To provide insight into the contribution of animal feed to the further sustainability of animal chains in a transparent manner. This will now be done with the Sustainable Animal Feed Monitor, which Nevedic presented to a large audience with chain partners in The Hague.
The Monitor was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) and the parties involved in the chain. Agreements were also announced that the animal feed sector made with the animal chains about further sustainability of animal feed.
Criteria for sustainable animal feed
With various experts from inside and outside the animal feed sector, criteria for sustainable animal feed were determined after a careful process. The starting points were measurability, connection to (internationally) accepted calculation methods, action perspective for animal feed companies and easy regulation. Based on this, 4 themes were determined: climate, biodiversity, circularity and regional origin. Each theme has one or more KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to effectively measure progress.
“With the Monitor, we know better than ever what we are actually talking about: when it comes to further sustainability, we assume that 'measuring is knowing' and we increasingly speak the same language within and outside the sectors,” says Nevedi director Henk Flipsen.
The chain parties
For the monitor, a 0-measurement was done for 2018 to determine the starting point. With these insights, discussions were held with the various animal chains about the steps in the period up to 2030, in line with the sustainability agenda of the chains. For example, agreements were made with the poultry sectors (meat and egg), the veal sector and the pig sector. With the dairy sector, the goals are in line with the ambitions of the Sustainable Dairy Chain.
Agreements made per sector
Poultry sector
1. Reduction of the carbon footprint of poultry feed by 30% in 2030 compared to 2018.
2. Use 100% deforestation-free soy and palm products from 2025 and 100% conversion-free soy and palm products from 2030.
3. In the field of circular animal feed, the ambition is to keep the use of residual and by-products and former foodstuffs at least at the same level as in 2030 in the period up to 2018. This is equivalent to 21%. Due to greatly increased competition for the use of residual and by-products, especially for energy, this is a challenge in itself.
4. In 2018, 75% of all poultry feed raw materials came from geographical Europe. The ambition is to maintain this very high level until 2030, given the volatile markets and the already high percentage, this is a challenge in itself. Certainly with a view to the nutritional values of poultry feeds to maintain animal health.
Calf sector
1. Reduction of the carbon footprint of animal feed for calves by 20% in 2030 compared to 2018. In addition, the animal feed sector contributes to the further reduction of the carbon footprint of veal by providing advice on the composition of the ration.
2. Use of 100% conversion-free soy and palm from 2030.
3. Use of 50% residual and by-products and former feed in animal feed for calves in the period up to 2030. This is feasible if the use of these products for energy generation is avoided.
4. Maintain the share of animal feed raw materials for calves from geographical Europe at 75% in 2030.
Pig sector
1. Reduction of the carbon footprint of pig feed by 40% in 2030 compared to 2018. In addition, the animal feed sector contributes to the further reduction of the carbon footprint of pork through advice and nutritional value research of the ration.
2. Use 100% deforestation-free soy and palm from 2025 and 100% conversion-free soy and palm products1 from 2030.
3. A pig plays an important role in making our food system more circular. On the one hand, through the use of residual and by-products and former foodstuffs. On the other hand, through the use of raw materials that are not suitable for human consumption or do not meet the quality requirements of the food industry. The ambition is to maintain the share of these raw materials and residual and by-products and former foodstuffs at 2030% in the period up to 85. Within this, the aim is to increase residual and by-products and former foodstuffs to 40%. This can only be achieved if the use of these products for energy generation is avoided.
4. Constant percentage of European sourcing of animal feed raw materials, provided that this does not lead to a shift to other ambitions and sufficient raw materials from Europe remain available.
Keep looking ahead
“We see an important role for the animal feed sector in making animal production chains more sustainable. We are pleased that Nevedi has started the project and has worked together with LVVN and will continue to do so,” says acting director-general Agro of the LVVN ministry Jan Willem Beaujean. “Today is an important milestone with monitoring and targets, but it is also important to look ahead and take the necessary follow-up steps to get off the ground.”
Continuation
Henk Flipsen: “The launch of the monitor is a great moment; it is about development. The methodology makes it possible to monitor progress annually, starting with the publication of the 1-measurement after this summer and on that basis to draw up an action plan per sector with which we can start steering.”
A more extensive article by Carolien Makkink about the presentation of the Monitor will soon be published online.
