INTERVIEW 48 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2023 tion to assist with formulating the dairy ration and making decisions that affect farm economics. Considering animal nutrition, feed advisers can use the environmental impact assessment values to inform feed formulation decisions and support sustainable practices on the farm. Why is transparency becoming a bigger issue in milk production? Consumers are increasingly interested in how their food is produced and that includes the dairy products they purchase, such as milk. Transparency is becoming even more of a concern as plant-based alternative products such as ‘soy milk,” “almond milk” and ‘coconut milk’ have led to consumer confusion about product labeling on non-cow-milk beverages. Additionally, consumers are interested in how dairy production impacts the planet. Verifiable environmental credentials will, therefore, be critical to meeting future market demands, complying with regulations, and boosting the reputation of dairy farming. What is driving the focus on milk production and the environment? When we look globally at the levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide and methane, about three-quarters come from the energy sector. However, agriculture and livestock farming also play a noticeable role. And as global initiatives aim to reduce the carbon footprint of farming, current practices are insufficient to allow the dairy industry and individual countries to meet established emission goals. Because methane is a short-lived GHG, there is an opportunity for dairy farms to have a significant cooling effect by reducing methane emissions. Some initiatives that aim to reduce GHGs focus on livestock sectors being climate neutral by a target date. How do dairy producers benefit from efforts to reduce the environmental effects of dairy farming? Early adopters of more sustainable production practices can expect to enjoy a competitive advantage from consumers who are willing to pay more for milk that imposes less of an environmental footprint. A recent panel discussion at AgriVision held in the Netherlands in June, discussed an ongoing trend toward consumers’ interest in climate-focused food labels. Transparency can become a key selling point across the value chain, appealing to processors, retailers, and consumers who purchase milk. How does MyMilkPrint build on other tools to support the environmental sustainability of feed? In March 2023, Trouw Nutrition introduced MyFeedPrint. Similar to MyMilkPrint, the NutriOpt service provides an online environmental footprint service for animal feed products. The service is designed to help feed producers and integrators measure and quantify the environmental footprint of raw materials and complete feed. Such capabilities provide improved transparency about the environmental impact of the livestock value chain. And they make it possible to continually measure and improve the sustainability of production. Where is MyMilkPrint available today and will similar products be rolled out for other species? MyMilkPrint is available via the MyNutriOpt portal and will be rolled out in more countries in the coming months. Tools capable of generating an LCA for other species will be introduced in the future. As participants across the value chain call for more transparency in how food is produced, the ability of farms to provide an accurate assessment of their environmental footprint will become even more important.
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