Antoni Velarde
Dr. Antoni Velarde is a researcher and head of the Animal Welfare program at the Institute for Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA) in Spain. Since 2012 he has been a member of the Animal Health and Welfare Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
He has a degree in Veterinary Medicine and a PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He has a master's degree in Animal Production (1998) and another in Laboratory Animal Science and Welfare (2010). Since 2011 he has been a veterinarian specializing in animal welfare, ethics and legislation from the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioral Medicine.
He has participated in more than 50 R & D projects funded in competitive calls of administrations or public entities, is the author of 81 scientific articles in journals of international impact and co-editor of 3 books 'Assessment of welfare on the farm' (Wageningen Academic Publishers), ‘Animal Welfare in Slaughterhouse’ (5m Publishing. Sheffield, UK) and ‘Animal Welfare. A global vision in Latin America '(Elsevier).
Virginie Michel
PHD, MSC, ENG AGR. National coordinator of welfare activities in Anses. Senior scientist in animal health (epidemiology) and welfare. Main research areas include the impact of rearing systems on animal welfare, health and performances as well as food safety.
Alexandra Contreras-Jodar
PHD, MSC, ENG AGR. Junior scientist at IRTA, PhD in Animal Production and MSc in Bioinformatics. Main research areas include poultry welfare on farm and at slaughter and omics applied to animal science.
