Sustainable Feed Critical to Meeting Global Climate Targets

WWF report details how the livestock and poultry feed industry can implement environmentally responsible practices and help create a sustainable, climate-resilient global food system.
Mar 8, 2023 9:45 AM ET

Implementing sustainable practices within the livestock and poultry feed industry and throughout the value chain is essential to reaching global climate targets and limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, says a new report from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The report explains how the US animal feed industry and supply chain partners can implement changes that will decrease the environmental impacts of feed production and help lead to a more sustainable and climate-resilient global food system. WWF’s report outlines how these issues can be addressed through four critical components of a sustainable feed strategy: circularity, innovation, regenerative agriculture, and responsible sourcing.

“When we talk about building a sustainable future, a critical part of the conversation is how we supply environmentally responsible animal feed,” said Ellen Dierenfeld, lead specialist for sustainable feed innovations, WWF. “Right now there is a unique opportunity for the feed industry to leverage its influence and effect worldwide change. Collective action across the feed value chain would send market signals rippling throughout the entire agriculture sector, leading to a more sustainable food system for everyone.”

The report also includes relevant insights and examples in action shared by a diverse set of stakeholders during the recent Feed Systems Sustainability Summit, convened jointly by WWF and the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER).

“The feed sector’s sustainability efforts are influenced by many stakeholders both upstream and downstream of the industry, creating real opportunities for engagement,” said Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER. “Actionable solutions exist, as demonstrated by case studies in the report, but signals and support from the full feed value chain including feed stuff producers and consumer facing stakeholders are needed.”

Read the full report: Solutions to Meet the Need for Feed

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Media Contact:

Lorin Hancock, Lorin.Hancock@wwfus.org

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About World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working for 60 years in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive. With the support of 1.3 million members in the United States and more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment, and combat the climate crisis. Visit worldwildlife.org to learn more; follow @WWFNews on Twitter to keep up with the latest conservation news; and sign up for our newsletter and news alerts here.