How Do We Sustainably Feed A Growing Global Population?

According to a report released by the United Nations, the world’s population is growing and destined to hit nearly 10 billion by 2050. So how do we feed a growing population when different food chain industry segments from various regions face unique challenges that disrupt their ability to meet growing consumer demand?

That was the major topic of conversation at FeedInfo Summit 2022 led by Wim Beeks, Manager of Sales and Consultancy with Schothorst Feed Research and Jorge Trindade, Anitox's Director of Sales for EMEA.

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What Options Exist for Food Producer Consideration?

1. Innovation in livestock genetic potential

Livestock genetics are constantly evolving and as result today’s livestock grow better and faster. While genetic advancements improve livestock performance, productivity is still highly dependent on management and nutrition.

2. Improvements in gut health/microbiome

Gut health is one of the most important influencing factors on livestock performance. Modulating the gut allows producers to support livestock immunity, maximize nutrient absorption by the animal and protect against performance-limiting diseases.

3. Animal Protein Use in Feed Formulations

Implementing animal proteins into livestock feed formulations is an important aspect of reducing the industry’s environmental footprint. Rendering inedible, unconsumed components of food-producing animals reduces waste along the food-production chain and can also help lower the demand for limited natural resources. By utilizing the fifth quarter effectively we maximize the amount of protein we gain in the livestock supply chain. The main quarters can continue to be eaten by human populations whilst allowing the fifth quarter to be used in generation of more protein for the supply chain.

4. Food chain consolidation

Food chain consolidation has the potential to increase efficiency and productivity within food production systems while standardizing and improving the quality of consumer-facing products, in addition to removing costs that hinder innovation.

5. Improved nutrition

Nutritionists set specific nutrient specifications to support livestock growth. As genetics and technologies supporting gut health continue to advance, the industry will continue to invest in nutrition that supports efficient growth and promotes productivity.

6. Improved feed production

Producing high-quality feed, more efficiently grants producers the power to improve animal nutrition, gut health and capitalize on livestock genetic potential.

What Impact Does Improved Feed Efficiency Have on the Animal Feed and Food Animal Production Industry?

Feed quality is a major influencing faction in animal nutrition and resulting performance and productivity. Feed form and feed-source pathogens directly and immediately impact food-producing animals’ ability to consume and utilize nutrients efficiently. Food production animals not facing feed-related challenges have improved gut health and grow better and faster.

Physical feed form plays a significant role in the even distribution of nutrients. Poor PDI, broken pellets, dusty feeds and high levels of fines are hugely problematic for feed millers themselves and for their end-users.

Feed-source pathogen prevalence correlates with feed microbial loads, which vary by ingredient type, growing season and finished feed rations. Reducing pathogen prevalence in feed not only supports feed efficiency within live production but also helps to mitigate the entry of pathogens into the food animal production chain.

How Can We Practically Implement and Scale Feed Efficiency to Meet the Needs of Today’s Food Animal Producers?

Feed is the largest input into food animal production and bears significant weight in economic and environmental sustainability. Feed quality, safety and efficiency have significant impacts on the industry’s ability to deliver safe, nutritious animal proteins to the growing body of consumers.

It is more important than ever for the industry to produce more food more responsibly while managing and minimizing our environmental impact. Feed pathogen control and milling efficiency solutions are easy to implement and play an important role in the industry’s efforts to reduce waste, mitigate disease and prevent pollution.

To learn more about how you can implement strategies to improve feed efficiency and support global agriculture’s drive to produce more feed and food more efficiently and sustainably, contact one of our clean feed experts today.

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