The workshop held in Saint Affique was attended by more than 70 reserachers, lecturers and farmers.

More than 70 delegates gathered in Saint Affrique to learn about the use of innovative on-farm technologies.

A multi-national project to bolster the uptake of digital technologies in sheep and goat farming has held its first in-person workshop in France.

The Sm@RT (Small Ruminant Technologies) project is being organised by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) in collaboration with the Moredun Research Institute. Previously, two workshops had been held online, but this was the first time the event had taken place in a live setting. 

The workshop, held in Saint Affrique in July, was attended by more than 70 researchers, lecturers, farmers and advisors from seven different countries.

During the event, delegates visited two sheep farms where they could see and learn about the use of 14 small ruminant innovative technologies. Among them included virtual and connected fences, automatic feeders, individual feed bins and shed sensors for temperature, humidity and Co2. 

The second day saw the delegates share examples of the innovative technologies being used in their countries, such as water consumption in one trough, automatic weighing and a hay drying machine. 

“It was great to be able to see each other for the first time,” commented Claire Morgan-Davies, Sm@RT coordinator from SRUC. “The group dynamic was fantastic and the organisation by the French partners flawless. 

"It was nice to see delegates exchanging ideas and seeing for themselves the wide range of innovative technologies available to the sheep and goat sectors.” 

The next workshop is scheduled for Spring 2023 in Norway. 

Image (C) SRUC.