Over 130 Belgian and Dutch Young Feed Professionals headed to Oud-Turnhout on May 30 for the 7th edition of the Young Feed Congress. This year the focus was on the question of whether we should choose between vegetable or animal proteins to face the strong population growth and the climate challenge. The Jongerencongres (Youth conference) is an annual event organized by young professionals from the Belgian and Dutch animal feed sector.

To meet the challenges in terms of food security, environmental and climate impact and public health, young animal feed professionals from Belgium and the Netherlands entered the debate on the role of the animal sector in the protein transition of the future. Rising population growth also increases the demand for protein, putting pressure on the current production and consumption model.

The animal feed sector makes an important contribution to the circular bioeconomy by using by-product streams, among other things. In addition, both in Belgium and in the Netherlands, a lot is being invested in making animal feed production more sustainable. However, the focus should not only be on the production process, says guest speaker Prof. Dr. Frédéric Leroy (VUB). Our consumption behavior must also change, shifting the focus of the debate to “how” we eat, rather than “what” we eat. “It becomes problematic when we turn to overly restrictive diets and ultra-processed foods,” he clarifies.

The nutritional value of animal proteins such as meat, eggs and dairy has already been demonstrated by several scientific studies. That there should be room for both plant and animal proteins is beyond dispute, according to Belgian and Dutch young animal nutrition professionals. With the same open mindset, cooperation between stakeholders is being looked at, and this across all borders. “Making a balanced diet future-proof and accessible to every consumer is achieved by taking responsibility throughout the chain,” agrees Eva Jansen MSc, Sustainability Manager at Zwanenberg Food Group.

The need for research into alternative protein sources in the animal feed sector was emphasized by Dr. Dorien Van Wesemael and Dr. Marta Lourenço, researchers affiliated with ILVO. “We sometimes have to think ‘out of the box’ and (research) raw materials that are currently unknown to the animal feed industry.”

“Belgian and Dutch feed manufacturers are strongly committed to science, technology and innovation. Proactively communicating what we do, and how we do it, is becoming increasingly critical in a society where the necessity of animal products is being questioned. We therefore believe that we as a sector and as young professionals can make a significant contribution to the further rollout of the protein strategy of the 21st century,” concludes Fleur Aarsse, president of the Young Feed Professionals.