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Thinking tomorrow: Why we need sustainability more than ever and how we can create it
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by Frederic Ferber and Dr Bernhard Eckel, Vice President, Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
he world seems to have been turned upside down. Like a wave, the SARSCoV 2 pandemic has been sweeping over the globe and affected farmers, feed and food producers practically everywhere. A lot has been talked, written and said about how to fortify businesses against the effects of the crisis. But what will really work out in the end once we can truly and universally say “it is over”? It is the solution that has been known and been right before, though not generally acknowledged yet, let alone accepted: sustainability. All Member States of the United Nations (UN) adopted the Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) about four years ago: 17 goals were developed to transform the world into a better one by 2030. It’s a historic commitment to reducing poverty and hunger. Food and agriculture are key to achieving all the SDGs. Figure 1: Impact of improved litter quality on chicken production parameters
54 | August 2020 - Milling and Grain
Agriculture also plays a major role in combating climate change. And the SDGs are not only intended for developing countries. Three goals are critical to our industry: Goal 2, Zero Hunger; Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being; and Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production. We all agree with Goal 2: Zero Hunger. This is what we work towards in feed production every day. Goals 3 and 12 are really ambitious for all of us and need our full attention.
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
SDG 3 addresses both humans and animals. Therefore, it also includes animal health. Healthy animals are the foundation for healthy people. And healthy people are the basis for a stable and productive society, not only during or shortly after a pandemic like the one we have been witnessing. But how can feed additives contribute to this discussion? Last year in Asia, in what feels like a different time when travelling was not restricted, I came across