The local breeds were often considered as “old fashioned”, as well as a drawback for the farmer, characterized by limited production and raised under traditional production systems. In general, they used to be replaced by international highly productive breeds,  under well implemented genetic improvement programs. However, very often the results are disputable, specifically when these replacements are not realized following a specific strategy.

This trend seems to have changed in the current environment, formed due to increasing awareness of the society on the biodiversity and the climate change, and also by the increasing demand for the diversification of production and for certified and labeled products. Nowadays, several measures and policies have been in favor of the local breeds: as new opportunities have been provided in numerous situations, where local breeds have become the choice of individual or organized actors, either continuing well established practices from the past, or by re-introducing the local breed in the production system.

The DoMesTIc project examines the role of local breeds towards the sustainability of the sheep and goat sector in the Mediterranean region.  In this respect, we open this discussion aiming to reveal the different aspects and perspectives and to show new ways for collaboration both at n local and at regional level.