The 10th International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
(ABS 2024)

Abstract: Seventeen institutes and agencies collaborated with 120 pilot farms across 14 EU countries to find sustainable practices in the dairy industry. They focused on improving technical and environmental efficiency, animal welfare, social responsibility, and economic viability with social resilience. Instead of applying a top-down method, they used a bottom-up approach, collecting and organizing proven solutions into factsheets for farmers.
Farmers identified needs for improving technical efficiency, including new early disease detection tools, preventative strategies, innovative feeding systems, and advanced silage production and management technologies. For environmental and animal welfare, they emphasized the importance of better calf and cow welfare, clear communication, and transparency to help the public understand agriculture's societal role. They also pointed out the need for energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and innovative, animal-friendly housing. To enhance economic efficiency and social resilience, critical areas include achieving a balanced work-life, fair compensation, flexibility, access to reliable information, knowledge sharing, training, and economic tools for better farm management decisions.
Keywords: economic, social, environmental resilence, dairy.

Biography: Dr István Komlósi is a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture-, Food Science and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, where he holds leader positions (vice-dean, dean). He graduated from the University of Agriculture (now University of Debrecen) in 1985, and started his academic career in 1987 at the same university. He conducted postgraduate studies at the University of New South Wales, Kensington, and the University of New England, Armidale, Australia studying Breeding programs, Quantitative genetics, and Biostatistics (1989/90). He was a postgraduate student at the University of Wales, Bangor, UK (1991/94) and received his PhD degree in 1994. The title of his thesis was ”Computer image analysis in sheep to predict carcass conformation”. He initiated TEMPUS projects and national research projects and was a referee for EU research projects. His major areas of research are breeding programs and breeding value evaluation. Recently he broadaned his reasearch area with lean management. Contributed to the Hungarian national breeding programs of sheep, pig and beef breeds. Published 307 scientific papers, of which 43 are in impact factor journals, as an (co)author. His area of teaching is Principles of Animal Breeding, Biostatistics, Animal Genetics. He (co)supervised 10 PhD students and currently advises on 3. As a visiting lecturer at Curtin University, Perth Australia he taught Applied Statistics (2004/5). He was awarded the of Doctor of Science by the Hungarian Academy of Science (2013). He is the head of Animal Science Doctoral School and the Institute of Animal Science, Nutrition and Biodiversity at University of Debrecen. He received a recognition from the Ministry of Education (2012) and Doctor Honoris Causa, from University of Kaposvár (2020).