12 November 2024

2 minute read

By: dsm-firmenich

dsm-firmenich’s Animal Nutrition & Health division, alongside Format Solutions, a leading provider of integrated formulation and feed ERP software, have announced a strategic alliance aimed at quantifying and managing the environmental impact of animal feed.

Food production is responsible for approximately one-third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Companies across the food and feed value chain are under increasing pressure to quantify, report, and decrease their environmental footprints in a credible and compliant manner. This pressure comes from various sources, including companies' own sustainability commitments, regulatory requirements, the finance sector and evolving consumer preferences, all of which necessitate the use of primary data.

David Nickell, dsm-firmenich's Vice President of Sustainability & Business Solutions for Animal Nutrition & Health, commented: "Animal feed is a fundamental element in the food value chain. The integration of Sustell^TM with Format Solutions’ top-tier feed formulation software signifies a crucial advancement in connecting the entire farm-to-fork data ecosystem. SustellTM's user-friendly LCA footprinting platform fosters collaboration throughout the value chain, empowering us to overcome challenges and capitalize on sustainability-related market opportunities."

Ian Mealey, Product Marketing Director – Formulation, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying: "We're eager to join forces with dsm-firmenich and implement Sustell^TM to offer our clients an innovative method to quantify and manage their feed manufacturing's environmental footprint. This approach will undoubtedly bring benefits to our customers and contribute to a more sustainable future for the food and feed sector."

The collaboration melds Format Solutions’ formulation software with the comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) platform, SustellTM. This integration empowers customers to calculate and share their feed footprints effortlessly. Feed producers, who play a vital role in promoting sustainable animal protein, can now report the environmental impact of their feed with a single click, by utilizing existing data from their trusted formulation software. This integration aids feed producers in preparing for future feed labeling requirements and supports farmers, integrators and processors by providing accurate and ISO compliant feed footprints that are a key data input to determining the environmental impact of eggs, meat, milk, and farmed seafood.

This move is a significant step towards full value chain transparency, aiding the entire food industry - including feed producers, farmers, processors, food companies, and retailers - in accurately reporting their emissions and enhancing their sustainability practices.

The capacity to precisely measure and reduce the environmental footprint through system and data connectivity unveils multiple value opportunities, such as elucidating best farming practices, access to sustainable finance qualification for product eco-labeling and access to voluntary carbon trading initiatives.