LIT OUESTEREL - Laboratoire d’Innovation Territorial Ouest Territoires d’Elevage (Territorial Innovation Living Lab ‘Livestock Territories of Western France)

The Living Lab LIT OUESTEREL aims at reconciling livestock and society by co-constructing projects focused on the improvement of animal welfare, the reduction in the use of veterinary products in livestock (notably antimicrobials), and the improvement of socio-economic conditions of different actors of the livestock chains, notably livestock producers.   

Short Background information & funding structure

LIT OUESTEREL was one the 24 winners of a project call “Territoires d’Innovation” (Innovation Territories) launched by the French government in mid-2019.

The project started officially in January 2020 after more than three years of preparation and construction.

Living Lab implemented through an Association (“Association LIT OUESTEREL) created in January 2020:

• Around 40 partners at the creation;
• More than 60 partners today (end 2022);

The Living Lab is funded by the “Banque des Territoires”, and the three Regional Councils of Bretagne, Normandie, and the Pays de la Loire. Moreover, there is a membership fee for the Association.  

Methods and tools vary in function of the project considered. A common characteristic of the different projects is the co-design of each project by the different stakeholders in line with the functioning principle of Living Labs.

Achievements

• More than 60 stakeholders involved in the Living Lab
• Two animal welfare labels (for broiler and pork) established
• Development on an original method (the method of the “Y”) aimed at facilitating the dialogue between the different types of stakeholders and in their involvement in co-construction projects
• Implementation of more than 40 RDI projects: alternatives to the castration of piglets; multi-criteria assessment of innovative pig buildings; co-construction of innovative pig buildings targeting different market segments; just commitment of livestock producers in animal welfare approaches; how to speak of animal welfare with citizens and consumers, how to speak of animal welfare with livestock professional actors; consumption of animal products (meat) over the next decade; etc.     
• Identification and characterization of more than 200 bottom up and top down innovations focused on animal welfare and health; just commitment of livestock producers in
• Communication activities towards all stakeholders