Invitation to the field workshop “Local animal breeds – heritage, farming and resilience to climate change”

Dear Sir or Madam,

We warmly invite staff members and PhD students of the ZUL network universities, partners of the project AIM – Attracting International Minds. Lublin NAWA-EURAXESS Network , together with their families and friends, to participate in the field workshops organised as part of the “Academic Walks with the Nature of Poland” series.

Location: Puchaczów, Majątek Rutka

Date: 29 September, 2026

Instructors:

• Dr hab. inż. Monika Greguła-Kania
• Dr Paulina Nazar

Workshop language: English

About the workshop:

The farm raises local breeds of sheep, goats, horses, cattle, and poultry. During the two-hour workshop, participants will be able to observe the phenotypic variation between and within breeds, learn about the practical aspects of their management, and discover the daily work of breeding for conservation purposes. It is also an opportunity to learn about the specifics of breeding and raising various species of native animals, the ecosystem services they provide, and the differences between extensive and intensive methods in animal husbandry in the context of environmental protection. It also offers the opportunity to taste local products from local farms.

During the visit, we will discuss current challenges to in situ conservation: economic pressures, climate change, the risk of genetic erosion and ways to mitigate them. This farm demonstrates how agricultural practice can support scientific goals and international strategies, recommended by, among others, FAO and reported periodically in The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2007, 2015, 2023). We will explain why farms maintaining local animal breeds included in genetic resources conservation programs increase food security and strengthen resilience to climate and market crises.

This event serves as a platform for exchanging knowledge, launching field research and building partnerships between academia and practice. We invite researchers who wish to see biodiversity in action — vibrant, diverse and responsibly managed.

Workshop objectives:

• Understand why local breeds are important for biodiversity and food security
• Identify key differences between breeds and link them to housing conditions and adaptation
• Compare conservation and utilization practices for local breeds in Poland and in the participating countries, in an integrative format enhance knowledge and competencies in modern water protection methods,

Workshop programme:

9:00 a.m. – departure to Puchaczów

10:00 a.m. – arrival at Majątek Rutka and start of workshops:

– introduction to the diversity of local livestock breeds,

– to practical aspects of animal husbandry,

– to the daily work involved in conservation breeding,

– to animal behavior (direct contact with the animals will be possible),

– to ecosystem services provided by native breeds,

– to the differences between extensive and intensive farming methods in the context of environmental protection.

– tasting local products from area farms.

around 2:00 PM – return to Lublin

Registration:

We invite academic staff employed at one of the partner universities listed below, PhD students enrolled in doctoral schools at these universities, as well as their families and friends to participate in the workshops.

• Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
• University of Life Sciences in Lublin
• John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
• Lublin University of Technology
• Medical University of Lublin

If you would like to participate in the workshop, please complete the registration form by 21^st September 2026. The aim of the workshop is to combine natural sciences popularisation with intercultural integration. The number of places is limited to approximately 20 participants, including at least 10 international participants, and will be allocated according to the order of submission.

The organisers will ensure a balanced selection process, allowing representation from all partner institutions.

Furthermore, we would like to inform you about the opportunity to participate in the workshop “Walking like a dog – understanding canine behaviour in the urban environment” Due to an insufficient number of participants, the registration deadline has been extended to 16 October 2026. If enough people register by that date, the workshop will be held in the second half of the month. Otherwise, we reserve the right to cancel the event. We warmly invite you to register!

Participants registering for the workshops are requested to familiarize themselves with the information clause for workshop participants, the information concerning the processing of personal data of contractors and representatives of contractors of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, the information provided by the minister responsible for regional development, and the information provided by the National Centre for Research and Development.

 Programme NAWA-Euraxess network is financed from the European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027 (EFSD), under the NAWA project entitled “Support for higher education and research institutions in assisting foreign nationals and Polish citizens going abroad”, no FERS.01.05.IP.08-0003/24.