TECHNOLOGY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2025 71 • Temperature and humidity, • Rumination and digestion rates. If a sensor detects a sudden drop in feed intake in a particular animal or pen, it could indicate illness or feed spoilage. Farmers receive instant alerts, allowing early intervention and avoiding prolonged health or performance losses. This minimises feed waste while supporting animal welfare and productivity. The data generated also contributes to long-term decision-making. By tracking correlations between feeding behaviour and animal performance, producers can refine strategies to better match nutritional inputs with biological outcomes. Data-Driven Feed Optimisation Perhaps the most transformative impact of precision farming lies in its ability to optimise nutrition over time. Machine learning platforms aggregate thousands of data points across various dimensions—animal physiology, feed composition, climate conditions—and use predictive analytics to fine-tune feeding programmes. This ensures that animals are receiving the most effective nutrient mixes not only for their current needs but also based on projected growth patterns and weather fluctuations. As a result, the farm reduces its carbon footprint by improving feed conversion ratios and lowering methane emissions. In short, precision farming transforms nutrition from a reactive task to a proactive system—one that’s constantly learning and adapting to enhance outcomes for animals, farmers, and the environment. BIOTECHNOLOGY: REINVENTING FEED FROM THE GROUND UP While precision farming optimises how feed is delivered and utilised, biotechnology is redefining what that feed actually consists of. Innovations in microbial fermentation, algae cultivation, and alternative protein production are providing sustainable substitutes for resource-intensive crops like soy and corn. Microbial Fermentation and Single-Cell Proteins Biotech companies are increasingly turning to single-cell proteins (SCPs)—high-protein ingredients cultivated from bacteria, yeast, or algae. These organisms can grow rapidly using substrates like methane, agricultural waste, or even CO2, making them both scalable and sustainable. SCPs are rich in essential amino acids and free from many of the anti-nutritional factors found in traditional feedstocks. Their production consumes far less water and land than soy or corn, making them ideal for a planet with limited natural resources. Companies like Calysta and KnipBio are already piloting SCPs at industrial scale, providing protein solutions that are environmentally friendly and nutritionally robust.
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