Jaime Piçarra, Secretary General of the Portuguese Feed Compounders Association (IACA), discusses the importance of pragmatic, science-driven strategies for the European feed industry. Amid conflicting perspectives on sustainability and innovation, Piçarra emphasizes data-driven communication, critiques the EU's ambitious organic production targets, and highlights the potential of innovative solutions like insect-based proteins.

Interview by Cemalettin Kanaş

Jaime Piçarra
Secretary General
Portuguese Feed Compounders Association (IACA)

Jaime Piçarra, Secretary General of the Portuguese Feed Compounders Association (IACA), brings decades of experience to his role, representing around 80% of Portugal's feed market. IACA's broad scope covers not only compound feed but also additives, premixes, and emerging sectors like pet food. Under Piçarra's leadership, IACA actively collaborates with FEFAC and engages in vital policy discussions within the EU and NATO, emphasizing the need for sustainable agriculture.

In our exclusive interview held on the sidelines of IDMA Istanbul, Piçarra shared insights on key challenges, including deforestation and antimicrobial resistance. He emphasized, “When shaping public opinion, it's essential that opinion makers and politicians base their views on science.” His approach underscores the importance of data-driven communication in addressing opposition to the livestock industry.

Piçarra also highlighted IACA’s innovative initiatives, such as the FeedInov consortium and the InsectERA project. While exploring the use of insects as a protein source, he noted the significant cost challenges: “Perhaps in ten years, insects could become the protein of the future.”

His candid reflections on the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy also stand out, as he questions the feasibility of increasing organic production to 25% by 2030, calling for a more balanced approach.

Below, you can find our questions and his frank and wise answers:

First of all, thank you for accepting and making time for this interview. Could you please start by introducing yourself?

Certainly. Thank you for the opportunity. It’s a great pleasure and a honor to be here in Istanbul at IDMA 24. My name is Jaime Piçarra, and I’m based in Portugal. I serve as the Secretary General of IACA, the Portuguese Feed Compounders Association. Our association represents not only compound feed companies but also those involved in feed additives, components, and premixes. We aim to integrate, in the future, all sectors connected to the feed industry.

We represent approximately 80% of the market share in Portugal, producing around 4.2 million tons of feed annually. The largest portion of this is for poultry, followed by nearly equal amounts for pigs and cattle, and then other species. Additionally, the pet food sector is now growing significantly.

We are very active within FEFAC, where we hold membership. Our President, Romão Braz, is a Board member, and I serve as the Vice Chairman of the Industry Compound Feed Committee (IFCP), focusing on economic and political matters. In this capacity, I was representing the European feed industry in various Civil Dialogue Groups, including those within the European Commission (DG AGRI), such as CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), International Aspects on Agricultural and Arable Crops groups. For example, in April, I traveled to Washington with Pedro Cordero, representing FEFAC because we are involved at the CPA, a Platform to discuss very important transatlantic issues, between EU and US. Recently, I was nominated Portuguese’s expert on food security at NATO. 

That’s impressive. Could you share more details about your trip to Washington and the discussions you had there?

In Washington, we organized an event that addressed a very important issue—Deforestation. Deforestation has become a significant concern in Portugal, and it's something I can discuss further in this interview. As part of our work with FEFAC, where we are actively involved in all the committees, our mission is to support our members in finding solutions to this challenge.

In Portugal, we have taken a proactive approach by creating a consortium with our member companies. IACA is the main shareholder of this consortium, called FeedInov. The goal of FeedInov is to introduce innovative solutions to the sector by collaborating with companies, researchers, and universities. The consortium includes IACA, several companies, researchers, and universities, with the aim of leveraging projects both in Portugal and through the European Commission to explore and develop new solutions.

DEFORESTATION AND AMR PRESSING CHALLENGES

It seems that contemporary issues played a role in establishing this consortium. How would you categorize these issues?