Protein feed: Imports mandatory
Bonn. The German Association for Animal Nutrition e. V. (DVT) appeals to politicians to take a realistic view of the scarce resources of agricultural raw materials available in Europe: "We cannot ensure the supply of animal processing without importing valuable protein feed," says Dr. Hermann-Josef Baaken, DVT Managing Director, clearly. The association is thus reacting to the recently passed European soybean declaration, which came about on the initiative of the agriculture ministers of Germany and Hungary. “For climatic reasons, agricultural products should primarily be produced where scarce resources can be used most efficiently. International agricultural trade creates the necessary balance between shortage and abundance and makes a contribution to climate protection.” DVT rejects a one-sided preference for regional raw materials such as soya from Europe because it is not only uneconomical, but also unsustainable.
According to the DVT, a competitive German agricultural and food industry depends on free access to international markets and the available raw materials. Together with the domestic supply of raw materials, the import of nutritionally valuable proteins is important in order to ensure the feed supply for the livestock. This cannot be done with European protein feed alone.
The DVT considers the increased production of soya and other legumes in Europe and the associated better self-sufficiency to be a goal worth striving for. But it should also be noted that according to the so-called protein balance calculated by the European Commission, there is a clear deficit in protein-rich plants that cannot be compensated for without imports. In 31,2/2015, only 2016 million tons of the 1,5 million tons of soybean meal for animal feed in Europe were met from soybeans grown in the EU. In addition, the reform of the renewable energy directive planned by the EU Commission will contribute to a reduction in the profitability of rapeseed cultivation, which has also made an important contribution to protein supply up to now.
Guidelines for Sustainable Soy Production
Baaken points out that sustainability is of great importance in the feed industry and that extensive efforts have been made to ensure sustainable soy production worldwide. The European Association of Compound Feed Manufacturers (FEFAC) have developed guidelines for this. The focus is on forest policy and working conditions, but also on integrated cultivation methods to protect the environment. "Sustainably produced soy from other regions of the world can compete with European soy and other legumes with a clear conscience from a sustainability point of view," says Baaken. The question of whether soy comes from genetic or non-genetic engineering processes is not decisive for sustainability. For this purpose, an assessment of the cultivation method with all its conditions is necessary.
Baaken points out that sustainability is of great importance in the feed industry and that extensive efforts have been made to ensure sustainable soy production worldwide. The European Association of Compound Feed Manufacturers (FEFAC) have developed guidelines for this. The focus is on forest policy and working conditions, but also on integrated cultivation methods to protect the environment. "Sustainably produced soy from other regions of the world can compete with European soy and other legumes with a clear conscience from a sustainability point of view," says Baaken. The question of whether soy comes from genetic or non-genetic engineering processes is not decisive for sustainability. For this purpose, an assessment of the cultivation method with all its conditions is necessary.
About the association
The German Association for Animal Nutrition e. V. (DVT), as an independent trade association, represents the interests of companies that produce, store and trade feed, premixes and additives for livestock and pets.
The German Association for Animal Nutrition e. V. (DVT), as an independent trade association, represents the interests of companies that produce, store and trade feed, premixes and additives for livestock and pets.
