The global demand for animal proteins, such as meat, eggs, dairy products, and fish, is increasing due to growing populations, urbanisation and rising incomes. At the same time, the challenge of making the global production and consumption of food more sustainable is increasingly urgent – particularly considering the limited availability of resources and the need to reduce pressure on the environment. The contribution of animal feed to the carbon footprint of animal products is significant due to the cultivation, transport and processing of the ingredients, in addition to the impact of the livestock farm. It is possible, however, to make powerful improvements to the sustainability of animal products – one way to tackle this is by focusing on feed ingredients first.

RETHINKING RESOURCES: THE ROLE OF THE CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY

The concepts of sustainability and sustainable development are complex and there is not yet consensus on how to apply them in practice. As a result, there is no definition of “sustainable feed ingredients” and ultimately no standardisation on this topic. In general, the criteria to determine exactly what constitutes a “sustainable feed ingredient” are selected according to the economic, social and ecological dimensions of sustainability.

At Bioiberica, we are committed to the concept of sustainable animal nutrition, upholding the importance of the efficient use of natural resources and the protection the environment. To this end, we carry out research into the valorisation of natural raw materials based on a circular bioeconomy approach to obtain sustainable, safe and innovative ingredients that increase the sustainability of the livestock production chain, while prioritising animal health and productivity.

So, what does this look like in practice? We recently conducted two interesting trials with Palbio 50, a hydrolysed protein ingredient, designed, sourced and manufactured according to the principles of the circular economy model. And the results have been significant. The trials showed improvements in efficiency and performance parameters, as well as demonstrating Palbio as a sustainable, high quality and trusted alternative to traditional and non-sustainable protein sources. Such sources include soybean meal or fish meal. 

SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY BY REDUCING THE NEED FOR SOYBEAN MEAL

Soybean agriculture is sweeping across South America, putting a strain on fragile ecosystems, such as rainforests and savannahs. In some countries, the huge concentration of soybean farmland is pushing small hold farmers and local communities off land. The reduction of soybean in animal feed is therefore one way to improve the sustainability of livestock farming.

In a first trial in Perú, we evaluated the use of Palbio 50 in broilers as a high-quality sustainable protein for partial replacement to soybean meal.  The results showed that replacing soybean meal with Palbio can significantly improve different performance parameters, such as feed conversion and uniformity – especially during the first weeks of development. The use of Palbio resulted in a stronger start for the first 7 days, which is key to ensuring healthy and strong production. At the end of the experiment, we obtained the same animal weight and a higher uniformity using less feed – a clear indicator of the high efficiency of Palbio. Furthermore, using Palbio enabled us to reduce the amount of soybean meal in the formula, leading to a more sustainable feed profile. Palbio also obtained a higher return on investment compared to the control group. As such, we demonstrated that it is possible to improve efficiency, feed conversion, sustainability and profitability by using Palbio in poultry.

CREATING COST EFFICIENCIES TO SUPPORT  SUSTAINABLE SALMON PRODUCTION

Historically, fish meal has been the reference protein source for aquaculture – especially in the salmon feed industry. But as concerns around unsustainable fishing practices and polluting fishmeal factories grow, most feed producers are looking for reliable protein sources that are sustainable, convenient and efficient as fish meal.

In a trial in Chile, we explored the use of Palbio 50 in salmon for the first time. We successfully replaced different levels of fish meal with Palbio, generating similar results (no significant differences) in animal performance, health or gene expression parameters compared to the control group, which continued using fishmeal.  The inclusion of Palbio 50 also led to a 2% reduction in feed costs, positioning it as a more cost-efficient and sustainable way to produce salmon.

THE NEED FOR INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES

As sustainability becomes more and more important for agricultural industries, particularly livestock, demand for safe, functional, and sustainable feed ingredients from a natural origin has never been higher. Innovative ingredients, like hydrolysed proteins, are making a significant impact in responding to these needs and improving sustainability across the feed industry. For over 20 years, Palbio has been used in animal feed to create success stories in the Animal Nutrition industry worldwide, showing feed producers that there is a bright future ahead for effective, healthy and sustainable feed.

For more information, visit: www.bioiberica.com