Use of feed ingredients with low climate change impact

Last update: 2 June 2023

• Action: Use of low carbon footprint feed ingredients.
• Animal category: All species.
• Technique: Using the GFLI Database to formulate low-carbon footprint feed diets.
• Mode of action: The GFLI Database holds an inventory of more than 1,511 datasets with the carbon footprint information of a large range of feed ingredients from different origins.
• Mode of implementation: Compound feed manufacturers can make use of the GFLI Database to make feed formulations based on lowest carbon emissions, in addition to the usual formulations based on optimized nutrition and least cost.
• Requirements/limitations: Compound feed manufacturers must obtain knowledge on life cycle assessment science and learn the best ways of communicating information towards livestock farmers.
• Economic consequences: Compound feed manufacturers engaging on carbon footprinting normally must employ staff with sustainability knowledge and skills, while footprinting calculations including GHG emissions related to the compound feed manufacturing itself requires investment in internal procedures for data collection.
• Other considerations: The more the GFLI Database is established as a key reference for information on carbon footprint information of feed ingredients, the more efforts suppliers of feed ingredients will make to provide better data quality and continue efforts to further reduce the carbon footprint.
• References:
  • GFLI Database (2017 – updated 2022). https://globalfeedlca.org/gfli-database/
  • PEF Category Rules for feed for food producing animals (2020).