In a dynamic era where the global agri-food landscape is evolving, the recent FAO Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators brought together international experts, government officials, researchers, and industry leaders to delve into critical issues shaping the livestock sector. The forum, hosted at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome over two days, highlighted the urgency of transforming the livestock sector to align with the changing demands of the world.
The Role of the Livestock Sector
The livestock sector plays a pivotal role, generating over $400 billion in annual commercial turnover and producing more than one billion tons of essential livestock feed. As highlighted by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, the sector needs to evolve to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, benefiting both people and the planet. This transformation involves ensuring the availability, accessibility, quality, and safety of animal feed.
Meat Bone Meal: A Sustainable Solution
Meat Bone Meal is at the forefront of this transformation. As a key input for animal health, human nutrition, and environmental sustainability, Meat Bone Meal addresses the critical pathway outlined by Qu Dongyu at the Global Forum. The Global Forum served as a comprehensive platform for discussions among national and regional feed regulatory competent authorities, FAO Members, the private sector, researchers, development agencies, financial institutions, and civil society.
Meeting the Rising Demand for Animal Protein
As the demand for animal protein rises, particularly in poultry and pork, due to population growth, urbanization, and improved purchasing power, the forum emphasized the importance of addressing environmental concerns, socio-economic considerations, and safety issues. Meat Bone Meal aligns with these priorities by ensuring adequate animal nutrition, thereby reducing the need for antimicrobials and contributing to the containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Livestock value chains vary globally, and it is imperative to support small and medium-scale farmers, the backbone of global livestock production. Meat Bone Meal provides cost-efficient and science-based feed solutions, offering access to knowledge, technology, and markets to improve livelihoods, reduce poverty, and accelerate rural development, echoing Qu Dongyu’s sentiments.
Executives from trade groups such as the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and experts from various countries spoke on the Global Forum, addressing crucial topics from feed availability to legislation optimizing feed ingredients for health, quality, and environmental outcomes. FAO experts provided insights into the organization’s work on the Sustainable Livestock Transformation Initiative, animal nutrition, feed safety, and alternative feed practices to reduce the need for antimicrobials.
Strategic Advantage of Meat Bone Meal
Meat Bone Meal stands as a solution in the face of the challenges discussed at the Global Forum. As feed typically constitutes between 60% and 80% of livestock production costs, Meat Bone Meal offers a strategic advantage. Commercial production or sale of feed occurs globally in more than 130 countries, with over 8,000 plants producing more than 600 million tonnes annually. Another 300 million comes from on-farm production, making the feed industry a significant player in the global bioeconomy.
Optimizing land use is a key consideration for sustainability, with 40% of global arable land currently used to feed livestock. Meat Bone Meal aligns with this opportunity to improve the sustainability of agri-food systems by optimizing land use and contributing to the bioeconomy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the FAO Global Forum served as a vital platform for discussion and action. Qu Dongyu emphasized that many solutions to the challenges are already known. Meat Bone Meal represents not just a product but a commitment to feeding animals well to feed the world better. As we navigate the evolving landscape of the livestock feed industry, our dedication to innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration remains unwavering.
The FAO’s warning about the need for transformation in the livestock sector echoes our commitment to providing solutions that meet the demands of a changing world. Meat Bone Meal is not just a product; it’s a contribution to the global effort for a more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future. If you are interested in Feed Addictive and other products for your specific business needs, please do not hesitate to contact us.