The Operational Group BEST RUMIN (M16SYN2-00070) of the European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture is active in the Region of the Ionian Islands within the framework of Measure 16 (16.1–16.2) of the RDP 2014–2020, and the main objective of the OG BEST RUMIN is the implementation of an innovative management system for sheep and goat farms based on a) genetic resistance to scrapie, b) genetic markers of resistance to Maedi-Visna, and c) genetic traits of higher milk production, for the production of disease-free animals in Kefalonia and the revival of traditional cheeses.
The Tradition of Kefalonia and Ithaca
In Kefalonia and Ithaca, almost 150,000 goats and sheep are raised, with particular emphasis on the Kefalonia sheep breed, a breed with distinctive characteristics and history. From these animals, authentic local products are produced, such as barrel-aged cheese, mizithra, manouromyizithra, and kefalotyri.
Livestock farming is not only a traditional practice, it is a fundamental pillar of the local economy, connected to the daily life of the inhabitants, the gastronomy, and the cultural identity of the islands.
The OG BEST RUMIN
The OG BEST RUMIN introduces a new, innovative management system in sheep and goat farming, utilizing knowledge and technology to ensure animal health and product quality. Through the collaboration of partners, the modernization of breeding is promoted at local and regional level, with emphasis on the selection and promotion of Kefalonia breed breeders.
The new model is based on:
- Genetic resistance to scrapie,
- Genetic markers of resistance to Maedi-Visna,
- Genetic traits that increase milk production.
In this way, the project creates the foundations for a competitive and sustainable livestock sector, which respects tradition while making use of scientific progress.
Goals and Development Vision
The proposed actions enhance economic performance while at the same time ensuring long-term sustainability. Kefalonia offers local dairy products that are closely linked to its environment, traditions, and history.
With the project’s innovation:
- Animals become more resilient and healthier,
- The quantity and quality of products improve,
- The cheese-making tradition remains alive through pilot cheese production and the revival of manouri, a product that had almost disappeared from local production.
The two main goals can be summarized as follows:
- Production of resilient breeders of the Kefalonia–Ithaca sheep breed.
- Revival of the production of the traditional manouri cheese.
BEST RUMIN aspires to become a model of sustainable development that will unite scientific knowledge with local identity and open new perspectives for livestock farming and gastronomy in the Ionian Islands.
European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability”
The objective of Measure 16 is to strengthen the culture of cooperation among stakeholders with the aim of:
- enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in primary production (agricultural holdings) in the food sector, especially in local products, and
- exploring new cultivation and production practices that contribute to environmental protection as well as adaptation to climate change.
Through the collaborations that will be developed, opportunities will arise for the utilization of new technologies and innovative processes in order to:
- produce safer and healthier food,
- reduce water consumption and, in general, the cost of inputs, for both economic and environmental benefit, and
- safeguard the uniqueness of certified agricultural products.
