SUSTAINABILITY 60 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion people in 2050, demand for animal protein (meat, milk, eggs) is rising rapidly. While animal production is widely recognized as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, it also results in the excretion of minerals into the environment. This raises a critical question of how can we meet this growing demand for animal protein in a sustainable way? Nutrition can play a key role when considering sustainable livestock production, as the production of feed plays a big role in total emissions and environmental excretions. Major contributors are grains, fats and premixes. When selecting a premix, the choice of mineral source is crucial, as bioavailability can vary significantly. Products with low bioavailability are generally associated with high environmental excretion and are added in high dosages to ensure the desired effects. The high excretion to the environment is related to increased eutrophication (process of enriching water bodies with too much nutrients). Eutrophication causes an overgrowth of algae and certain plants which can disturb the natural balance in oxygen in the water and affect the organisms that live in the water. By reducing the excretion of minerals into the environment, the addition of nutrients in the water can be limited, reducing the danger of eutrophication. When a product with better bioavailability is chosen, both environmental excretion as well as the dosage can be reduced, minimizing input while still achieving the same output. This can offer significant improvements in both environment (less resources needed, reduced eutrophication) as well as economic (cost reduction) sustainability. On top, trace mineral sources with low dust levels will have social impact, improving the working conditions in premix factories and feed mills. SELENIUM: IT IS ALL ABOUT L-SELENOMETHIONINE Selenium is an essential trace element, with fundamental importance for animal health and performance. In animal nutrition, it is generally supplemented in inorganic (e.g. sodium selenite) or organic form. When Mineral nutrition plays a crucial role in sustainable livestock production, influencing both environmental excretions and animal performance. Choosing highly bioavailable mineral sources can reduce dosages, minimize waste, and limit eutrophication, while different trace elements and their forms show varying efficacy. Social sustainability also matters, as dust exposure affects workers. Exploring these approaches can reveal how feed strategies impact efficiency, animal health, and broader environmental outcomes. Mineral Nutrition: AN OFTEN-OVERLOOKED SOLUTION TOWARDS IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY Jolien van Soest Global Solution Manager Mineral Nutrition Orffa Additives BV
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