Mind the Loop: Livestock in the Circular Economy
A sustainable food system is unimaginable without the circular economy and the pivotal role of livestock. This blog post explores how efficiency gains in animal production enabled our prosperity, but also highlights the challenge of feed-food competition (hef-value). We delve into how ruminants, despite the methane debate, are irreplaceable “recyclers” of indigestible biomass, providing vital ecosystem services.
Discover the achievements animal nutrition has already made in the spirit of the circular economy: from increased efficiency through breeding and nutrition, to the approval of numerous by-products as feed, and biotechnological breakthroughs like enzymes and synthetic amino acids, as well as the potential of insect proteins.
However, there’s still much to do. We discuss the necessity of utilising food waste as a valuable resource and how regulatory hurdles hinder innovation. Learn how indicators like the hef-value and CO₂ reduction potential can become powerful selling points for animal products.