USC and Lactalis establish a chair to bring innovation to Galician livestock farms

The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) and Lactalis España have established the USC-Lactalis España Chair in Livestock Innovation and Entrepreneurship, presented on September 9, 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between universities, businesses and the primary sector, and to bring knowledge and tools to livestock farms, with a particular focus on Galicia and dairy production.

The chair will work through training, applied research and knowledge-transfer activities. The challenges it aims to address include generational renewal, sustainability, animal welfare, digitalization and farm competitiveness. It also seeks to serve as a meeting place for researchers, students, professionals and livestock farmers.

A manual, the first initiative under way

The first action announced is the Good Practices Manual for Dairy Cattle Management, jointly prepared by specialists from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Lugo and professionals from Lactalis España. The document will bring together recommendations and scientific knowledge on biosecurity, feeding, animal welfare, milk quality, farm management and environmental sustainability. It is due to be presented in the coming weeks; therefore, its publication is an initiative in progress, not a result that has already been released.

The chair will be headed by USC professor Javier Bueno Lema, with Javier Diéguez as co-director, according to information released about the initiative. The organizations plan to promote further training, research, innovation and outreach activities at a later stage, although they have not provided a schedule for these activities.

Continuing an existing collaboration

The establishment of the chair builds on more than 15 years of collaboration between USC and Lactalis España in areas such as milk quality, technical training and knowledge transfer. The University links the project to the Campus Terra’s mission of putting its research and training capabilities at the service of the region.

During the presentation, USC rector Rosa María Crujeiras championed collaboration between universities, businesses and productive sectors to address specific challenges, and highlighted the importance of livestock farming to Galicia. The chair’s goals—including attracting talent to rural areas and improving competitiveness—are objectives stated by the organizations behind the initiative; their scope will depend on the activities carried out and on how their results are applied on farms.