SPECIAL STORY 38 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2023 “The feed manufacturer must offer a product that is attractively priced and that meets the needs of the animals according to species, age, physiological stage, outlet, etc. It is now possible to also take into account the origin of the raw materials and the environmental impact of the formulas. This characterisation makes it possible to meet societal demands while maintaining zootechnical performance and avoiding economic waste.” Environmental issues have become increasingly important on the planet. Amongst them, greenhouse gas emissions occupy a predominant place (Paris Agreement 2015 and National Low Carbon Strategy). Consumers are increasingly aware of these issues and are also looking for environmentally friendly products. In the field of livestock farming, animal nutrition can account for up to 75% of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly in poultry where enteric emissions are low and the rearing period is short. However, the environment is a set of natural elements that act on organisms. Greenhouse gasses are therefore not the only elements to be taken into account. HOW CAN THE ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE OF FEED FORMULAS BE CHARACTERISED? Techna has developed its own database for the overall control of the environmental impact of feed formulas. The objective? To be able to estimate the impact on the air, but also on water, soil and biodiversity. Each raw material already characterised by chemical and nutritional values is now also provided with environmental values. This characterisation is based on six indicators established by Techna's experts or taken from bibliographic databases to meet all requirements: • greenhouse gases • water consumption • energy consumption • phosphorus consumption • TFI (Treatment Frequency Index) • land use Greenhouse gasses and energy consumption are recalculated using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. This method takes into account the emissions linked to the cultivation, transport and processing of the raw material. Doing the calculations in-house allows us to have a more precise knowledge of the most emitting factors. The data used for the calculations, such as MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FEED FORMULAS Pauline Chaput Feed Formulator TECHNA
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