constantin Haupt, FiBL Deutschland e.V.