FEFAC and AFIA join forces to harmonize the methodology for environmental footprinting of compound feed and to publish the first feed LCA recommendations in 2013.
Feb 5, 2013
Brussels – The European Feed Manufacturer’s Federation (FEFAC) and the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) set up a consortium in 2011 with the view to collaborate on environmental footprinting. The FEFAC and AFIA consortium* together with the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF), has joined the UN FAO-led Partnership on benchmarking and monitoring the environmental performance of livestock supply chains. The consortium expects to reach a first milestone in 2013 with the publication of the first version of the Feed LCA Recommendations and guidance document.
“With the need to reduce the impact of livestock products on the environment, being able to measure the impacts associated with feed using a sound and harmonized methodology is a first step to initiate mitigations options” says Joel Newman, AFIA’s President and CEO.
“These recommendations are meant to respond to the need of feed operators and to the demand of feed customers such as the dairy and meat sectors” says Patrick Vanden Avenne, FEFAC’s President.
The interim version of the FEFAC and AFIA Feed LCA Recommendations will be presented at the occasion of the 4th Global Feed and Food Congress organized by IFIF in South Africa in April 2013. These recommendations are being developed in accordance with the main international standards and guidelines and take place in the framework of the FAO’s Partnership which aims at improving how the environmental impacts of livestock products are measured. They will be complemented by a database of the GHG emissions of the major processed feed ingredients.
“The sustainable development of global livestock production is one of the key priorities for IFIF” says Mario Cutait, IFIF’s Chairman. Mr Cutait adds “IFIF welcomes these Feed LCA Recommendations which represent an important first step towards a globally harmonized industry standard for Feed LCA”.
About the FEFAC and AFIA consortium
The consortium currently gathers 7 feed companies (Agrifirm, Cargill, De Heus, Denkavit, For Farmers, Nutreco, Van Drie Group) and 7 feed associations (AFIA, AIC, Bemefa, Dakofo, FEFAC, Nevedi, SNIA) which share a common interest in the development of methodologies for the assessment of the environmental impact linked to feed production and consumption and LCA database.
About IFIF
The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) is made up of national and regional feed associations, feed related organizations, and corporate members from around the globe, representing over 80% of the feed production worldwide. IFIF provides a unified leadership and coordinating role in order to contribute to the sustainable supply of safe, healthy feed and therefore food. For more information on IFIF please visit www.ifif.org or contact Alexandra de Athayde, Executive Director, at info@ifif.org.
About AFIA
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) represents the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal feed industry and its suppliers. AFIA also is the recognized leader on international industry developments. Members include more than 500 domestic and international companies and state, regional and national associations. Member-companies are livestock feed and pet food manufacturers, integrators, pharmaceutical companies, ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers and companies which supply other products, services and supplies to feed manufacturers. For more information on AFIA please visit www.afia.org or contact Joel Newman, President & CEO, at afia@afia.org.
About FEFAC
FEFAC, the European Compound Feed Manufacturers’ Federation, represents 22 national Associations in 21 EU Member States as well as Associations in Switzerland, Turkey, Norway, Croatia, Serbia and Russia with observer/associate member status. The European compound feed industry employs over 110,000 persons at approximately 4,000 production sites often in rural areas, which offer few other employment opportunities. For more information on FEFAC please visit www.fefac.eu or contact Alexander Döring, Secretary General, at fefac@fefac.eu.
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Issued by: IFIF / AFIA / FEFAC
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