The move joins the forces of groups with considerable experience and expertise. Animal welfare projects will now be carried out by the QCATnet collective.

By merging the Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (IRTA); the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery, Food, and the Natural Environment (DAAM) and the Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre in Lennoxville a framework called QCATnet has been created.

The aim of this animal welfare R&D network is to deepen into the already existing collaboration between both institutions, so in the future institutionalized cooperation mechanisms can be established to develop collaborative R&D projects on animal welfare at European level.