South West Healthy Livestock Initiative

Consultations, sector-specific workshops and market research took place over the spring and early summer of 2009 to ensure that the South West Healthy Livestock Initiative (SWHLI ) captures the specific needs and issues of livestock farmers, vets and sector groups in the region.

The information has been used as the basis of a programme that will deliver projects to improve the profitability of the livestock sector, and complementing initiatives already underway in the region.

To achieve this aim, the South West RDA invited organisations to bid for grants to provide the advice, training and knowledge-transfer elements of the Initiative. - in line with priorities that were identified by the industry.

More than £12m of RDPE Business Support funding is available for projects that will give farmers access to specialist information, training, networks and support relating to their specific sectors.

This call for applications was not aimed at individual farmers wanting to attend training or make on-farm investments, but at training providers/organisations who will collaborate with industry bodies to deliver training and knowledge transfer activities.

The period for submitting grant applications closed at the end of December 2009. Successful projects are expected to be announced in April 2010.

Download the programme brief here: South West Healthy Livestock Initiative Programme.

Further information about the Initiative can be viewed at www.swhli.co.uk.