New Skills for Sustainable and Responsible Livestock Farming

PRESS RELEASE

SASSARI. A day of celebration marked the conclusion of the second-level Master’s program in Management, Sustainability of Livestock Farming and Animal Welfare – GESABEN, promoted by the University of Sassari. Eighteen participants – including professionals from the livestock sector – received their diplomas at the end of a program that successfully combined innovation, ethics, and advanced training.

The event took place on July 25 at Palazzo Segni, home of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, where faculty members, university authorities, and institutional guests gathered to honor the commitment of those who chose to invest in the skills needed to tackle the increasingly complex challenges of modern animal farming.

The GESABEN Master’s program addressed the most current issues in animal production: advanced technologies, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, food safety, ethics, and the management of antimicrobial resistance. Particular emphasis was placed on the use of Classyfarm, the Italian Ministry of Health’s monitoring system for livestock farms, within a One Health approach that integrates animal, human, and environmental health.

“Today, sustainable livestock farming requires professionals capable of addressing challenges with an integrated perspective,” emphasized Maria Grazia Cappai, Director of the Master’s program. “The success of this first edition encourages us to look ahead to the next one, with an even greater focus on innovation and sustainability.”

Among those in attendance were Gavino Mariotti, Rector of the University of Sassari; Ignazio Floris, Director of the Department of Agricultural Sciences; Pietro Pulina, Vice-Rector for Teaching; and Giuseppe Pulina, Vice-Rector for Research. The event also welcomed two leading national figures: Vincenzo Ugo Santucci, Head of Office 6 of the Ministry of Health, and Gianfranco Brambilla, Senior Researcher at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.

The strong interest generated by the GESABEN Master’s program confirms the growing demand for educational pathways that respond to the challenges of ecological transition and social responsibility in animal production. The second edition is already on the horizon.