SUSTAINABILITY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2025 65 able livestock production. However, the current regulations are a bit of a tightrope walk, balancing the rules for both food and feed production. On top of that, there's an uneven playing field when it comes to the use of these residual materials. The energy sector, for example, uses the same former foodstuffs to turn ‘waste’ into energy. However, since they often receive subsidies and can charge higher prices for their end products, they end up paying more for these materials. A fairer situation could emerge if policymakers introduced clearer rules about the hierarchy of use, as outlined in the WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) Food Waste Reduction Roadmap. This guide ranks food waste prevention and redistribution to food banks as the top priority, with animal feed as the next best option, while energy production falls under the 'waste' category. Beyond regulatory compliance, we are dedicated to advancing professionalism and driving improvements toward a more circular production system. This commitment involves investing in advanced technologies and exploring innovative products and sources to enhance the nutritional value and sustainability of animal nutrition. PREVENTING FOOD WASTE It is crucial to remember that EFFPA members strongly endorse the ethical duty of food producers to donate surplus food to those in need. However, the logistical challenges involved in managing food removed from the commercial market can be daunting. These former foodstuffs often arrive in unpredictable quantities, with a mix of intermediate and finished products, making processing and distribution more complex. Therefore, rather than losing all the nutrients, food producers reduce waste and losses by redirecting unsellable food, while feed producers gain an energy-rich alternative to grains, and enabling the European livestock sector to lower its carbon & environmental footprint by mitigating its level of competition with ‘direct’ food production and reducing its dependence on imported feed materials lowering raw material demands. About Alexander Romme Alexander Romme (NL) is the President of EFFPA, the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association, since October 2023. He is also Chairman of VIDO (Dutch Former Foodstuff Processors Association) and Vice-Chairman of BFAN (German Former Foodstuff Processors Association). In company life, he is Chief Material Management Officer at FeedValid.
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