From March 27 to March 31, we hosted Rudolf Moser - an international expert of the "AgrarMarkt Austria" organization, an Austrian AI&R expert, in Armenia.

On the first day of the visit, the expert got acquainted with the CARD Foundation's AI&R project team, then meetings were held in state institutions with RA Deputy Minister of Economy - Arman Khojoyan, Director of "Center for Agricultural Services" SNCO - Garnik Hovhannisyan and Head of the RA Food Safety Inspection Body - Armen Hayrapetyan. During the meetings, Rudolf Moser got acquainted with the process of the "Animal Identification and Registration project in the RA", shared the Austrian experience, and made suggestions for improving the project.

The expert also visited two farms in the Ararat region, met with veterinarians and epidemiologists, and attended the complete process of animal identification and registration.

In the following days of the visit, the expert met with the operator of the ANIPAS system, learned about its functions and possibilities, and made suggestions. He also visited the "SmartAgro" company operating in the Nor Gyugh community of Kotayk region and got acquainted with the work of the pig genetics center.

The most significant and final part of Rudolf Moser's eventful visit was the workshop "The AI&R system in Austria and Armenia", which was organized for the implementers and beneficiaries of the nationwide project. 

The visit of the Austrian expert and studying the Austrian experience was extremely useful in the implementation of the AI&R system and food safety improvement in Armenia, taking into account that 25 years ago, Austria took the path that Armenia is taking now. 

The importance of the visit was also emphasized by the representatives of the state bodies who, based on the expert's advice, are already preparing to come up with proposals for institutional reforms. At the end of this year, it is planned to organize another visit of Austrian experts to Armenia.

* Rudolf Moser's visit was organized with the funding of the Austrian Development Agency.

** The “Establishment of a Functional Animal Identification and Registration System in Armenia” project is implemented with the funding of the Government of the Republic of Armenia by the "Center for Agricultural Services" SNCO. The Austrian Development Agency provides financial and technical support to the project through the CARD Foundation.