Greater sustainability in meat production

The new AMINOFootprint® calculator by Evonik enables feed manufacturers to determine and further optimize the environmental impact of their products. This in turn lets them respond to the increased consumer awareness of sustainability in meat production with a tangible contribution. "When consumers inquire about the ecological footprint of a pork cutlet, feed manufacturers are affected as part of the supply chain," says Dr. Reiner Beste, President of the Health & Nutrition Business Unit of Evonik.

The recently completed SFIS project (Specialty Feed Ingredients Contributing to Sustainability) demonstrated the large influence of animal feed composition on this footprint. Based on worldwide data from the industry, the project involved the creation of a comparative eco-balance of compound for poultry and swine, both with and without added amino acids and enzymes (phytase). As the results showed, supplementing the feed mixes significantly reduces the environmental burden with regard to climate change, eutrophication, and acidification.

This positive effect is primarily based on reducing the raw protein content by adding amino acids, which decreases resource consumption and lowers the associated emissions in carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxides. Evonik proved this for the first time with an eco-balance in 2000. An eco-balance for all four feed amino acids produced by Evonik, namely MetAMINO® (DL-methionine), Biolys® (source of L-lysine), ThreAMINO® (L-threonine) and TrypAMINO® (L-tryptophan), has been available since 2010.

The SFIS project followed the same eco-balance methodology that is used for the sustainability assessment of the Evonik amino acids. Dr. Michael Binder, Sustainability Manager of the Health & Nutrition Business Unit of Evonik, has made a substantial contribution to the project when chairing the Technical Board. Once the ongoing review process has been completed in accordance with the international standard DIN EN ISO 14044:2006, the results will also be made available to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations for possible inclusion in the new FAO guideline for the sustainable evaluation of animal feed.

"The SFIS project represents the current industry average for the analyzed feed additives, but our amino acids have significantly better values based on the efficiency of our manufacturing processes," explains Binder. Evonik plans to publish an update of its own eco-balance this year as its production processes have been continuously optimized over the past years.

Furthermore, Evonik strives to provide its customers with a variety of instruments for the precise dosing and application of amino acids. "Proper usage leads to the best possible benefits," says Binder.

The toolset was recently supplemented with AMINOFootprint®, a web-based application that calculates the ecological impacts of various feed components along with their transport and processing. It also helps with the determination of feed mixes for pig or poultry feed. The tool enables feed manufacturers to compare the use of local protein sources with imported soy to optimize the ecological impact of their logistics chain or to reach decisions about the location of new sites. All this is helpful to respond to the questions of critical customers and end consumers.

Evonik is the only company worldwide to produce and market the four most important essential amino acids for modern animal nutrition, including MetAMINO® (DL-methionine), Biolys® (source of L-lysine), ThreAMINO® (L-threonine) and TrypAMINO® (L-tryptophan). Evonik provides innovative services and products in over 100 countries, making a valuable contribution to the profitability of its customers, while contributing to healthy, environmentally friendly and sustainable animal nutrition.