One Award, Many Hands: message by Giuseppe Bee (2026 Leroy Award winner)

“I am deeply honoured to receive the 2026 EAAP Leroy Award. This is the highest recognition our federation gives, and it means a great deal to me. But I want to be clear about something: this award is not just mine. It belongs to Agroscope, to the people I have worked with, and to all the collaborators who have contributed to this research over many years. The core of this work has been possible only because of the laboratories, the technical expertise, and the continuity that my institution provides. You cannot do research like this on a project-by-project basis. It takes time, infrastructure, and stability. Without these things, none of this would have happened. Swine research matters more than people sometimes realize. This sector feeds Europe. The challenges we face—how to produce efficiently, protect animal welfare, reduce environmental impact, maintain product quality—these are real problems that farmers struggle with every day. The work we do together with colleagues at national and international level is aimed at answering those questions. It is not abstract science. It has a purpose. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with excellent colleagues across Europe and beyond. These collaborations are built on trust and shared commitment to understanding how nutrition, meat quality, and production sustainability fit together. They develop slowly. When you work with the same partners over years, you build something real. You understand each other’s work. You push each other to be better. I am grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. My research group, all the collaborators, and my institution for creating the conditions where this kind of work can happen. This award shows what is possible when you have the research infrastructure, the people, and the time to do serious science on questions that matter. I look forward to seeing everyone in Hamburg at the EAAP Annual Meeting, where the award will be officially presented. I must admit, I am still figuring out what I will actually say during the keynote lecture! If anyone has good ideas, please send them my way. I could use the help 😊”