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Dutch quality assurance system for animal feed
In the Dutch GMP+ quality assurance system for animal feed, the requirements for traceability have been significantly tightened. The raw material supplier must not only know the history of his products, he must also communicate them to his customers. Knowing the history of an animal feed ingredient helps animal feed producers to optimize their quality assurance.
Where does the animal feed come from? Where was it stored? Who processed the animal feed? These questions are of great importance for assessing the safety of a product, but also for traceability in the event of a problem.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
Day care for the disabled on a farm
For fifteen years, more and more Dutch farmers have had a special part-time job. They offer day care for physically or mentally disabled people. The disabled can find a suitable day job and/or even work properly on a so-called “care farm”. In the last five years in particular, the response has been remarkable: between 1998 and 2004 the number of welfare farms grew from 75 to 432. Welfare Farm is not new
A welfare farm is not a new invention. In the past, farms were always a place where the help of disabled people was welcome. Due to the fact that special care measures were introduced over time, the "healing" function of a farm was lost sight of a little. Today's welfare farms are resuming this function and appear to be filling a growing demand.
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Highest award for first-class achievements in DLG competitions - State Secretary Berninger makes a plea for the nutritional trade
DLG President Philip Freiherr von dem Bussche (4th from left) together with State Secretary Matthias Berninger (3rd from right) presented the federal awards to the best German meat processing companies.
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Requirements for feeding in the QS system tightened
The QS system has significantly tightened the requirements for the use of leftovers. The use as animal feed in pig fattening is now subject to a rigorous review at all levels. Both the processing of leftovers into a liquid feed material and its feeding on farms have been newly regulated.
With the revision of the requirements for leftovers, the entire chain is now involved, from the collection point through processing to the pig farm. Based on a scientific report on the safety of leftovers in animal feed commissioned by QS, precise limit values for the use and testing of leftovers have been issued. During processing, either pasteurization of the leftovers at at least 90 °C or sterilization at a temperature of at least 133 °C is mandatory. The number of annual inspections per site is also precisely specified.
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Caviar production in Demmin already possible this year
The Düsseldorf-based company Caviar Creator Inc. has taken over the FischCo-Demmin Aquakultur GmbH fish farm in Demmin (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania). This was announced by a spokesman for the company. Since the fish farm has been in operation since December 2002, the sturgeons from the fish farmer and caviar producer Caviar Creator can soon be used there and will start producing crops this year. In March, the Düsseldorf-based company also laid the foundation stone for another breeding facility in Demmin. The first caviar products from this plant can be expected in early 2005.
The acquired facility with 72 breeding tanks is in close proximity to the Caviar Creator construction site. "By taking over the plant, we can speed up production," says project manager Friedel Heinrichs, explaining the latest investment. Where previously eels, striped bass and zander were bred, sturgeons will soon be circling. The previous fish stocks are sold to the fish industry. The Caviar Creator board is currently planning the start and the exact volume of sturgeon meat and caviar production. Heinrichs emphasizes that all six employees can be taken on. In the long term even more jobs could be created.
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Waiting for grilling weather
The comparatively cool weather at the end of June led to a significant drop in demand for all types of meat on the meat wholesale markets in Germany. In particular, sales of barbecue items have stalled. However, the prices for beef and pork were able to hold up quite well, while demands for veal and lamb fell noticeably in some cases.
The stable price development for beef and pork at the shop level is not least the result of a limited supply. This should also ensure a relatively balanced market situation in the coming summer weeks.
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Two thirds of the area is grassland
Organic cultivation in Austria again increased significantly in 2003. The area under cultivation reached 326.700 hectares, which corresponded to an increase of a good ten percent compared to the previous year. The number of organic farms increased by 869 to 18.760; it grew less strongly than the area. As a result, the average organic area per farm increased from 16,6 hectares in 2002 to 17,4 hectares in 2003.
The area of organic arable farming in Austria increased at an above-average rate of 30 percent last year, and here in turn the area of protein crops (grain legumes) and oilseeds grew in particular, expanding by 47 percent and 44 percent respectively. The acreage of grain increased by 32 percent and that of corn – silo, green, grain and corn-cob mix – by almost 26 percent. Grassland cultivation remained relatively stable, but accounts for two-thirds of the total organic area. The very small-scale cultivation of potatoes is striking. On average, organic farms growing potatoes use only 0,7 hectares for this crop. Altogether in 2003 there were 2.114 hectares of potatoes.
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Dutch government puts study into perspective
Dutch agriculture is losing its competitive edge in the EU. This is the result of a study by the Institute for Agricultural Economics LEI at Wageningen University. Between 1994 and 2001, the Dutch gross production value increased by an average of 0,7 percent annually; the EU-15, on the other hand, recorded a higher average growth rate of 1,3 percent.
According to the study, agriculture in Spain has grown the most with five percent - especially in pig farming and horticulture. The LEI expects that in a few years Spain will become the largest pork producer in the EU. Sufficient space and workers are available for this expansion. In addition, in contrast to the Netherlands, there are hardly any animal and environmental protection restrictions there. These factors caused higher production costs in the Netherlands.
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Groceries lose around 3% sales volume
According to provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office, retail sales in Germany in May 2004 were down 4,8% in nominal terms and 5,2% in real terms compared with May 2003. However, May 2004, with 23 sales days, also had two fewer sales days than May 2003. The preliminary result was calculated from data from six federal states, in which 81% of total German retail sales are made. After calendar and seasonal adjustment of the data, compared to April 2004, sales were nominally 1,5% lower and 1,7% lower in real terms.
In the first five months of 2004 retail sales were nominally 2,0% and real 1,8% less than in the same period of the previous year.
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On July 1, 2004, the German Wildlife Foundation advertised its 90.000 Research Prize, which is endowed with up to 2005 euros. The research prize of the German Wildlife Foundation is awarded every two years. The aim is to support highly talented young scientists in the field of application-oriented wildlife ecological research. A six-member jury of renowned German scientists decides on the award. The application period runs until October 31.10.2004, XNUMX.
With the award, the foundation gives one young scientist the opportunity to gain further qualifications within the framework of a scholarship. In recognition of their achievement, the award winner also receives a one-time personal benefit. The research project submitted must contribute to significantly expanding knowledge about the ecology of native wild animals or to developing feasible concepts for their effective and sustainable management. The contributions of the previous award winners made it possible to gain valuable new insights for the protection of native wild animals and their habitats.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
Adverse development for the marketing of high-quality food
German consumers have become more stingy when it comes to food. While total spending on private consumption doubled from 1962/63 to the year 2000, in 2000 they spent an average of just 16 percent on food and eating out, half as much as in 1962/63. Scientists from the research association "Nutrition Turnaround" analyzed this and documented the results in the recently published discussion paper "Life Cycle Costs for Nutrition". "In connection with the ever-increasing price pressure along the food chain, this development could be interpreted as a decreasing economic appreciation for nutrition," says Dr. Ulrike Eberle from the Öko-Institut eV and project manager of the research association "Ernahrungswende". This does not make it any easier to market high-quality, environmentally friendly and low-risk food, because quality has its price.
In the year 6341, German consumers invested an average of 2000 euros per average household in nutrition-related products, around a third of this in the kitchen and kitchen equipment, kitchen appliances and crockery. They spent around two thirds of this, namely 4227 euros, on groceries and out-of-home consumption. In absolute figures, hardly anything has changed compared to 1962/63, back then it was the equivalent of 4161 euros, but spending on private consumption at that time was around half of today's spending.
