SUSTAINABILITY 46 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2024 “A malicious saying describing something that cannot be reached any way: “you will see it when a pig will see the sky” is right on target here not only according to pig’s vision. Is that it? Can nothing be done for pigs, cows, hens to ease their life behind bars? The research findings do prove otherwise as the mere reduction of stocking densities and using e.g. phytogenic additives in the feed lessens the need to treat the livestock with antibiotics and reduces the mortality, thus resulting in improved growth rates…” SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY Is there a space for something more than the usual social, economic and environmental aspects? Paulina Abramowicz-Pindor, PhD Scientific Director, Research and Development AdiFeed Ltd. Nowadays, sustainable development is a very popular subject. In agriculture, it means striking a right balance between what is economic, social, and environmental. More specifically, it is about a development which respects environment and where resources are managed thoughtfully, causing no harm to what future generations may inherit from us. In sustainable development at farm level, all three dimensions are being taken into account. In the 21st century, global sustainability is measured by the mutual coexistence of the biosphere and civilisation in an environmental homeostasis. All 17 Sustainable Development Goals are presented in detail at the United Nations' website (Figure 1), most of them directly or indirectly relating to agriculture, including livestock production. The impact of farming on greenhouse gas emissions can hardly be overlooked (Figure 2). Although much still remains to be done, the emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide methane, and their share in the various livestock production sectors are measurable and regularly reported upon. EU maintains a fairly restrictive policy in this matter. However, the high demand for animal protein coupled with growing pressure on reducing emissions are likely to result in the risk of relocating production to such parts of the world where EU restrictions do not apply. This, unless appropriate mechanisms are put in place, might result in an exacerbated negative impact on the climate on Earth. FOOD SECURITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY “May you live in interesting times”, goes a Chinese saying, or more likely a curse. Today, after over a year of Russia's continued invasion on Ukraine, one has to wonder how Ukraine has managed to provide its citizens with unfailing supplies of food. People in urban areas managed to survive thanks to their strong family ties, and traditional links with the countryside. Furthermore, the high fragmentation and diversification of agricultural production turned out a helpful factor, as food is easier to come by then. Thus, centralisation of livestock production and its intensification do have their limits and, in this case,
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