The establishment of a gilt breeding farm in Moldova The project will set up a farm for the production of F1 gilts which will be sold to breeding and or pig fattening farms for the production of piglets. Such breeding of high genetic material which can be further used for breeding of piglets is called nucleus breeding farms and is totally new for Moldova. Gilts are currently imported from Ukraine, Romania and other European countries, which is very stressful for the animals and very costly for the pig farms. Furthermore, the genetic material of the farm will also be higher than current import. The project therefore has a large potential for improving animal welfare and the efficiency of the sector by providing local production of genetic material. The produce of the farm will be of high quality as the project will be set up according to the SPF principles. Animal welfare will also have high priority as the project will respect the standards of the SMK- MDV (Dutch standard for sustainable farming).The consortium consists of Dekker AgrOn Almelo (former Dekker Mts), a piglet breeding farm from the Netherlands with extensive experience in the sector, and Funny Pig, a Moldovan company specialised in pig farming, namely piglet breeding for own use and pig growing and fattening. Though not part of the consortium, Hypor will be an important knowledge partner who will contribute to the project through the delivery of high genetics stock parents and the relevant knowledge for nucleus farming.Besides the high standards used for production, the joint venture will also provide excellent working conditions to its employees amongst which good pay (the lowest salary will be approximately five times the minimum salary in Moldova) and attractive fringe benefits such as housing, sport facilities, meals and proper training. The project will also offer long term contracts to 19 farmers for supplying feedstock.Corporate Social responsibility (CSR)The project will work according to the SPF system and according to the latest welfare standard of SMK. They will obtain a certificate for both. The employees will be trained extensively as know-how is crucial for the envisaged activities. Some of the employees in higher positions will also receive training from Hypor in the Netherlands.The project will respect the international human rights and principles (no toleration for discrimination and corruption, respect for workers' right to join unions), they offer good pay, excellent fringe benefits, and a good working environment (see impact for details).The manure will be stored in proper collection systems as they currently do. The local authorities inspect them regularly on this aspect and they meet the requirements.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe joint venture will offer good pay (382% above the minimum salary with a minimum of € 400 per month), excellent fringe benefits (medical insurance, housing including entertainment, food, transportation, sport facilities etc) and a good working environment (good planning and rotation of shifts so that employees can visit their families, a safe working environment according to the highest standards, motivational management techniques including team building events and bonuses for good performance, a pig for every employee in exchange for not holding pigs at home etc).•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe main product, SPF F1 gilts is innovative for Moldova as currently no SPF gilts are imported. The project therefore also creates a new market. The gilts will be sold to breeding farms which can now reduce their costs with the purchase of stock parents from import, will have better liquidity as they need not pay for this in advance and receive support during the production phase. The production method implemented by the project is new for Moldova. Also, new is the fact that the joint venture will work according to the SPF and SMK- MDV criteria.•	Chain effectsThe project have been contracted 5 farmers, and will total contract 19 farmers for the supply of feedstock (cereals otherwise exported). The contracts will specify quantities and prices agreed and the farmers will receive training on grain treatment and manure spray, without any further arrangements such as pre-finance or inputs supply.All produce will be sold locally improving the efficiency (lower costs due to import elimination) and productivity (high quality gilts and technical support for three years) of piglet breeding farms.•	Impact on the sectorThe joint venture will organise seminars for other parties in the sector. They will also collaborate with the local Institute for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine offering internships to students.•	EnvironmentThe manure is collected according to local legal requirements and will be partly being used as compost for agriculture, since transport of the wet manure is very expensive.•	Position of womenThree out of the 19 employees will be women. They will all fulfil medium- and high-level positions.•	Impact on food safetySince all production is locally, the project does contribute to this issue. However, the impact is medium because the products can be categorised as luxury ones. The main goal of the project is the set up of a nucleus breeding farm which will deliver 4,000 gilts per year. The project will also deliver 4,000 25 kg-piglets which are a by-product of the main activities.