The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) has unveiled a new set of sustainability resources for the animal food industry, enhancing the sector's commitment to environmental stewardship. Developed in collaboration with the Context Network and the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC), these tools aim to streamline sustainability practices across the U.S. and Canada.
The newly released materials stem from a comprehensive landscape assessment of current industry practices and a detailed literature database that explores the impact of novel feed ingredients on animal performance. This initiative marks a significant step in addressing the pressing need for efficient and effective sustainability measurement, reporting, and verification tools.
Lara Moody, Executive Director of IFEEDER, emphasized the project’s alignment with industry needs. "By providing our partners with the right tools to measure and report their sustainability efforts, we can support them in achieving their environmental goals more effectively," Moody stated.
The "Sustainability Road Map" project, now in its second phase, focuses on several key objectives:
- Standardizing how sustainability data is measured, reported, and verified across the industry.
- Enhancing the efficiency of life cycle assessments to better support the industry’s environmental goals.
- Evaluating the environmental benefits of innovations in feed ingredients and additives, which are crucial for stakeholders committed to sustainability.
The first phase of the project laid the foundational work by defining "sustainability" for the industry and creating the Animal Food Industry Sustainability Toolkit. This resource aids companies in developing or enhancing their sustainability programs. The second phase builds on this by introducing new tools, including:
- A matrix assessment of common themes among sustainability metrics.
- Insights from industry interviews on data collection and information management.
- An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within current practices.
- A comprehensive database assessing animal performance metrics alongside environmental footprint reduction benefits.
In addition to these resources, IFEEDER has introduced a toolkit that outlines 16 critical sustainability issues pertinent to the animal food industry, complete with industry examples and documented benefits.
The complete toolkit is available at no cost to members of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and IFEEDER donors, and to ANAC members on their respective websites. Nonmembers can purchase the toolkit for $995 from the AFIA Online Store.
This initiative has been supported by various industry stakeholders including ANAC, APC LLC, Arm & Hammer, and many others, underscoring the collaborative effort to foster sustainable practices within the animal food industry.
