MEDGOAT:  Goat farming systems characterization and novel strategies to sustain production in the changing climate scenario in the Mediterranean regions

MEDGOAT, a project set to run from September 1, 2023, to August 8, 2026, holds a crucial mission to equip pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Mediterranean region with the necessary tools to combat climate change and strengthen ecosystem resilience. The project’s vision is not just a goal but a significant step towards enhancing the sustainability of agriculture and the associated value chain of species better suited to agro-pastoral systems and climate change, with a particular focus on goats.

MEDGOAT’s primary goals are as follows:

• Provide agro-pastoral communities and policymakers with the necessary knowledge to refocus on local goat breeds as livestock;
• Preserve and rehabilitate the pastoral ecosystem;
• Improve landscape management;
• Boost the livelihoods of rural Mediterranean areas.

MEDGOAT will also address the need for more information on local goat breeds, their resilience to climate change, the nutritional value of alternative food resources, and their potential effects on ruminal function.

Demonstration and outreach activities will be organized in Tunisia and Morocco to raise awareness and provide crucial technical support. These activities will include information on the limits of inclusion and feeding practices for new nutritional sources and guidelines for managing these new feeds, ensuring that the communities are not alone in this journey.

Project Timeline:  September 2023 – Aug 2026