SPECIAL STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2023 51 value of produce is not only misleading; it is actually counterproductive, making it harder to drive improvements. As calls for good environmental stewardship increase, it is in the interests of any progressive animal protein producer to ensure that their operations are assessed accordingly. This means measuring the full range of environmental footprints of animal production at farm level, using actual and specific farm data in a credible, auditable way. Unlocking the value of sustainability can be achieved by measuring the footprint of the animal protein production at farm level using full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), identifying areas for improvement, and making the necessary interventions. The use of advanced LCA tools, modelling and benchmarking are a powerful business diagnostic: too high a footprint is mostly associated with inefficiencies in the farming system, factors that often remain hidden or unrecognized unless this diagnostic is undertaken. Identifying these inefficiencies allows smart interventions to be modelled prior to implementation, increasing certainty that the interventions will be effective in reducing the footprint while at the same time capturing financial value for the farmer. Understanding the farm environmental footprint and being able to manage it appropriately opens up further value for the animal protein value chain. Investors are increasingly focused on the risk and return of animal production and on the farming enterprise’s freedom to operate based on a range of factors: impending changes in environmental legislation, qualification for agricultural subsidies, and the shift in consumer sentiment toward animal proteins, expressed in terms of altered demand. Some financial institutions are starting to reflect this in lending rates and terms. YOU CAN’T TRADE WHAT YOU CAN’T MEASURE With the opening up of carbon markets, there is a tangible and measurable opportunity for the animal protein industry to benefit by reducing its GHG footprint via multiple, proven, science-based means. This is not restricted to carbon and GHG reduction schemes alone; it might also present opportunities related to nitrogen and phosphorus. The nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands is testament to this, as exemplified by the recently announced nitrogen trading initiative between the Port of Rotterdam and the local farming community. Fundamental to all these trading initiatives is the ability to measure accurately: you can’t trade what you can’t measure.
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