Veerle Fievez

Tell us about yourself (Who are you? Where are you from? What is your educational background?)

I am Veerle Fievez (PhD in Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, 2002), Professor of Animal Nutrition at Ghent University's Department of Animal Production. Although my current main expertise is on ruminant nutrition and microbial digestion and its importance in livestock production, my MSc degree was not in Animal Science: I graduated as a Bioscience Engineer, option environmental technology. Environmental challenges within livestock production always have been a major focus.

What is your area of expertise?

Ruminant nutrition and microbial digestion and its importance in livestock production.

Where does your focus lie within your current project(s)? (related to methane)

Lanupro cooperates with national and international research institutes to investigate ruminant methane mitigation through various nutritional approaches. Both in vitro (batch incubation technique, microbial community assessment) as well as in vivo trials are performed for this purpose. Research also involves exploring early life programming techniques for long-term mitigation effects.

What would be the added value for you of joining an international researchers network? (such as the METHAGENE network)

To get to know other researchers, to explore possible future collaborations, the opportunity to discuss and compare results…

What and/or who inspired you to make a career in science?

Fascination to unravel biological mechanisms in an attempt to understand and optimize those processes.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

My main drive is to conduct research that generates the highest level of scientific impact and to prepare students for a bright and challenging future working in animal nutrition areas.

What is your most stand-out or surprising moment in science so far?

- knowledge transfer from a natural mechanism (reduction of microbial metabolism of protein and poly-unsaturated fatty acids), present in red clover, into a rumen by-pass.