ROME (ITALPRESS) – The environmental impact of the production of feed in the factories is very low. The level of agricultural raw materials used by feed mills is higher, a figure that has however significantly reduced over the years thanks to the efforts of producers who have contributed to making the agro-zootechnical chain sustainable. Assalzoo – National Association of Zootechnical Food Producers presented the 2020 Environmental Report via videoconference. The document highlights in particular the positive effects that the sector provides to the supply chain in terms of circularity and efficiency. “The producers of animal feeds want to play an important role in pursuing the common goal of zero impact animal husbandry”, says the president of Assalzoo Marcello Veronesi. The first edition of the report, produced in collaboration with LCE, contains the results of a survey conducted on a sample of factories with a representativeness of 30% of national production: “Considering only the production process of the feed mill, the main source of impact is energy and sometimes packaging “, explains Massimo Marino of LCE. The survey also assessed the carbon footprint of food for some livestock supply chains: “With reference to the environmental impact of a ton of feed, the feed mill contributes about 5%, all the rest are raw materials”, adds Marino. Precisely on the choice of ingredients, the feed processor can mark his contribution to the sustainability of the livestock supply chain. It can choose responsibly produced raw materials, formulate increasingly efficient feeds and use residues from other food productions or products no longer intended for humans. “Several concrete measures have already been adopted in favor of the environment: circularity, constant commitment to improve conversion rates, technology and research for additives, modernization of systems up to precision feeding”, Veronesi explains. The conversion rates have improved considerably: “Generally by 15% in the last twenty years. For chicken by 26%, in the last thirty years, and by 40% for the milk supply chain, therefore, to produce the same quantity. of milk, if in the ’70s and’ 80s two cows were needed, today one is enough. This is thanks to the joint effort of feeders, geneticists and breeders “, underlines Lea Pallaroni, general secretary of Assalzoo. The whole agro-food-livestock sector is aware of the importance of sustainability. The recent Ispra data on emissions are proof of this, as Giovanna Parmigiani of Confagricoltura recalls: “Only 13% of PM10 is due to the agricultural sector; in the last twenty years, ammonia emissions have reduced by 23%, also thanks to the improvement of production and breeding techniques “. These data are significant and also justify the fear of the Farm to Fork Strategy, according to Pallaroni: “Objectives are positioned without seeing what has been done before. Defining the time frame on which we will work on the Farm to Fork is important in order not to give the idea that it starts from nothing “. However, the primary sector’s commitment to the environment is not duly acknowledged, complains Parmigiani: “Much must be done to quantify the environmental benefit of farms. As Confagricoltura, we are working so that green certificates are recognized. considered the carbon fixation that is obtained thanks to the cultivation of cereal crops “. Same fate for the progress made in terms of respect for animal welfare. “Failure to recognize all these steps forward is a problem”, says Parmigiani, who recalls the agreement signed with Coop to improve the distribution of the added value of Italian products. The sustainability of Italian animal husbandry thus becomes a value to be transferred to the consumer: “Our protocol – explains Claudio Mazzini of Coop Italia – aims to find a new economic model that protects both those who produce and those who consume more. to stabilize the economic elements and give an added value that Italy certainly deserves “. (ITALPRESS). sat / com 24-May-21 16:58
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