North America
Europe
Latin America
Asia Pacific
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Le colza est cultivé pour ses teneurs élevées en huile et en protéines. Par conséquent, il peut avoir des besoins assez importants en azote et phosphore. Le colza exige également deux fois la quantité de soufre nécessaire aux autres céréales afin de surmonter le déficit nutritionnel.
La luzerne est une plante vivace qui stocke des carbohydrates dans sa couronne et sa racine. La plante utilise ces réserves de carbohydrates pour repousser au printemps, ainsi qu'après chaque coupe. Les plants de luzerne doivent grandir suffisamment à l'automne pour stocker des quantités importantes de carbohydrates dans leurs racines. Ces réserves les aideront à survivre pendant l'hiver et à repousser rapidement au printemps.
Le gazon est utilisé à des fins utilitaires et esthétiques partout dans le monde. C'est une des surfaces les plus utilisées pour les activités sportives. Sa structure et sa santé peuvent avoir des conséquences importantes pour la pratique de certaines disciplines sportives ou la sécurité des participants. Les fins utilitaires vont de la prévention du ruissellement des eaux, aux bandes de rétention des pesticides et nutriments situées à proximité des sources d'eau.
La compétition sur le marché de l'oignon est croissante, exigeant de nouvelles technologies. Les plantes ont besoin d'une nutrition complète pour les aider à atteindre leur plein potentiel génétique et produire des bulbes homogènes, sains, sans résidus chimiques.
Seeking a more long-term view of business, Feedinfo News Service caught up with Alltech Vice President, Patrick Charlton to discuss COVID-19 implications for the firm in the coming years and how Alltech’s strategy is proving to be resilient under Dr. Mark Lyons’s leadership and Planet of Plenty™ vision for the future.
Engenheiro Agrônomo formado pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa, em 1992, possui pós-graduação em marketing pela ESPM. Com mais de 20 anos de experiência na área comercial, desenvolvimento de atividades de supervisão, gerência e diretoria, está na Alltech Crop Science desde julho de 2007. Possui ampla experiência em atividades como estudo de mercado, preparação e execução de planos estratégicos, criação, treinamento e gestão de equipes comerciais, gestão de preços e políticas comerciais, técnicas de vendas e CRM, criação e lançamento de produtos fertilizantes, além de conhecimento nas áreas de nutrição de plantas e fertilidade dos solos.
Le marché national et le marché international enregistrent une demande croissante pour des raisins de haute qualité avec une apparence parfaite. Il y a une forte pression auprès des producteurs afin que les raisins soient livrés sans moisissure, prêt à la consommation et sans résidus chimique.
Suite à l'interdiction de nombreux produits chimiques conventionnels, les alternatives biorationnelles aux pesticides gagnent rapidement du terrain pour devenir un incontournable des programmes d'application. Renforçant les défenses inhérentes des plantes grâce à une meilleure nutrition, nos programmes de Protection sont conçus pour diminuer l'utilisation des fongicides en mélangeant des fongicides classiques avec des biofongicides et des suppléments nutritionnels. Fournir des solutions naturelles uniques améliorant la santé et la résistance des plantes contre les infections et les maladies est le but de notre Centre de Recherches de Nutrigénomique.
En luttant pour garder le pas avec la croissance de la population mondiale, sans épuiser ses ressources naturelles, les agriculteurs sont obligés de trouver des solutions innovantes pour produire plus, avec moins. En rajoutant les difficultés liées à l'interdiction des produits chimiques suite à la demande collective des consommateurs pour des produits propres et traçables, les cultivateurs modernes se retrouvent face à un dilemme. Avec beaucoup de produits chimiques tombés en disgrâce, les produits naturels gagnent du terrain rapidement dans les programmes d'application standard. Les méthodes de contrôle biologique associées avec des stratégies de nutrition précises deviennent maintenant une partie intégrante des programmes agronomiques modernes.
La lutte phytosanitaire doit trouver l'équilibre délicat entre le parasite, la plante hôte et l'environnement de production. L'élimination de tous les parasites, insectes, agents pathogènes et mauvaises herbes est impossible. La production agricole est intimement liée à l'environnement et la fertilité joue un rôle dans sa protection. Le renforcement de la résistance systémique d'une plante diminue l'apparition des maladies fongiques, ce qui induit une meilleure qualité de la récolte et un rendement accru.
PROCROP ISR fait partie de notre gamme de protection, qui comprend des produits formulés pour soutenir, sur le plan nutritionnel, les défenses fondamentales des plantes. Cette gamme inclut mondialement des fertilisants, des activateurs de plantes et des inoculum microbiens. Fournir des solutions uniques naturelles, qui améliorent la santé des plantes et la résistance aux maladies est un objectif de notre centre de recherche en nutrigénomique.
Basé sur la recherche nutrigénomique d’Alltech et sur Saccharomyces cerevisiae SP.1026, PROCROP ISR est conçu comme une solution biorationnelle pour les cultures. Bien nourrir les plantes, c’est leur permettre de se défendre plus efficacement.
PROCROP SHIELD EU fait partie de notre gamme Protection, qui comprend des produits formulés dans le but de soutenir les défenses inhérentes des plantes sur
le plan nutritionnel. Cette gamme inclut des fertilisants, des activateurs de plantes ou encore des inoculants microbiens. Fournir des solutions uniques et naturelles qui améliorent la santé et la résistance des plantes contre les infections et les maladies est l’un des objectifs de notre Centre de Recherche en Nutrigénomique.
PROCROP SHIELD EU est une combinaison de métabolites naturels et de nutriments appliqués de manière foliaire, essentiels à la biofortification de la plante pour un effet rapide face aux stress externes de la culture. Les plantes bien nourries ont un système de défense plus efficace.
Fournir aux plantes la combinaison de nutriments essentiels dont elles ont besoin pour se développer est le résultat d’un équilibre complexe qui requiert plus qu’un traditionnel programme de fertilisation. Alltech est reconnu comme un leader mondial dans la technologie de la chélation. Notre programme Nutrition utilise la complexité naturelle inhérente des acides aminés pour fournir une source équilibrée de nutriments essentiels sous une forme biodisponible unique. Notre approche spécifique capitalise sur la technologie de chélation des minéraux et permet de combler le fossé entre le potentiel et la performance des cultures, et ainsi permettre de meilleurs rendements sans compromettre l’environnement.
*Veuillez noter que la gamme de nutriments n'est pas disponible dans toutes les régions et que la composition exacte peut varier d'une région à l'autre.
Pour une croissance optimale, les plantes ont besoin de divers nutriments. Une hausse de rendements des cultures se situant entre 40 % et 60 % peut être attribuée à l'utilisation de fertilisants. Par conséquent, un plan de gestion de la fertilité ou des nutriments est essentiel. Les applications de nutriments liquides foliaires donnent des résultats rapides et sont plus faciles à intégrer dans les programmes traditionnels de pulvérisation. Souvent, les résultats sont visibles rapidement car les nutriments sont appliqués directement sur les feuilles, là où les carences dégradent l'aspect et le rendement de la plante. L'absorption rapide à travers les feuilles, combinée avec une application ciblée permettent aux végétaux d'avoir un accès immédiat aux nutriments essentiels. Des tensioactifs naturels agissent sur la tension en surface sur la feuille pour lui permettre d'absorber les minéraux de façon plus efficace.
LIQUI-PLEX est le résultat d’intenses travaux de recherche visant à améliorer la disponibilité et l’absorption des nutriments essentiels au développement et à la croissance des plantes. LIQUI-PLEX est une solution Alltech destinée à prévenir ou corriger rapidement les carences en zinc (Zn), en manganèse (Mn) et en bore (B) :
Le zinc biodisponible est essentiel pour activer certaines enzymes métaboliques, en particulier au cours des premiers stades de croissance. Il est également vital pour le développement des racines, des graines et des fruits.
• Le manganèse biodisponible peut augmenter les rendements, en particulier pour les cultures sensibles au manganèse comme les céréales, la betterave, la pomme de terre, le pois ou le soja. Une carence en manganèse est souvent observée après un stress induit par un herbicide.
• Le bore biodisponible est essentiel à la formation des parois cellulaires et à la croissance des plantes (division cellulaire). Il intervient dans la reproduction (germination et fertilité du pollen) et dans la formation de graines (synthèse et migration des assimilats).
Face aux conditions climatiques et environnementales en constante évolution, fournir à vos cultures un catalyseur de croissance à un moment précis peut faire toute la différence. Formulée pour promouvoir un développement robuste de la plante et destinée à augmenter le potentiel de production, notre gamme Performance comprend des accélérateurs de croissance pour les plantes et des fertilisants. Cette technologie unique découle de la recherche sur les sapogénines naturelles et les acides aminés. Elle est conçue pour rationaliser le métabolisme naturel des plantes et leur fournir les oligo-éléments nécessaires de façon ciblée. Ainsi, les cultures sont plus résistantes aux stress environnementaux. Des plantes en bonne santé sont plus riches en sucres (BRIX) et possèdent une couleur et une taille plus uniformes, améliorant le rendement commercialisable.
Les applications de nutriments liquides foliaires donnent des résultats rapides et sont plus faciles à intégrer dans les programmes classiques de pulvérisation. Les résultats sont visibles rapidement car les nutriments sont appliqués directement sur les feuilles ou les fruits là où les carences dégradent l'aspect et le rendement de la plante. L'absorption rapide à travers les feuilles, combinée avec une application ciblée permettent aux plantes un accès immédiat aux nutriments essentiels. Des tensioactifs naturels agissent sur la tension en surface de la feuille pour lui permettre d'absorber les minéraux de façon plus efficace.
Les micronutriments tels que le cuivre, le fer et le magnésium peuvent contribuer à améliorer la qualité de la culture, la couleur et l'efficacité de la photosynthèse. L'application foliaire des nutriments essentiels peut réduire le temps de réponse et permettre un meilleur contrôle de la disponibilité des nutriments.
CROP-SET est une formulation pour application foliaire de nutriments et facteurs de croissance de haute performance, dérivés de la technologie de fermentation. Spécialement formulée pour la production de fruits et légumes, la technologie CROP-SET fournit à la plante les éléments essentiels pour optimiser sa fonction métabolique ce qui accroît les récoltes de fruits et légumes et améliore leur qualité.
Combinaison unique entre des micronutriments et des produits fermentés, GRAIN-SET a été spécialement conçu pour la production des céréales et des grains. Résultant des progrès scientifiques sur les sapogénines et les acides aminés, GRAIN-SET optimise l’absorption des nutriments, augmente les rendements, la valeur nutritionnelle et la qualité générale des récoltes.
• Optimise l’uniformité des cultures.
• Agmente le poids des grains et par conséquent le rendement.
• Fournit les nutriments indispensables à la photosynthèse et au métabolisme des plantes.
• Réduit les effets liés à des situations de stress pour stimuler une croissance saine des plantes.
• Améliore le remplissage et la qualité des grains.
• Approprié pour une utilisation en agriculture biologique conformément au règlement CE 834/2007
A saúde está no foco das atenções diante do cenário de pandemia que vivemos. Em levantamento divulgado pelo Paraná Pesquisas, em abril deste ano, a saúde pessoal e dos familiares apareceu como a maior preocupação da população brasileira, à frente da situação financeira. Desse modo, oferecer às pessoas alimentos em quantidade e qualidade é essencial em meio à crise sanitária que vivemos, sendo o agricultor o agente fundamental deste processo.
Ao longo dos últimos meses, a atuação do setor agrícola foi desafiadora e memorável. Isso porque não é o produtor rural quem determina sua agenda de trabalho, mas as condições climáticas que estabelecem a hora de plantar e colher. As culturas continuaram no campo e o agricultor se manteve corajoso para seguir suas operações, com todas as adaptações necessárias, para que não trouxesse risco à saúde dos envolvidos no processo e para que a segurança alimentar da população brasileira fosse garantida.
Além das adequações às novas exigências dos órgãos de saúde, o produtor precisou se adaptar às mudanças de canais de distribuição dos alimentos e dos hábitos de consumo. Intermediários da cadeia alimentar, como hotéis e restaurantes, suspenderam ou diminuíram suas operações, já os mercados, empórios e estabelecimentos de frutas e verduras passaram a ser o grande distribuidor de alimentos para a população. As refeições, que passaram a ser feitas em casa, também apresentaram alteração, com cardápios mais simples, elevando o consumo de alguns alimentos em detrimento de outros.
Neste cenário de adaptações, a tecnologia se mostrou essencial no processo. A automação de máquinas e aplicativos têm permitido fazer mais com menos recursos, se tornando essenciais para a manutenção das atividades no campo e para suprir a ausência do contato físico.
Ferramentas inovadoras ligadas ao manejo dos cultivos também ganharam espaço e maior atenção do setor. Soluções naturais que visam aumento da produtividade e da qualidade do que é produzido, de maneira sustentável, contribuem diretamente para atender as exigências do consumidor por um alimento cada vez mais saudável. Produtos seguros, com menos resíduos químicos, e de menor impacto ao meio ambiente tem se tornado obrigação em um cenário em que a preocupação com a saúde é prioridade na vida de todos.
Do lado do produtor coube ter a serenidade de contribuir para que todas essas mudanças acontecessem da maneira mais rápida possível. A agricultura foi forte e estável, continuou atendendo a produção e distribuição de alimentos. Além disso, economicamente é o setor que tem mantido seus números. Diversos segmentos vão retrair e isso vai afetar diretamente o PIB brasileiro, sendo o agronegócio o responsável por dar um fôlego no resultado.
Está claro que a agricultura não é a vilã, mas, sim, a salvaguarda.
Vor einem Jahr hat sich Alltech den Zielen der Vereinten Nationen zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals / SDG), dem United Nations Global Compact sowie den Science Based Targets verpflichtet. Anlässlich des 1. Jahrestages hat Alltech den ersten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht veröffentlicht.
Diese Verpflichtung spiegelt das Engagement von Alltech zum Wohle unseres Planeten wieder, das auf der Unternehmensvision “Planet of Plenty” gegründet ist. Zudem bestätigt dies die Ausrichtung, mit einer wachsenden Zahl von Unternehmen und Organisationen weltweit zu kooperieren, um gemeinsam eine nachhaltige Zukunft zu gestalten.
"Alltech ist ein international tätiges Unternehmen, das mit seinen Lösungskonzepten die gesamte Nahrungskette umfasst. Somit sind wir entscheidend aufgestellt, um auf eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Bereiche positiv einzuwirken, so Dr. Mark Lyons, Präsident und CEO von Alltech. “Der U.N. Global Compact hat uns dabei unterstützt aktuellen Projekten Bedeutung und Orientierung sowie Inspiration für neue Aufgaben zu geben. Der Inhalt unseres Nachhaltigkeitsberichts spiegelt den Aufruf an Kunden und Partner wieder, mit uns gemeinsam neue Technologien zu implementieren, Geschäftsmethoden zu verbessern und Innovationen zu nutzen, um eine Welt vieler Möglichkeiten zu schaffen.”
Am 12. Juli 2019 haben Dr. Mark Lyons und seine Mutter Deirdre Lyons, Mitbegründerin von Alltech, die Unterstützung und Verpflichtung zu neun von 17 der globalen U.N. Nachhaltigkeitszielen mit ihrer Unterschrift bekräftigt. Aufgrund der Ausrichtung des Kerngeschäftes ist Alltech überzeugt im Rahmen dieser neun Zielsetzungen die größte Wirkungen erzielen zu können. Die neun SDG’s umfassen ‘Kein Hunger”, ‘Gesundheit und Wohlergehen’, ‘Hochwertige Bildung’, ‘Geschlechter Gleichheit’, ‘Menschenwürdige Arbeit und Wirtschaftswachstum’, ‘Massnahmen zum Klimaschutz’, ‘Leben unter Wasser’, ‘Leben an Land’ und ‘Partnerschaften zur Erreichung der Ziele’.
Der Alltech Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2020 beschreibt die wichtigsten Aktivitäten, die einen Einfluss auf die ausgewählten Nachhaltigkeitsziele haben. Dies berücksichtigt die Produktbewertung durch Carbon Trust - ein auf Nachhaltigkeit spezialisiertes Beratungsunternehmen, zahlreiche Bildungsinitiativen, die Unterstützung von Frauen in der Landwirtschaft sowie die Anwendung von 40 Jahren Forschungstätigkeit in der Tierernährung zur Verbesserung der Gesundheit des Menschen.
Der Bericht unterstreicht auch das Engagement Alltech’s für den U.N. Global Compact (UNGC). Der UNGC ist die weltweit größte Initiative für eine verantwortungsvolle Unternehmensführung. Die Vision ist es, auf der Basis von zehn allgemein gültigen Prinzipien eine inklusive und nachhaltige Weltwirtschaft zu gestalten. Alltech hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, in einer Weise zu handeln, die der Verantwortung für Menschenrechte, Arbeitsnormen, Umwelt und Klima sowie Korruptionsprävention gerecht wird. Das Unternehmen wird stets die zehn Prinzipien des U.N. Global Compact in seinen Strategien, Richtlinien und Massnahmen miteinbeziehen.
In Verbindung mit der Unterzeichnung des U.N. Global Compact verpflichtet sich Alltech auch der Initiative Science Based Targets. Diese Initiative hilft Unternehmen ihre Treibhausgase zu reduzieren und ihre Fortschritte durch eine transparente Dokumentation und Berichterstattung zu teilen. Für das erste Jahr hat Alltech mit der Erfassung der notwendigen Daten begonnen. Auf Grundlage dieser Daten werden Ziele definiert, um Treibhausgasemissionen zu senken sowie den Energie- und Wasserverbrauch zu reduzieren.
Im Dezember 2019 hatte Alltech die Ehre, den Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen in der Zentrale in Nicholasville, Kentucky, willkommen zu heißen. Die 13 anwesenden Mitglieder vertraten die USA, China, Polen, Peru, Russland, die Dominikanische Republik, Indonesien, Vietnam, Belgien, Kuwait, Äquatorialguinea, Tunesien sowie St. Vincent und die Grenadinen.
Das große Interesse des UN-Sicherheitsrates an der Vision Alltech’s von ‘Planet of Plenty’ und unserer Verpflichtung zu den Zielen für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung (SDGs) bietet die Gelegenheit, Veränderungen in der Agrar- und Lebensmittelindustrie positiv zu beeinflussen.
"Wir freuen uns sehr, diesen Meilenstein auf einer Reise zu erreichen, die 1980 mit der Gründung von Alltech begann", sagte Deirdre Lyons, Mitbegründer und Direktor für Corporate Image und Design bei Alltech. "Unsere zielgerichtete Mission, positiv auf Tiere, Verbraucher und unserer Umwelt Einfluss zu nehmen - und die Welt um uns herum zu verändern - hat einen neuen Rahmen für den Erfolg, der uns in die Zukunft führen wird."
Klicken Sie HIER, um den Nachhaltigkeitsreport 2020 von Alltech zu lesen.
As more and more companies promote anti-meat products, many consumers have been left with misconceptions about the relationship between livestock and climate change. Dr. Frank Mitloehner, professor in the department of animal science at the University of California, Davis, joins us to discuss the myths about livestock’s impact on the environment and why agriculture is not to blame for climate change, but how it is key for a more sustainable future.
The following is an edited transcript of the Ag Future podcast episode with Dr. Frank Mitloehner hosted by Tom Martin. Click below to hear the full audio.
Tom: Welcome to Ag Future, presented by Alltech. Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities facing the global food supply chain and speak with experts working to support a Planet of PlentyTM.
As the scale and impacts of climate change become increasingly alarming, meat is a popular target for action. Many climate activists urge the public to eat less meat to save the environment, and some have called for taxing meat to reduce consumption. Their key claim is that, globally, meat production generates more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation sector. However, this claim is demonstrably wrong, and its persistence has misled people about the links between meat and climate change. These words begin an article by Dr. Frank Mitloehner, a professor in the department of animal science at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Mitloehner specializes in the measurement and mitigation of airborne pollutants from livestock production, including greenhouse gases, such as the methane produced by cattle. Thanks for joining us, Dr. Mitloehner.
Dr. Mitloehner: Well, thanks for having me.
Tom: So, we’ve turned to you to talk about confusion among consumers about the climate impact of the methane produced by cattle. And much of the confusion is due to marketing strategies and tactics by corporations such as Burger King, touting that it's adding lemongrass to cows’ diets to try to cut down on methane emissions, or Starbucks’ decision to stop using dairy products. And I like to begin by asking you to tell us about messaging that has resulted in these misperceptions about the relationship between livestock and climate change.
Dr. Mitloehner: Well, a lot of this originated in a 2006 publication by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and they made the claim that livestock produces more greenhouse gases than transportation. And that is very unfortunate because when such an authority makes such a claim, then it has a lot of credibility. However, I proved to that this assertion was wrong and that they used different methodologies when they looked at the impact of livestock on climate versus those of transportation. And they actually corrected that and said, “Whoops, yeah, we were wrong, and we have gone back to the drawing board, and we now use the same methodology when comparing things.” But the horse had left the barn, and all those critics of animal agriculture glued on to this and gloomed on to this, and damage has been done. And so, now, many corporations are using the climate impact angle to either promote their own products or disparage the use of animal-source foods.
Tom: Advertising and marketing can be very pervasive and very persuasive. How have these messages been damaging for agriculture?
Dr. Mitloehner: Well, when you repeat falsehoods over and over again, then, after a while, it becomes truth, at least in the eyes of many of the consumers, and that’s really unfortunate. And one of the reasons, one of the ingredients in this disaster is that agriculture has responded too late or, if so, with some PR (public relations) campaigns as opposed to a real educational effort in infusing truth into this discussion, because it is just propaganda and nothing more than that.
Tom: Let’s back up just a bit and talk to that consumer, who most likely has heard that cows produce methane, that methane is a significant greenhouse gas, and that beef production contributes to global warming and climate change. And first, if we could ask you, Dr. Mitloehner, to give us a bit of a primer on the chemistry that’s involved here.
Dr. Mitloehner: Yeah. So, methane is CH4, and it’s a gas that is indeed very potent as a greenhouse gas. However, when looking at methane, we have to think about where does the carbon in the methane that we’re also concerned about — where does it come from, and where is it going?
Where it comes from is atmospheric CO2, atmospheric carbon dioxide, which, during photosynthesis, makes it into plants. The plants suck it in, and then those plants convert some of that carbon from atmospheric CO2 into carbohydrates, such as cellulose or starch. Sooner or later, a bovine comes along and eats, and then a portion of that carbohydrate it ingests will become methane. That methane, however, stays in the atmosphere for a relatively short period of time — 10 years — and is then converted back into CO2, which then goes back into the cycle as plant food and so forth. So, it is a cycle called (the) biogenic carbon cycle, which is very different from fossil carbon, let's say, from fossil fuel extraction and use, which is carbon that was in the ground for a very long time (that) has been extracted, burned and, therefore, is now a new additive to our atmosphere.
So, biogenic carbon from livestock versus fossil carbon from fossil fuel use are very different with respect to how they contribute to actual warming. Just to give you one idea here — because people are exaggerating the impact of livestock — in the United States, all beef production contributes to about 3% of all greenhouse gases (and) all dairy production to about 2% of all greenhouse gases. Okay? So, this is in the United States. Globally, all beef contributes to 6% of all global greenhouse gases and the dairy industry to 3% of all global greenhouse gases, just to give you a general idea. And one last thing: I just told you beef contributes to 3% in the United States. Contrast that to the fossil fuel sector contributing to 80% of all greenhouse gases. I view this campaign against animal agriculture as a smokescreen by those who are really mega-producers of pollution.
Tom: Okay. Let's dig into some of the discrepancies. You published a white paper; it’s titled, “Livestock's Contributions to Climate Change: Facts and Fiction.” And in this paper, you cite a claim that U.S. livestock greenhouse emissions from cows, pigs, sheep and chickens are comparable to all transportation sources. You found a very different picture. Tell us about that.
Dr. Mitloehner: Yes. So, the different picture is that those people who painted that picture comparing livestock to transportation used one methodology to look at the impact of livestock on climate and a different methodology to look at the impact of transportation on climate. Let me explain. For livestock, they use what's called a lifecycle assessment, in which you look at all components of producing, let’s say, a pound of beef or a gallon of milk on climate, including the soil where the plants grow. The plants themselves that are then ingested by animals, the animals then produce some greenhouse gases themselves during enteric fermentation, meaning they are belching it out or their manure produces some. And then, sooner or later, the product makes it from the farm to the distribution center, from the distribution center to the processing center, and so on. Eventually, it ends up in a commercial restaurant or in your kitchen at home. A lifecycle assessment looks at the impact all the way from cradle to grave, meaning from the field to the fork. And that's the way it should be done. And the organization that made this comparison did that for livestock and they did it well. But when they compared livestock to transportation, they made a big mistake: namely that, on the transportation side, they didn't do a lifecycle assessment, but they only looked at direct emissions coming out of the tailpipe of vehicles — not the production of cars, trucks, trains, planes, ships, streets, harbors, airports and so forth. By doing so, they truly compared apples to oranges, using one methodology for the one and another methodology for the other. And as I said, they later corrected that comparison.
Tom: So, when we’re talking about climate change, why is it important to actually avoid comparing livestock emissions with those from other main sources of greenhouse gases?
Dr. Mitloehner: Well, first of all, I think agriculture appreciates its contribution to a warming climate. We are contributing greenhouse gases, and we are actively involved in reducing those. So, that's just a little prelude. But comparing livestock to, let’s say, transportation, or power production and use, or the cement industry or so on is a dangerous exercise. And the reason is that the main greenhouse gas from livestock is methane, and methane undergoes cyclical conversion into CO2. So, it is atmospheric CO2 going into plants, going into the animal, and then that goes back into the atmosphere as CO2 again. So, this is a relatively short life cycle. As long as you don't increase livestock herds, as long as you keep them constant, you're not adding new additional carbon to the atmosphere. Okay? This is really important. As long as you do not increase livestock herds, you're not adding new additional carbon to the atmosphere.
But every time you use fossil fuel, you extract carbon from the ground in the form of oil, coal and gas. You are burning it, and you're converting that into CO2, and that CO2 has a lifespan of 1,000 years. Meaning every time you use fossil fuel, let's say, by driving a car, you are adding new greenhouse gases to the existing stock that's already there. So, livestock is cyclical and its impact is relatively short-lived versus fossil fuels, (which) are not cyclical. That's a one-way street, from the ground into the air, and its impacts are long-lived.
Tom: You argue that, in fact, the U.S. livestock sector has shown considerable progress during the last half-century in reducing its environmental footprint. Tell us about that.
Dr. Mitloehner: Well, yeah. There's no doubt about that. So, for example, on the dairy side, back mid-last century, 1950, we had 25 million dairy cows in the United States. Twenty-five. Today, we have 9 million dairy cows. So, a large reduction of cows. But with this much smaller herd today, we are producing 60% more milk. Sixty. Sixty percent more milk with much fewer cows. And that equates to a two-thirds reduction of greenhouse gases from the dairy sector. On the beef side, we had 100 and — so, in 1970, we had 140 million beef cattle. Today, we have a little over 90. So, much fewer beef cattle. Fifty million fewer. But even though we have 50 million fewer cattle, we're producing the same amount of beef. The progress we have seen in this country is remarkable. We are producing 18% of all beef globally with 8% percent of all cattle. That is remarkable.
Tom: It is truly a model of efficiency. And is that, indeed, what has brought this about: science-driven efficiency?
Dr. Mitloehner: Partly. I think there are four main tools that the animal agriculture industries have used. One is research and development in the area of genetics, using better genetic material for both plants and animals. The second one is that we have improved reproductive efficiencies in livestock. The third one is that we have installed a veterinary system that can both prevent and/or treat diseases. And last, but not least, we have developed a feed system, a nutrition system, that optimizes nutrient use for livestock and poultry. And the combination of these four — of genetics, of reproduction efficiencies, and improvements to the veterinary system and the nutrition system — the combination of those four has allowed us to shrink our herds to historic lows (while) producing more than we ever have before.
Tom: What would you say needs to be improved right now? How can we get accurate and fair emissions assessments so that we're on the right path to solutions?
Dr. Mitloehner: Well, that’s a really important question, and if you ask a scientist what needs to be done, a scientist will tell you, “Listen, you know, there is not enough funding in this field.” And I'm not different. I’ll tell you it is dismally small, what the public sector pays to get information on the impact of our food supply chain. There hardly is any funding, and there's very little funding in the private industry sector as well. And the reason why that matters is because of the lack of funding, most scientists just keep the fingers on their hands off that type of research when, indeed, it's urgently needed and constantly in the media. I would hope that particularly the public sector, federal and state agencies, would support investigation into the true impacts of livestock and into, also, research that further reduces those impacts.
Tom: Earlier, you mentioned the FAO, the U.N.'s food and agricultural organization. The FAO has formed an international partnership project to develop and adopt a gold standard of lifecycle assessment methodology for each livestock species in the feed sector, and that’s been a few years now. Where does that stand today, and is it, in your opinion, making a difference in the public's understanding of the role of livestock in the production of greenhouse gases?
Dr. Mitloehner: Yeah. So, this project is referred to as LEAPP, and that stands for Livestock Environmental Assessment Performance Partnership. And this partnership is comprised of three sectors: governments, on the one hand, and then NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and the industry sector. So, that’s all livestock, poultry, feed and so on. And that’s under the auspices of the FAO, and I was actually the first chairman of this committee. And we developed many guidelines on how to do a proper lifecycle assessment for livestock, for feed — not just for greenhouse gases, but also for nutrients, for biodiversity, for water use and so forth. In this context, we have developed, I would say, at least one dozen guidelines that are now considered the global gold standard for LCA, for lifecycle assessment. And I think that, as a result of that, accurate quantification has really taken off.
It's really important that the public understands that nobody is sitting on their hands — that there are active measures (being) taken to find ways to accurately quantify and further mitigate emissions from animal agriculture, from agricultural overall. The agricultural sector is very involved but, unfortunately, (is) oftentimes behind the curve in communicating this.
Tom: In your white paper, you make note that all regions have unique demands and abilities and, thus, require regional solutions. So, taking the United States as a as a model, as a microcosm of the globe, is U.S. agriculture presently structured in a way that would accommodate a more regional approach, or does this imply the need for a restructuring and better coordination?
Dr. Mitloehner: Yeah. So, the United States is indeed the most efficient of all agricultural systems in the world. I don't think there's much debate about that, but that's not to say that what we do here and how we produce, for example, animal-source foods in the United States could be a model for all of the rest of the world. We could be a model for much of the developed world, but not for much of the developing world, where efficiencies, first of all, (in) livestock production are much lower, but that's largely a result of a lack in infrastructure. So, for example, I told you already that we have 9 million dairy cows here in the United States. In India, they have 300 million dairy animals, both cows and buffalo. And it is a religious belief that eating bovines is a sin. So, they don't eat cattle, but they have a lot of them. So, we're not proposing or suggesting that they should change their religious belief system, but we are suggesting that if they want to meet their nutritional needs and use cattle to do so — for example, (via) dairy products from cattle — then they could do the same that they do currently with one-quarter of the current cattle population, because having such massive number of animals does have a considerable environmental footprint, one that can be strongly reduced. And we here in the United States — scientists, practitioners and so on — can assist other people throughout the world, other nations throughout the world, (to) become more efficient. For example, we can assist them in building a veterinary system, or we can assist them in building a nutrition sector or a genetics sector that's really called for, and it needs to be done in a very sensitive way, where we work with these different places to develop what's right for their respective region.
Tom: The challenge, Dr. Mitloehner, of supplying food to a drastically growing human population is foremost on the minds of researchers and organizations concerned with nutrition. A Planet of Plenty, (for) example, is the aspirational goal of Alltech. Do you believe such a goal can be achieved — and, if so, sustained?
Dr. Mitloehner: Yeah. That is a very important question. You know, I just turned 50. And when I was a little boy, we had about 3 billion people in the world. Three billion. Today, we have 7.6 (billion). By the time I'm an old man, we’ll have 9.5 billion people. In other words, we will triple human population throughout our lifetimes. And at the same time, we don't really triple natural resources to feed those people. In other words, we have to. It is imperative that we do drastically increase production of food for a wildly growing human population, because if we don't, we'll have some big problems on our hands.
Can it be done? Can we produce more with similar inputs as we do today? The answer, in my mind, is yes. We have shown it, for example, here in the United States over the last 60 years. We have kept the inputs for animal agriculture constant, but we have tripled the outputs. Tripled the outputs. I mean, that is just an unbelievable success story. And, (as) I told you, we cannot transfer the U.S. model to the rest of the world, but we can assist others in drastically improving. For example, a country like China, which produces half of the world's pigs — 1 billion pigs per year — has a pre-weaning mortality (rate) of 40%. They are losing 400 million pigs every year (during) pre-weaning, and that is just a travesty and something that's totally unnecessary. We can help the Chinese. We can help the rest of the world do much better without really sucking up a lot (of) additional resources. We can do more with less, and that's at the core of sustainability.
Tom: Dr. Frank Mitloehner, professor in the department of animal science at the University of California, Davis. And we thank you so much for joining us.
Dr. Mitloehner: Well, thank you so much for having me. Appreciate it.
Tom: This is been Ag Future, presented by Alltech. Thank you for joining us. Be sure to subscribe to Ag Future wherever you listen to podcasts.
Since 1950, the United States has reduced its dairy cows from 25 million to 9 million, but is now producing 60% more milk.
Pesquisa realizada em Bento Gonçalves (RS) demonstrou melhoria de índices de antocianinas e polifenóis na fruta, substâncias altamente benéficas para a saúde humana.
O manejo adequado no cultivo da uva pode impactar diretamente no aumento do valor nutricional das frutas para o consumidor. É o que mostra estudo realizado durante a última safra na cidade de Bento Gonçalves (RS), em parceria entre a Embrapa Uva e Vinho e a Alltech Crop Science. Entre os resultados apresentados, parreiras que receberam suplementação com soluções naturais à base de potássio e aminoácidos tiveram concentração de polifenóis 30,7% superior a de plantas não tratadas, enquanto a presença de antocianinas foi 44% maior.
Ambas as substâncias são altamente antioxidantes, trazendo melhorias para a saúde cardiovascular, como explica a nutricionista clínica funcional Aline Andretta Levis. “Os polifenóis, entre eles as antocianinas, são encontrados principalmente na casca das uvas, mas também nas folhas das videiras e nas sementes. Derivados dessa fruta, como vinhos, tem efeito na diminuição do colesterol ruim e aumento do colesterol bom, relaxamento dos vasos sanguíneos e consequente diminuição da incidência de doenças do coração. Além disso, suas substâncias antioxidantes como o resveratrol neutralizam radicais livres no organismo, e levam ao aumento da longevidade”, afirma Andretta Levis.
Como ressalta o engenheiro agrônomo Marcos Revoredo, gerente técnico especializado em hortifrúti da Alltech Crop Science, a quantidade de nutrientes presentes nas frutas vai depender diretamente do manejo realizado pelo produtor durante o cultivo. “Das estruturas de reservas das videiras, como as folhas e ramos, para os cachos de uvas, serão transferidos os açúcares, aminoácidos e nutrientes aplicados durante o cultivo para a formação desses compostos orgânicos benéficos. Além disso, os polifenóis também contribuem para características da própria uva, como sabor e cor. Quanto melhor o processo de nutrição das plantas, além de tempo adequado de desenvolvimento e maturação, maiores serão os benefícios para o produtor e o consumidor”.
Ainda segundo Revoredo, o uso de soluções naturais à base de potássio e aminoácidos durante o cultivo impacta diretamente na saúde e desenvolvimento da planta. Entre os principais benefícios, estão a melhor padronização e maturação dos cachos de uva, além do desenvolvimento natural da resistência das plantas a estresses. “Esse manejo nutricional vai ajudar as plantas a minimizar os efeitos dos fatores estressantes, e estimular de maneira mais intensa e equilibrada o transporte de fotoassimilados e nutrientes armazenados nas folhas e ramos para os cachos de uva. Assim, teremos um incremento também no enchimento dos frutos, período no qual a planta vai ter uma demanda maior por essa reserva nutricional”, afirma.
Além disso, as soluções ainda terão impacto na qualidade dos sucos e de vinhos, como mostrado no estudo. Uvas que receberam aplicações de aminoácidos e potássio tiveram um acréscimo de 3,4% na concentração de açúcares. “Essa melhora é decisiva para a boa qualidade da fruta. Tanto para as uvas de mesa quanto para as destinadas à fabricação de vinhos e sucos, o sabor é um dos principais aspectos finais. Quanto maior a concentração de açúcares, uniformidade de cor e tamanho das uvas, por exemplo, melhor será o rendimento para o produtor”, acrescenta Revoredo.
Como forma de alcançar estes benefícios nutricionais e produtivos, o gerente técnico indica o uso do produto Bulk, desenvolvido pela Alltech Crop Science. O fertilizante, formulado à base de potássio e aminoácidos, é recomendado para culturas que exijam uma boa finalização dos frutos, como no caso da uva. “Ele será aplicado nos períodos de enchimento e início da maturação das bagas das uvas, para que tenhamos melhor peso e padronização de tamanho e cor das uvas, além do aumento da concentração de açúcares”, finaliza.
A Alltech Crop Science, divisão agrícola da Alltech Inc., desenvolve soluções naturais para os desafios da agricultura nos principais mercados do mundo. Por meio de produtos com alto valor agregado e tecnologia exclusiva nas linhas de fertilizantes sólidos, nutrição, solo, proteção e performance, auxiliando na sustentabilidade e lucratividade ao produtor rural. A Alltech Crop Science do Brasil é formada pela maior fábrica de leveduras do mundo, localizada em São Pedro do Ivaí (PR), pela sede em Maringá (PR) e pela unidade em Uberlândia (MG).
Foto: Alltech Crop Science
At grundlægge Alltech tilbage i 1980 var bare begyndelsen af en vision for Alltechs stiftere, Dr. Pearse og Mrs. Deirdre Lyons. De ønskede at opbygge en virksomhed, men denne forretning skulle også have en positiv indflydelse på planeten langt ind i fremtiden. I 1989, gik Dr. Lyons på talerstolen ved det årlige Symposium og delte vores virksomheds forpligtelser til et vejledningsprincip der gik under navnet ”ACE”, hvor han understregede vigtigheden i at levere fordele til både dyr, forbrugere og miljøet.
I dag fremhæver vi vores gundlæggende ACE princip gennem vores vision om en Planet of Plenty™. Vi ser en verden med overflod, muliggjort af nye teknologier og forvaltningspraksis og verdens mest uvurderlige ressource – menneskelig opfindsomhed.
Alltech har taget et betydeligt skridt imod sine verdensmål og vision for en Planet of Plenty™. Dr. Mark Lyons, CEO i Alltech, underskrev et brev til FN’s Generalsekretær, hvor Alltech forpligter sig til FN Global Compacts fokus på positive forbedringer indenfor menneskerettigheder, arbejde, miljøet og anti-korruption.
Ligeledes har Alltech forpligtet sig til 9 af FN’s 17 verdensmål (Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)). I 2015 vedtog alle De Forenede Nationers medlemslande verdensmålene, som er en presserende opfordring til handling fra alle lande. Hver SDG har specifikke, handlingsbare mål, der bidrager til det overordnede mål.
FN Global Compact er verdens største bæredygtighedsinitiativ, der gør det muligt for FN at samarbejde med virksomheder for at opfylde de 17 verdensmål. De virksomheder der tilmelder sig Global Compact bliver bedt om at udvælge de mål, der er på linje med deres kerneforretning og derfor mulige at realisere.
"Ved at anvende nye teknologier, forbedre forretningspraksis og imødekomme innovation, kan landbrugs- og fødevaresektoren støtte op om en Planet of Plenty™,” sagde Dr. Lyons, der var mødt op sammen med Mrs. Deirdre Lyons, medstifter af Alltech, samt kollegaer fra det globale hovedkontor. ” I dag tilslutter vi os det voksende antal organisationer rundt om i verden, der alle er forenet i et passioneret engagement med at opbygge en mere bæredygtig fremtid”
Vi valgte ni af FN's verdensmål, der er direkte i overensstemmelse med vores kernevirksomhed og vores vision for en Planet of Plenty™:
Alltechs engagement blev accepteret af FN's Global Compact, og virksomheden blev officielt tilsluttet et netværk af over 9500 virksomheder og 3000 ikke-erhvervsmæssige deltagere, der forpligtede sig til at opbygge en bæredygtig fremtid.
