The gut serves many functions that help ensure optimal animal performance, health and immunity. A healthy digestive system is possibly the most vital function of the gut, as the digestive tract facilitates the important process of nutrient breakdown and absorption. Interactions between microorganisms from the environment and those within the gut of the animal can potentially lead to an imbalance in the fish gut microbiome — which, in turn, can negatively impact the normal functioning of the digestive system of the fish.

In addition to facilitating digestion, the gut also serves as a first line of defense against harmful disease. Often, farmed fish tend to be at greater risk for disease than terrestrial species due to the aqueous nature of their habitat, where they are subjected to a wider range of environmental conditions and microorganisms that offer their own unique challenges. Prioritizing aquaculture management practices that focus on fostering a healthy gut will help ensure the production of fish that are robust and high-performing.  

Barrier protection and gut wall integrity

The mucosal layer

One of the most common skin conditions amongst humans is eczema or dermatitis. While this issue can be genetic, it is also often triggered when the moisture barrier of a person’s skin is damaged or disrupted due to environmental or dietary factors. Once damaged, the moisture barrier can be very difficult to repair, and as a result, the affected person will experience dryness, itching, redness, swelling, pain and discomfort.

Now, think of fish. The aquatic equivalent of a human’s moisture barrier is the fish’s mucosal coating, which is a layer of mucus covering their skin, gills and guts. This layer plays a primary role in the innate immune response that helps protect animals from disease. If the mucosal layer is not kept intact, opportunistic pathogens can gain access to the animal and disease outbreaks can occur. Poor nutrition, low-quality water and exposure to stress can all lead to the breakdown of the mucosal layer.

Microbial diversity

As previously stated, upsetting the balance of a fish’s microbiome can result in enteritis, poor digestion, and reduced feed intake and conversion. An increased amount and diversity of good bacteria in the gut can enhance the innate immunity of the fish, helping improve performance and supporting an efficient digestive system. Increasing microbial diversity is also well-documented as being associated with an increased resistance to pathogen colonization. Research has shown that Alltech's range of gut health solutions have the ability to influence microbial diversity and promote bacteria phylum that help balance intestinal pH, improve nutrient digestibility and aid in carbohydrate and protein fermentation. The decrease in the dominance of one bacterial group and restoration of the microbial balance is key for optimal aquatic gut health.

Ways to support a healthy gut

Applying targeted nutrition

In light of modern realities like supply-chain disruptions, the unavailability of raw materials and increasing consumer demand for sustainable practices, fish farmers are facing more challenges than ever before when it comes to feeding and nutrition. In the gut, anti-nutritional factors associated with some plant-based raw materials can disrupt the natural microbiome, leading to inflammation and enteritis and potentially resulting in cell death at the microvilli level. This turn of events disrupts mucosal expression, thereby damaging the integrity of the gut. The recent decrease in the use of marine ingredients and increase in the prevalence of and preference for plant-based materials demands a deeper understanding of the nutrient requirements of commercially cultured fish. Offering specialized nutrition can serve as an additional defensive strategy against disease and can help improve overall gut health.  

Alltech’s gut health program is built on glycomic research and focuses on yeast-based structures and their prebiotic interactions. These products are proven to be an essential tool in the maintenance of the structural integrity of the gut and in promoting gut health and immunological functions. Aquate® is a gut health solution from Alltech for aquatic species that combines two of their other proven products: Actigen® and Bio-Mos®. In aquaculture, the mode of action and benefits provided by these solutions have been extensively documented via both scientific research and on-farm applications. Including Aquate technologies in the diet of fish can lead to significant improvements in the gut structure, resulting in an increased growth rate and FCR and reduced mortality rates.

Minimizing environmental stressors

Acute and chronic stress brought on by environmental factors usually manifests as marked structural changes in the gut. Stress impacts tissues that are in direct contact with their environment and requires a cascade of defense responses from the animal, which could lead to depletion of micro-nutrient reserves and ultimately cause tissue damage. This turn of events affects the integrity of the skin, gills and guts of the fish, and these issues are especially relevant for fish farmed in marine settings, as these species must ingest large volumes of the surrounding water to maintain an osmotic balance with their environment. Therefore, ensuring optimal water quality is imperative to maintaining a healthy fish gut.

There are many factors to consider when attempting to optimize water quality. For instance, fish cannot regulate their own body temperature, and different species each have an optimal temperature range in which they are most comfortable. As such, water temperature plays a key role in important processes like feed intake, digestion, growth, and responses to stress and infection. Other factors that impact water quality and should be continuously monitored include:

• Dissolved oxygen: Fish take in dissolved oxygen from the water through their gills. Dissolved oxygen is vital for the health, welfare and performance of aquatic animals. As a rule, the oxygen saturation of the water should be kept as high as possible within a culture facility. If it falls below 80%, saturation stress conditions can set in.
• Acidity and alkalinity (pH): CO₂ from fish excretion in the culture system leads to the formation of a weak acid and can impact the pH level of the water. The acceptable pH range for most species is normally between 6.5 and 7.5, although some species do well at pH levels as low as 5.5.
• Gas bubble trauma: This occurs when the blood of the fish becomes supersaturated with gas (i.e., nitrogen). This issue is often correlated with the system design. As such, it is important to measure the total gas pressure (TGP) of the water. If the value is too high, degassing the water is essential. 

Other things to monitor and test for when assessing water conditions include nitrite and nitrate, CO₂ and ammonia (NH₃) levels, particularly in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS). The presence of these elements in sub-optimal amounts can create conditions that are detrimental to the health of fish stocks. 

Keeping the balance

Ensuring optimal health in aquaculture production starts from within; however, we must remember that what is happening on the inside is often a reflection of what is going on outside, and vice versa. Therefore, the key to a healthy gut is maintaining balance. This means fostering a healthy fish microbiome by maintaining gut integrity and structure. It also means keeping a balance between the animal’s environment and nutrition and the challenges associated with the pathogens that may be present in their environment.

If you want to learn more about the importance of gut health in aquatic species, you may be interested in reading “Inside/Out: The Essential Guide to the Skin, Gills and Guts of Fish,” written by John Sweetman, international project manager for aquaculture at Alltech, and Gijs Rutjes, technical support manager at Alltech Coppens. “Inside/Out” is an educational tool for fish farmers, feed millers and anyone interested in aquaculture. The book is designed to offer user-friendly insights into how these tissues work, allowing producers to make informed decisions that will encourage optimal performance in their fish.

The presence of mycotoxins in your pig herd’s feed regimen may result in unintended consequences. These toxic substances, produced by the fungi in feedstuffs, not only have the power to negatively influence growth and performance but can also suppress long-term reproductive performance. These symptoms are not the only issues that producers may see manifest in their animals as a result of a mycotoxin problem; feed refusals, swollen vulvas in gilts and sows, and the reduced effectiveness of treatments and vaccines can also become a threat to any operation.

The Alltech 2022 U.S. Harvest Analysis is an extensive analysis of the mycotoxin risk across the country, as assessed by Alltech’s in-house mycotoxin expert, Dr. Max Hawkins. This report utilizes samples collected from throughout the country that have been analyzed through Alltech’s trusted 37+® mycotoxin analysis.

Outlined below are the key takeaways from the 2022 U.S. Harvest Analysis, as well as several proactive tips that can help pig producers mitigate their mycotoxin risk.

Here are five insights into the mycotoxin risk for the 2022 corn crop:

1. Responses to changing weather conditions

The 2022 growing season brought with it a 180-degree difference in the challenges producers faced in various regions. Drought conditions in the midwestern United States had a significant impact on corn health and yield across the western corn belt. More severe drought conditions were detected by the drought monitor in the West, and these conditions extended eastward into Illinois, Indiana and part of Ohio. Rains in late July and August eased the drought conditions east of the Mississippi River, but this rainfall — on top of already-drought-stressed corn — spurred the growth of Fusarium molds, producing a variety of type-B trichothecenes, fumonisin and zearalenone.

2. Average mycotoxin samples found

• 119 samples had an average of 6.7 mycotoxins per sample
• 98% of the samples contained two or more mycotoxins
• All samples contained between one and 12 mycotoxins each

Fusarium-produced mycotoxins were the most frequently occurring due to their preference for moist environments and moderate temperatures. The mycotoxins found most commonly in the samples included:

• Emerging mycotoxins (97.48%)
• Fusaric acid (83%)
• Type-B trichothecenes (68%)
• Fumonisin (65%)
• Zearalenone (35%)

3. Areas of greatest risk

The mycotoxins produced by molds that represented the greatest risk were type-B trichothecenes, also known as the DON family, and zearalenone. Type-B trichothecenes can negatively impact feed intake, digestion, average daily gains, feed efficiency, gut wall integrity, liver function and immune system responses. Zearalenone can act synergistically with DON to magnify the risks for reproduction, the number of pigs born, the return to estrus and conception rates. Even when the presence of these mycotoxins is lowered by the corn inclusion rate, they still represent a high risk in the finished feed.

4. Geographical location and storage differences

When it comes to Fusarium mycotoxins, the risk level tends to increase as we move from West to East. However, one factor that could increase the risk in the West is storage. Corn needs to be dried to a moisture level of 14% or less to be safely stored for extended periods of time. Across the Midwest, winter weather led to periods of cold temperatures, but in general, temperatures were above what is generally considered normal. These warmer temperatures — along with grain that was inadequately dried or left exposed to moisture — increase the likelihood of mold production and, as a result, mycotoxin growth.

5. Impact on the swine industry

The 2022 corn crop does have ranging levels of risk depending on the location of the pigs and production settings nationwide. Differing storage types could provide an environment in which the risk at harvest could increase over time. This necessitates the need for the corn to be analyzed to determine its mycotoxin levels and risk as we move through the winter and spring of 2023.

Proactive tips to help pig producers mitigate their mycotoxin risk

Make sure your feed mill is checked often.

When it comes to mycotoxins in pig feed, conducting proper testing allows for any potential risks to be managed. Dr. Hawkins shared that utilizing a mycotoxin testing program that is based on an instrument — such as HPLC MS/MS — will provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive analysis available.

Furthermore, starting the analysis of your raw materials as close to harvest as possible will ensure that you have enough time to develop an all-encompassing risk management and mitigation plan. If this analysis is properly scheduled, then your operation will have a good understanding of the risk posed by the feedstuffs being provided to your pigs prior to the animals actually receiving it.

“After utilizing comprehensive testing at harvest, you may then set up a quick analysis that can be used at your farm or mill,” said Dr. Hawkins in the U.S. Harvest Analysis webinar. “We would also suggest that you do more testing at various times throughout the year to ensure that your quick-test protocol for your grain or pig feed is still a solid plan for the production system.”

Keep feed bins dry.

Make sure your feed bins are closed and that there are no potential points of entry where moisture could get into the feedstuffs at the top of the silos.

In the summer months, feed tanks or feed bins can get very hot and are prone to sweating. Ensure that feed gets moving through the tanks or bins quickly. If there is feed leftover, transfer it to another barn.

Pay attention to feed intake.

Pigs are especially sensitive to DON; it’s like they can sense or smell it. Therefore, they tend not to eat contaminated feed. Abstaining from eating can be a classic sign that mycotoxins are present.

Instituting a proper mycotoxin management strategy will help reduce the risk of low performance in your herd. With a plan in place for mitigating mycotoxins on your operation, the chances that your pig herd will perform well in 2023 increase exponentially. 

Providing the proper diet is essential for the health, vitality and well-being of our pets, so we must ensure that, through the pet food we feed them, our pets are receiving all the nutrients they need to live a healthy and happy life.

The growing market demand for natural, functional, holistic and sustainable products has put pressure on the industry to develop pet foods that meet certain expectations. In the United States — the world's largest pet food market — natural ingredients are now widely used and are valued primarily by consumers for their contributions to the health and wellness of pets. The demand for and interest in natural ingredients continues to grow, and more research is becoming available that supports its inclusion in pet foods. We're hearing a lot about nutrigenomics and other “-omics” technologies, which contribute to the development of personalized nutrition; time will tell whether this trend will transition from food for humans to pet foods as well.

How does a well-fed microbiota impact the animal?

The microbiome is currently a topic of great interest in research. All living organisms — including humans and pets — have different microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa) that live, for example, on their skin or inside their bodies.

These microorganisms live together as communities, and the collection of their genomes is known as the microbiome. Microbiome communities are unique to certain habitats, such as the skin, lungs and gut, to name a few, and can prove crucial to the health of pets' immune systems.

Pet nutrition and diets are deeply related to the composition and diversity of the microbiome — which, in turn, plays an important role in the proper functioning of the digestive and immune systems of dogs and cats, thereby ultimately affecting their overall health and well-being.

The microbiome and microbiota: What's the difference?

The gastrointestinal tract is made up of trillions of microorganisms, which are known collectively as microbiota. Microbiota, or intestinal flora, constitute an ecological colony of beneficial microorganisms that reside in the digestive systems of both humans and pets. These microorganisms are responsible for many vital functions, such as the production of certain neurons in the adult brain, the functioning of the immune system, hormonal regulation, energy metabolism and the maintenance of body weight. These microorganisms, together with their genetic material or genome, create a microecosystem called the microbiome.

While it is true that, during the pandemic, the general public’s interest in digestive health increased, the scientific community has been paying close attention to this area for several years — and, above all, to the intestinal microbiota. This is due to the role it plays in various metabolic functions, including but not limited to immune system maturation, appetite control and energy metabolism. There is already a plethora of research in which it is evident that alterations to the intestinal microbiota are associated with several chronic ailments derived from inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and diabetes, to mention just a few.

How can we feed the microbiome?

The gastrointestinal microbiome of cats and dogs is increasingly recognized as a metabolically active organ that is undoubtedly linked to their overall health.

Feed serves as a substrate for the microbiome of pets, as it plays an important role in defining the composition and metabolism of the microbiome. In turn, the microbiome facilitates the digestion of host nutrients and the production of postbiotics, which are compounds or metabolites derived from bacteria and which can influence the health of our pets.

To maintain the health of our pets, it is important to take care of both their intestinal flora and their immune systems. For this, you need to "feed" the bacteria with prebiotics and strengthen them with probiotics; the former feed the beneficial bacteria of the gut, while the latter add living organisms to the gut environment that help maintain a diverse and beneficial bacterial population.

Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics for pets: What's the difference?

People and pet parents play a role in shaping our microbiomes and those of our pets through the foods we choose. Pet food in particular is formulated to contain the typical nutritional blocks of carbohydrates, proteins and fats — but increasingly, it also includes ingredients that target the microbiome, such as prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.

Each of these compounds, as well as their relative proportions in pet food, can affect the composition of the microbiome or its functions.

Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary components may influence not only gastrointestinal diseases but also allergies, oral health, weight management, diabetes and kidney disease, due to changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome.

Scientific literature is abundant on how these prebiotic compounds work and benefit the host — which they do by blocking receptor sites used by pathogens. Such prebiotic compounds also serve as "food" that allows beneficial bacteria to produce metabolites to facilitate nutrient digestion and the host’s immune response. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when provided in adequate amounts in the diet, can improve the gut microbial balance.

In recent years, the term “postbiotic” has been highlighted by both the scientific community and the popular press due to its association with physiological and metabolic benefits in human health. Postbiotics are not necessarily new but are, rather, a different way of defining the beneficial metabolites or metabolic byproducts generated by the commensal microflora present in the digestive tract, which can directly influence the host’s health. Some examples of beneficial metabolites or metabolic byproducts are enzymes, peptides, organic acids, bacteriocins, flavonoids and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

The SCFAs butyrate, propionate and acetate are examples of postbiotics. They are products of probiotic degradation and offer a variety of health benefits. For instance, they provide a source of energy, regulate potential anti-cancer activity, improve the intestinal barrier, signal satiety by positively impacting glucose and energy homeostasis, and promote the growth of other bacteria through bacterial cross-feeding. Postbiotics lower the luminal pH and create a less favorable environment for pathogenic species.

What solutions does Alltech offer for the pet market?

At Alltech, we are dedicated to optimizing animal health and performance through nutrition. Our line of cutting-edge ingredients has been designed to meet the needs of pets at all stages of life. We offer a wide variety of analysis, testing and support tools, enabling pet food manufacturers to achieve better efficiency, productivity and success. By working with nutritionists and product developers globally, we strive to meet the growing and changing nutritional needs of today's companion animals. With support services ranging from the technical to the practical, we help pet food companies move into the future by producing safe, sustainable and trackable quality pet food that exceeds consumer expectations.

One of our newest technologies, NVGEN PACK, was developed through nutrigenomics. NVGEN PACK is a leading fermentation technology whose function is to feed the microbiome. This solution provides important bioactive compounds derived from specific fractions of yeast cells that further support the microbiome and the overall health of dogs and cats.

NVGEN PACK is a functional solution that works to nourish beneficial intestinal bacteria and encourage them to naturally produce the postbiotics necessary for the proper functioning and complete optimization of the intestinal function of dogs and cats.

New technologies available to pet food manufacturers

Biotic nutrition can provide support in various food-processing scenarios. The controlled administration of microbial metabolites can dramatically influence gene expression and physiological responses.

Immunity, microbiome and digestive health go hand in hand. A healthy microbiome is key to digestive health and immunity, and a healthy microbiome plays a role in maintaining health and potentially affects disease development, weight management and behavior. Every day, we learn more about the various ways that the microbiome can influence our pets' lives.

Continuing to gain a better understanding of the functions of these specific nutritional compounds will help the pet food industry develop strategies that will allow them to continue to improve pet food and, as a result, the well-being of pets.

Recommendations for pet food manufacturers and buyers

Store shelves are increasingly filled with new formulas and trend diets, and the number of choices can be overwhelming. As such, consumers must choose formulas that are time- and field-tested to make a positive difference in the health of their pets.

Even the smallest ingredients can have the greatest impact on the gut health of companion animals. From weight to longevity to cognitive ability, the gut microbiome affects nearly every aspect of a pet's health and well-being. Promoting beneficial bacteria while limiting pathogenic bacteria will help balance the microbiome for nutrient digestibility, immunity and overall well-being.

A confinement area is meant to be your horse's outdoor living quarters. It’s important to design this area so it provides opportunities for both physical and mental stimulation for your horse — but also so it’s mud-free and chore-efficient for you, which is especially important as we head into winter, with all its chore-efficiency challenges.

One of the key aspects of improving pasture production and overall equine management is the time when you take your horses off your pasture. In the winter, keeping horses off saturated, rain-soaked soils and dormant or frozen pasture plants is critical for pasture management and will help you maintain a healthy stand of grass next summer. Soggy soils or dormant grass plants simply cannot survive continuous grazing and trampling in the winter months, so they die out, giving weeds — and dust, in bare spots — the chance to take their place next summer. 

You can greatly improve the health and productivity of your pastures by keeping your horse in a confinement area during the pasture’s dormant winter months. Additionally, you can utilize this area during the summer to keep your pastures from becoming overgrazed.

Here are some points to consider when creating a chore-efficient, mud-free confinement area:

• The amount of land you have available, the number of horses you have, their ages and temperaments, and the amount of regular exercise they receive should all play a role in determining the size of your confinement area.
• The size of the area can vary from a place where they can move around a bit (e.g., 16’ x 16’) to a long, narrow enclosure where a horse can run or play in its paddock. For that setup, you might create an area 20 or 30 feet wide and 100 feet in length. 
• Locate this area on higher ground for better drainage and away from creeks, wetlands or other bodies of water to prevent any polluted runoff (from manure, urine or mud) from reaching these areas and contaminating them.

• For chore efficiency, your confinement area should be conveniently located near your barn, hay storage and manure compost sites to make it easy for you to care for your horse while also maintaining the confinement area.
• A good option is to offer one paddock per horse set up like a “run” from a stall or shelter. This gives the horse free access to a clean, dry place to eat. When choosing a location, try to pick a place that makes it convenient for you to feed in this area.
• Pick up manure every one to three days to help reduce your horse's parasite load and to avoid creating a habitat for flies and insects — along with annoying winter mud.
• To reduce erosion and improve drainage, use some type of footing — at least in the highest-traffic areas — around gates, by stock watering areas or in front of stalls. Popular footing choices include crushed rock (no larger than 5/8 inch) or coarse washed sand. Footing should be 2 to 4 inches deep.

• Install rain gutters and downspouts on any roofs surrounding your winter paddock. Divert clean rainwater to nearby vegetation via a rain barrel or cistern or into a rain garden or an undisturbed area of woods. Diverting clean rainwater away from your horse’s confinement area reduces the amount of mud they (and you) have to deal with. It also prevents manure and urine from being washed out of the paddock and into nearby bodies of water.
• Choose the very safest fencing you can for your winter paddock. Whatever type of fencing you choose, you may want to reinforce it with some type of electric tape or power fencing to make the fencing a “psychological barrier” (i.e., one horses choose to avoid). 
• Ensure that your building corners are safe and that there are no protruding objects that could hurt a horse, such as bolt ends, nails, boards or the tops of metal T-posts. Watch out for the corners of roofs and the bottom edges of metal buildings. There should be no wires or electrical cords hanging in the yard and absolutely no junk, garbage or machinery in this area.

• The gates in confinement areas need to be adequately sized for the types of truck deliveries you expect or equipment you will use (such as for gravel or sand for footing or to get tractors in and out to move that footing).
• Even though your horses can move around in their confinement areas, they still need regular exercise. Plan for and maintain a regular exercise program for your horse that includes at least two or three exercise sessions per week that last a minimum of 30 minutes each. This can include ride time, lunging, in-hand groundwork or maybe even turnout time with other horses.

Sand footing is easy to clean, improves drainage, and comfortable for horses.

For ideas on how to provide equine enrichment and mental stimulation for horses in their confinement areas, see my previous article on various equine enrichment opportunities. In addition, my article on composting horse manure will help you set up a system for managing the manure collected in your confinement area.

Creating and utilizing a mud-free confinement area will lead to greater chore efficiency for you this winter, along with fewer muck-related horse health issues. It will also lead to more productive pastures next grazing season. Improved pastures offer a cost-savings for you through greater pasture productivity and less money spent on supplemental feed. These efforts add up to a prettier picture for you and your community to enjoy, along with a more sustainable future for all.

Across the globe, as many as 385,000 babies were born on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. One of them was the world’s 8 billionth person.

There weren’t any brightly wrapped packages or confetti, but the United Nations commemorated Nov. 15, 2022, as the “Day of 8 Billion.” Its #8BillionStrong campaign celebrated the world’s progress and highlighted how and where the population is growing — and what that growth will look like in the coming years.

The U.N. attributed the world’s unprecedented growth to the gradual increase in human lifespan thanks to improvements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine, as well as high and persistent levels of fertility in some countries.

The Day of 8 Billion was underscored, however, by very real concerns about how to simultaneously provide nutrition for the expanding population while lowering environmental impact and replenishing the planet’s natural resources.

Population growth is slowing. It took 12 years for the population to grow from 7 to 8 billion, and it will take 15 years for it to reach 9 billion. However, the growth has become increasingly concentrated among the world’s poorest countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, where the population is expected to hit 3.44 billion by the late 2060s. In these countries, sustained rapid population growth can thwart the achievement of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the U.N. said.

There’s also rapid growth in Asia. India and China each have more than 1.4 billion residents — that’s 35% of the world’s population. Next year, India is expected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country.

“The (8 billion) milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity’s shared responsibility for the planet,” said Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General.

That responsibility was also the focus of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, which coincided with the Day of 8 Billion. The 12-day conference, which ended Friday, brought together leaders from across the globe to discuss and deliver action on a myriad of climate-related challenges, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience and adapting to impacts of climate change. One of this year’s goals was to renew solidarity between countries to deliver on the landmark Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change that was adopted at COP21 in 2016.

Agriculture and food systems took center stage at this year’s climate talks, as a groundbreaking new initiative was announced that recognizes the relationship between nutrition and the climate crisis. The Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) will accelerate transformative action to address the critical nexus of climate change and nutrition.

I-CAN will focus on policies and actions that work to reduce climate change and improve nutrition, particularly for children and vulnerable groups.

COP27 also saw the launch of the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) initiative, which aims to implement concrete actions that would result in improving the quantity and quality of climate finance contributions to transform agriculture and food systems by 2030.

A look at the trends

The #8BillionStrong campaign identified eight trends for a world of 8 billion people: slowing growth, fewer children, longer lives, people on the move, aging populations, women outliving men, two pandemics and shifting centers.

Growth rates vary across the globe: The data showed that regions of the world are growing at different rates, shifting the geographical distribution of the global population. The 46 least-developed countries are among the world’s fastest growing.

Many are projected to double in population between 2022 and 2050, putting additional pressures on resources, the U.N. said.

Shrinking populations: The annual population growth rate was 0.8% in 2022, compared to 2.3% in 1963. China’s population is no longer growing and may start declining by next year. More and more countries have shrinking populations because of decades of low fertility and high rates of emigration in some cases. Seventeen countries in Eastern Europe have seen their populations shrink since 1990.

We’ll hit 9 billion in 15 years: Despite slowed growth in some countries, the world’s population is predicted to grow to around 8.5 billion by 2030, according to the U.N.’s predictions, and to 9 billion by 2037. It will be 9.7 billion by 2050 and 10.4 billion by 2100.

We’re aging faster: By 2050, the number of people aged 65+ will be over twice the number of children under 5, and about the same as the number of children under 12. Global life expectancy at birth in 2019 was 72.8 years, up almost nine years since 1990. It is projected to rise to 77.2 years by 2050.

We’re living longer: Life expectancy can be as high as 85 in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, but it is much lower in low-income countries: 63. Life expectancy can be as low as 54 for those born in the Central African Republic, Chad, Lesotho or Nigeria.

The impact of economic development: Rising per capita incomes — typically in areas where the population is not growing as rapidly — are the main driver of unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. Curbing those patterns will be critical to meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement and achieving the SDGs, the U.N. said.

These population predictions emphasize the important role of the agriculture industry as it works to ensure sustainable nutrition for the growing global population. Currently, more than 800 million people across the world still go to bed hungry each night, stunting the growth of both children and economies.

The U.N. said the world’s food systems must transform to feed a growing population and limit environmental damage.

“While population growth is a key driver of the increasing demand for food, changes in the amount and types of food consumed also play a major role. Food systems need to incorporate more sustainable practices while ensuring access to safe, sufficient, affordable and nutritious food and the enjoyment of a diversified, balanced and healthy diet for all,” the U.N. said.

Alltech, a global leader in the agriculture industry, believes that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively shape the future of the planet. It is uniting the agrifood community in Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.

“To be sustainable, we must do much more than indefinitely maintain the status quo — true sustainability is continuous economic, environmental and social progress. Agriculture is uniquely positioned to support these critical pillars of sustainability, from providing nutrition for all and revitalizing local economies to replenishing the planet’s natural resources,” Alltech said.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Nov. 18-24, seeks unified action to reduce drug-resistant pathogens

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In 2019, nearly 5 million human deaths worldwide were associated with bacterial AMR, of which 1.3 million human deaths were directly attributable to bacterial AMR.

Each year, the FAO dedicates the week of Nov. 18-24 to raising awareness of the deadly consequences of AMR. The theme of this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is “Preventing microbial resistance together.”

“AMR is a threat to humans, animals, plants and the environment. It affects us all,” the FAO says on its website. “That is why this year's theme calls for cross-sectoral collaboration to preserve the effectiveness of these important medicines.”

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to the antimicrobial agents used against them. As a result, antibiotics and other antimicrobials become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

Antimicrobials and antibiotics have been used for both disease prevention and treatment in humans and in animals, and for improving growth rates in food-producing animals. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are accelerating the development and spread of AMR worldwide.

The agri-food sector is severely affected by antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, which can lead to economic losses, a decline in livestock production, poverty, hunger and malnutrition across the globe, the FAO said. There has been a global movement in recent years to reduce antimicrobial use in livestock production, in which antimicrobials are used extensively to address gut health issues.

Dr. Richard Murphy, research director at Alltech's European Bioscience Centre in Dunboyne, Ireland, said AMR is a persistent problem challenging the industry. He spoke about AMR during a recent Ag Future podcast with Tom Martin.

“The agriculture industry has made great strides in moving toward reductions in antibiotic usage, restricting their usage even further. But when you look at the year-on-year data, even though the usage of antimicrobials and antibiotics has decreased, we tend not to see a similar decrease in the prevalence of resistance among pathogens that would have human resonance — E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter,” Dr. Murphy said.

As steps are taken to move toward antibiotic-free systems, producers are faced with the dilemma of controlling pathogens and AMR at the same time.

“Rather than focusing solely on antimicrobial resistance, we need to focus on the pathogens, because of the high-level prevalence of antimicrobial resistance that's present in those pathogens,” Dr. Murphy said.

Alltech’s researchers are focused on trying to understand the link between pathogen control and the control of antimicrobial resistance, he said. They are also focused on how to utilize the gut microflora to control pathogens.

“If you can expand the richness and the diversity of the gut microflora, that enables the GI tract to self-police. You tend to get what's known as colonization resistance,” he said. “You get greater resistance to pathogen colonization of the GI tract. We found in multiple studies across multiple species that we can effect changes. We can bring about increases in species richness (and) in gut microflora diversity with the use of mannan-based prebiotics — mannan-rich fraction, for instance.”

A path toward antibiotic-free production

The use of alternative products designed to regulate and support the gut environment and its microflora will assist the move to antibiotic-free production, said Dr. Jules Taylor-Pickard, director of the Alltech® Gut Health Management platform. Among those products are feed enzymes, organic minerals, yeast-cell wall derivatives such as mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and mannose-rich fractions (MRF), functional nutrients and probiotics.

Alltech’s Gut Health Management offers a path to antibiotic-free production that begins with its Seed, Feed, Weed program.

“Seed, Feed, Weed is just that: It’s seeding the gut with favorable organisms, it’s feeding those favorable organisms and it’s weeding out the unfavorable or the bad organisms,” Dr. Taylor-Pickard explained.

The second step is the antibiotic reduction program, through which a team of experts helps develop an action plan to assist producers with reducing antibiotic use on-farm. The goal is to significantly reduce or even make prophylactic (preventative) and metaphylaxis antibiotic use (treating an entire group without evidence of disease) redundant.

The third step helps producers with the transition to operating without antibiotics by improving gut health and utilizing holistic nutrition and management practices across all stages of production.

There is no “silver bullet” solution for reducing AMR, Dr. Murphy said. It can be quite difficult to develop programs whereby you remove antibiotics and replace them with a single compound or a single nutritional additive.

“When we think about replacement of antibiotics, we will need to take into consideration multiple factors or dimensions, such as animal management and facility hygiene; diet certainly is going to be absolutely critical, and nutritional components play a huge role in transitioning away from antibiotic use and in transitioning toward antibiotic-free production systems,” he said.

Building a more resilient agri-food system

As part of WAAW, the FAO issued calls to action for farmers, food chain workers and consumers, policymakers, animal health and agriculture professionals and others.

“The challenges of AMR are complex and multifaceted, but they are not insurmountable,” the organization said.

Among its key calls to action during WAAW, the FAO is asking agri-food systems to:

• Implement prevention measures (biosecurity, sanitation, hygiene, etc.) to reduce the need for antimicrobials in animals and antimicrobial pesticides in plants.

• Use diagnostic tests to assist surveillance efforts and design successful interventions to reduce AMR.

• Use science-based evidence to identify, manage and mitigate AMR risks.

• Improve access to expert advice, prescriptions, appropriate antimicrobials to reduce production and productivity losses, and build more resilient agri-food systems.

• Provide a system-wide approach to keeping crops healthy, resorting to chemical pesticides only as a last resort.

The FAO is challenging policymakers to commit resources to tackle AMR and meet national AMR action plan targets. It is also asking agriculture professionals to share information on best practices for reducing the use of antimicrobials.

On-site ice cream shop helps Chaney’s Dairy connect with the community

It all started in 1940, when Carl Chaney’s father started milking two Jersey dairy cows by hand on his family farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky, establishing the foundation of Chaney’s Dairy. The Chaney family has been embracing innovation and change to ensure the continued success of their operation ever since.

Carl’s family is still milking Jersey cows today, nearly 80 years later., However, Carl’s ancestors might be surprised to see some of the changes, including the thousands of people who flock to the farm now to get a tasty treat at Chaney’s Dairy Barn, which first opened in 2003.

Despite low milk prices in the early 2000s, Carl and his wife, Debra, saw an opportunity for diversification and took a risk by opening the Dairy Barn, an on-site ice cream shop. That risk has been reaping rewards for nearly 20 years, and Chaney’s Dairy Barn currently goes through 1,200 gallons of ice cream a week.

The Chaneys are humbled by the support from the community and the burgeoning interest in what once seemed like a crazy idea — and yet, the popularity of the Dairy Barn is not especially surprising.

“Ice cream makes our world go round,” Carl says.

Tours give visitors a peek at life on the dairy farm

The Chaneys’ farm has more to offer than just ice cream. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the dairy barn, where they can watch and learn about how cows get milked.

“They get to see what real agriculture is all about,” says Carl.

In 2019, 15,000 people walked through Chaneys’ dairy barn. Carl and his family see this as a critical component to educating the average person about the dairy industry and food production in general, as many people no longer have a direct connection to agriculture.

“It is always about education and making the connection,” says Carl. “Connecting with the consumer is what we’re continually trying to do.” The success of the Chaneys’ dairy operation is especially notable when considered in the context of the dairy industry at large. In 2001, Kentucky was home to 2,900 dairy farms — but by February 2022, that number had dwindled to 398. The Chaneys, however, continue to break the mold. In 2016, they installed their first Lely A4 robotic milking system, and they subsequently founded the J.R. Chaney Bottling Co. in 2017. Now, Chaney’s is processing its own milk, which is sold in multiple locations throughout Kentucky.

Reaching the next generation of dairy shoppers

The Chaneys are especially excited about the availability of their milk because there has been a dramatic change in the way people consume dairy in recent years. While the consumption of some dairy products, like cheese and butter, is currently on the rise, the way people drink milk has transformed.

“We are losing ‘long’ milk drinkers because of the change in young children’s habits,” says Elizabeth Lunsford, Carl’s daughter and the fifth generation of her family to work on the dairy farm. “Some of that is based on changes in school milk and quality and the introduction of so many alternative beverages.”

Elizabeth and Carl have both seen children who say they don’t like milk light up at the first taste of milk from Chaney’s Dairy.

“Cow comfort and milk quality are our specialty,” Carl says.

The Chaney family intends to continue introducing quality dairy products to people who visit their farm and, in the process, play a role in building demand for dairy in the next generation of shoppers.

Being successful in the dairy business requires resilience, and the Chaney family’s dairy operation is thriving thanks to their willingness to embrace change. They continue to find new ways to connect people with agriculture, whether that’s by hosting movie nights with films projected on the side of the barn or welcoming thousands of students in school groups every year. When it comes down to it, though, the Chaneys contribute their continued success to the stars of the show: their cows, who they value above all else — and it shows.

“We truly do have some of the happiest cows in the state of Kentucky,” says Carl.

Want to visit Chaney’s Dairy Barn? Check them out here: Home | Chaney's Dairy Barn (chaneysdairybarn.com)

"Are you what you eat? Or, in fact, are you what your food ate?”

With these thought-provoking questions, geologist and science writer David Montgomery opened his presentation as part of the Crop Science track at the Alltech ONE Conference (ONE) last May. The author talked at ONE in advance of the launch of his new book, which is aptly titled “What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health” and is co-authored by his wife, Anne Biklé.

“The big point that I’m trying to make is that soil health is our health,” Montgomery said during his presentation. “How we treat the land, in turn, affects how the land will treat us (…) in terms of what's in our food and what that actually may do in terms of supporting our health.”

Montgomery explained the various ways that modern farming practices — including tillage and the overuse of commercial fertilizers — are unbalanced and can disrupt the necessary, healthy symbiosis between plants and the soil.

“We traded away quality in pursuit of quantity as modernized farming chased higher yields, overlooking a farmer’s natural allies in the soil.”

—David Montgomery and Anne Biklé, “What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health”

The roots of good health are planted on farms

We know that our diet influences our health, and it’s safe to say that how we grow our crops and what we feed them plays a significant role in our overall health as well.

“In general, we don’t think about a plant having a diet, when, in fact, they do,” said Montgomery. “Plants absorb a myriad of elements from the soil which we can consider to be their food, and how we feed them — the ‘diet’ we present them with — will reflect directly in the final outcome.”

When determining the health of the soil, it is important to consider some basic elements of crop production, such as the NPK — or the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a product — of conventional fertilizers. Applying large amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can lead to larger crop yields. But what does higher levels of those elements mean for the health of the soil where we grow those crops and the health of the crops themselves?

Currently, most farming operations are intensely focused on increasing yields, thanks in part to the pressure of needing to feed a fast-growing population. But if quantity is an important measure, quality — and, more notably, nutrient density — is equally important and, in modern societies, is increasingly worrying.

Unbalanced farming practices can disrupt the partnerships between soil bacteria and plants and can have a negative impact on soil health. They also shape the types and amounts of health-promoting minerals, fats and phytochemicals in our crops, which are transferred to us through the foods we eat.

Understanding and improving these connections could have profound implications for the food we eat and how we grow it, both now and in the future.

Farming practices, soil health and all that it encompasses

“Looking around (at) agricultural soil globally, a significantly large portion could be classified as ‘sick,’ if we thought about soil as a living ecosystem having health, which most of us probably don't,” Montgomery said during his presentation at ONE.

According to the United Nations’ (U.N.) map of global soil degradation, most of the world's agricultural soils are listed as “degraded” or “very degraded”. Furthermore, the U.N. estimates that around a third of the world's farmland soils have been degraded to the point that their lower quality could have a profound impact on their agricultural productivity.

This widespread soil degradation is partially the result of the two fundamental agricultural practices on which conventional agriculture has long been reliant: tillage and the over-use of chemical fertilizers.

While tillage has deep historical roots, chemical fertilizers, on the other hand, are much more recent in terms of their development and application. Researchers like Montgomery and Biklé are increasingly acknowledging that these practices can thoroughly degrade the organic matter of soil — which is, in essence, the very life of the soil — and can alter the soil microbial community in ways that are detrimental to both soil health and fertility. The difficult reality, however, is that farmers rely on these practices to harvest much of the food we grow today.

Another report from the U.N. released in 2015 projected that we're losing around 0.3% of our ability to produce food every year due to soil erosion and the degradation of organic matter — or, in other words, due to the loss of healthy soils. Montgomery put this statistic in perspective.

“0.3% doesn't sound like a really large number on an annual basis, but if you play that out over the rest of this century, it adds up to degrading another third of the world's farmland in this time interval,” he explained. “As the world population continuously grows, that is something that we can't afford.”

Harkening back to Montgomery’s application of the concept of health to soil, due to their remarkably low levels or lack of organic matter, many of the world's agricultural soils could be categorized as “sick”. Based on the statistics outlined above, a large percentage of soils simply cannot be called “healthy” in terms of their ability to foster soil biological activity and support strong root development, plant growth and crop productivity.

Bringing life back to the ground

Regenerative agriculture practices can contribute to rebuilding and revitalizing organic matter, which can, in turn, help rebuild soil health and fertility.

Some of the most well-known and effective regenerative agriculture principles include:

• Low-to-no tillage: Minimizing soil disturbance
• Cover cropping: Maintaining a permanent ground cover and/or growing cover crops in between cash crops to always keep living roots in the soil
• Crop rotation: Maintaining a diverse rotation of five to six crops

The combination of minimal disturbance, always having something growing in the soil and growing a diverse array of plants is essentially the antithesis of what many farmers and agronomists have been taught and are currently practicing in modern agriculture.

“Over the last 100 years, we have emphasized tillage, the overuse of synthetic agrochemicals and specializing in one or two crops,” Montgomery said. “This idea of regenerating soil life and soil health is a different way to look at agriculture and think about soil.”

Regenerative farming practices can rebuild soil health, bringing life back to the ground and fostering microorganisms’ communities, as well as their synergistic relationships with plants. These benefits can, in turn, suffuse the soil, the rhizosphere, the plants and the crops they grow with the elements they require in order to thrive, such as macro- and micronutrients, minerals and phytochemicals.

Most prominently, regenerative farming practices can increase the amount of carbon in the soil — which basically means more organic matter, as organic matter is roughly 40–50% carbon. A dark soil reflects an increasing sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere into the soil. Photosynthesis is nature’s way of pulling carbon from the atmosphere to the plant, and regenerative agriculture practices are a way to “park” more of that carbon in the soil.

Regenerative farming practices can also result in less off-site nitrogen pollution and better water quality as the result of a reduction in the use of synthetic fertilizers.

And finally, using more regenerative farming practices could translate to more sustainable and profitable farming. Farmers can achieve comparable or even higher yields by using fewer inputs and fossil fuels — the biggest expenses of modern farming — while also safeguarding natural resources.

"Solutions exist right beneath our feet, if you take the time to read the story of soil."

—David Montgomery and Anne Biklé, “What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health”

Soil life-focused farming practices hold the key to healing sick soils, allowing farmers to produce enough nutrient-dense food to feed us all and tapping into agriculture’s potential to improve human health.

So, when it comes to soil, can we have both quality and quantity? Montgomery wrapped up his presentation at ONE with a sobering yet inspiring message: “What's good for the soil is good for us, too.”

Key takeaways

• Soils have a diet, and healthy diets are required to foster healthy soils
• Billions of beneficial soil microorganisms foster the symbiotic relationship between soils and plants, making them our top allies for soil and crop health
• Just like people, soils can be in poor health or in good condition — and globally, our soils currently aren’t in top form
• The health of the soil impacts the health of our crops, our livestock and, ultimately, ourselves
• Reestablishing an underground feast for soils will alter what’s on our own plates

As U.S. consumers become increasingly focused on health and nutrition, they are now bringing their pets along for the ride. More and more, consumers are looking to pet supplements to boost their pets’ dietary nutrition or to support a particular need, such as joint health.

Pet supplementation is a diverse category that includes well-established products and ingredients such as fish oil for skin and coat health, and new and emerging formulations, like CBD for calming. It’s no surprise, then, that with a growing amount of attention being paid to product labels, many ingredients that appear in human supplementation have crossed over to pet categories.

We wanted to find out more about this intriguing market segment. In June 2022, as part of our ongoing research into pet supplement consumers, MarketPlace, a brand strategy agency focused on the pet and wellness spaces, conducted an online survey of 737 pet parents in the U.S. to ask them about their knowledge and experiences with supplements. Forty percent of them reported that they had purchased pet supplements in the past year.

We hypothesized that pet supplement consumers may have certain tendencies and preferences that are stronger or more pronounced than the average pet parent. This appears to be the case. Let’s dig more into what the data tells us about the people who buy supplements for their pets.

Health-minded information seekers buy supplements

Data from the survey shows that many consumers who buy supplements for their pets are also likely to seek out information proactively about nutrition. Among that subset of pet supplement consumers, 46% report having spent more than one hour in the past 12 months researching vitamins and/or minerals.

Veterinarians are an authoritative source of information on nutrition and wellness to both the average pet parent and the pet supplement shopper. Nearly three-out-of-five pet supplement consumers (59%) said they seek inspiration or information on their pets’ health and wellness from their veterinarian. Consumers are also somewhat more likely than average to report seeking pet health information via online search, through friends and family, and from posts on social media such as YouTube and Facebook.

Tellingly, preferences for certain information sources on pet nutrition strongly parallel preferences in human nutrition. Like veterinarians for pet nutrition, the personal physician is considered a top authoritative source of information on the personal nutrition of both pet parents and the companion animal supplement audience. According to our survey, 61% of pet supplement consumers seek inspiration or information on their personal health and wellness from their personal physician, compared to 55% for the average pet parent.

Pet supplement consumers are likewise turning to social sources – friends, family and social media –to inform their research into human nutrition. These findings suggest a multichannel approach to media and advertising strategy may be effective in creating meaningful touchpoints for the target pet supplement consumer segment and breaking through the ever-growing clutter of brand messaging found online and in retail stores.

Buyers prioritize need states and specific benefits

When shopping for supplements, need state drives purchase intent. Pet supplement consumers said they tend to seek a specific benefit first when shopping for such a product. According to the survey, those who buy supplements for their pets are likely to report having purchased skin and coat, joint health, or daily wellness applications in the past 12 months.

Calming occasions are also driving supplement purchases, especially for vet visits or inclement weather. Other top reasons for giving calming/anxiety-reducing supplements include travel, time at home alone, and outside noises such as fireworks.

The survey data also shows that people who give their pets supplements are also more likely than average to:

• Agree that “organic” claims indicate high quality in food, treats, or supplements for pets.
• Have bought pet dental care products or treats that promote health in the past 12 months.
• Have heard of the microbiome and to have looked up information about the microbiome.

Target customers shop across channels, read reviews

To be successful in breaking through to their target market, brands must gain insights into how pet supplement consumers shop in-store and online, and better understand how they use media to get information that informs those shopping decisions. Our data suggests that pet supplement consumers have stronger-than-average tendencies when it comes to researching and shopping for their companion animals.

For example, those who buy pet supplements, on average, said they rely more on reviews before making a first-time purchase online or in-store. In fact, the data shows that pet supplement consumers use a variety of shopping channels and are much more likely than the average pet parent to report shopping on Amazon or Chewy.com. Additionally, mass retail stores, pet specialty stores and pet specialty websites are important channels to this segment of pet parents.   

Consumers practice intentionality and health-oriented lifestyles

Finally, brands will find value in looking at the psychographic profile and everyday lifestyles of pet supplement consumers. The pet supplement audience is highly likely to place importance on self-respect, positive relationships, security, a sense of accomplishment, self-fulfillment, and fun and enjoyment, the data demonstrates. Moreover, pet supplement consumers are more likely than average pet parents to dedicate time to their physical, mental and spiritual health.  

Getting to know the pet supplement consumer is an ongoing conversation. In many ways, the supplement consumer is very much like the average pet parent, but with a stronger tendency to seek out information on health and wellness from a variety of sources. Oftentimes, they know the specific benefit they want, but also want to be knowledgeable about what they are giving their pets.

Without a doubt, the pet supplement consumer audience presents a compelling opportunity. Brands that make the effort to cultivate insights into this group will be well positioned to go to market with compelling pet supplement offerings and capture market share.

I want to learn more about pet nutrition.

A commitment to sustainability is more than just a responsible decision. It can also serve as a platform to showcase the time and resources an industry has invested in their efforts to cultivate change. Pig producers, farming operations, businesses and academics alike understand that without a plan to future-proof pork production, the availability of a safe and sustainable food system will wane. What role can pig farmers play to make sure this doesn’t happen?

The National Pork Board is continuing to set new sustainability goals to help ensure the future of pork production. Ashley McDonald, interim vice president of sustainability, shared more about those goals and how farmers can get on board during a virtual presentation at Alltech’s 2022 ONE Conference.

U.S. pork is part of the solution

The U.S. pork industry is working to establish itself as the sustainable protein, McDonald said. The industry’s sustainability success starts from the ground up and continues through production. The U.S. pork industry is only responsible for 0.4% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Pork Industry 2021 Sustainability Report, released by The National Pork Board1. Pork producers have worked steadily to become more environmentally friendly, reducing the industry’s carbon footprint by 7.7% over the last 50 years2, according to data from The National Pork Board and the University of Arkansas.

With an extremely low impact on the environment due to the utilization of space and resources effectively, McDonald said this points directly towards a correlation effect of improved soil health. Being a steward of the land is important for pig producers, so the fact that these aspects go hand in hand only attributes further to the fact that sustainability is embedded in agriculture. U.S. pork producers utilize these avenues of successfully tending to their operations, efficiently using less physical land, water and feedstuffs, to provide a lean, quality, and affordable protein. Being diligent in the way that this protein is raised displays the importance of sustainable thinking and pig welfare.

What is sustainability to the U.S. pork industry?

As a leader in this space and a representative of many pork producers across the U.S., the National Pork Board has used its platform to amplify its “We Care Ethical Principles,” Which McDonald said are cornerstones of continuous growth:

• Food Safety
• Animal Well-being
• Public Health
• Environment
• Our People
• Our Community

By creating space for advancement within the industry, the National Pork Board truly values McDonald’s shared idea of “doing what’s right for pigs, people, and the planet,” ideas which have not only remained on paper. Pork producers took action and found ways to make measurable improvements. By utilizing less land, less water and less energy, and emitting fewer carbon emissions, it is clear that the pork industry values sustainable pig farming and being good stewards of the environment. 

The National Pork Board’s ethics principles are implemented daily by pig farmers who truly believe in their solid guidance. Dale Stevermer, a pig farmer and industry representative, believes that “The We Care ethical principles I practice on my fifth-generation farm address the environmental impact of raising pigs. Documenting and measuring this impact is important to demonstrate my farm’s sustainability role to those who purchase, process and, ultimately, consume pork.”

Actions following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

“Pig farmers got together and decided that they really wanted to contribute to and develop goals and metrics that were truly credible and important to people not only here, but around the world,” McDonald said. The National Pork Board aided in facilitating this idea to establish goals and metrics that build credibility for the industry. Those within the space understand how important these topics are for production, but for them to be accepted by the greater public, a better line of communication was needed to share this exciting information. The National Pork Board commissioned Ernst & Young alongside the Pork Checkoff to launch a producer-led goal-setting process, including an assessment of key market drivers, a prioritization of social issues, an identification of ambition surrounding sustainability and a draft of specific goals.

It was crucial that these goals and metrics were fully supported and existed alongside the set principles already established. Pork producers wanted to be known for being champions of this space at the global level, as well in our own backyard. The We Care Ethical Principles line up closely with 15 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, showcasing the fact that producers here in the U.S. strive to prioritize similar concepts with those around the globe.

A database for sustainability goals and metrics was launched to pull information for producers regarding their own operations in an On-Farm Sustainability Report, providing:

• Analysis regarding their work in conservation practices,
• Donations,
• Service hours,
• Manure utilization, and
• Environmental impact of their operation and other metrics.

This creates a U.S. Pork Industry Sustainability Report to help answer questions about pork production and producers’ sustainability commitment. Understanding the true significance of this reporting system is crucial.

“The real power of the Your-Farm Sustainability Reports is the ability to aggregate the data and show the climate-positive impacts of using swine manure to raise crops,” Stevermer said. “Third-party verification through SEC (Sustainable Environmental Consultants) also supports the industry’s aspiration to produce the leading sustainable protein. Using sound data will guide pork producers as we set benchmarks and create improvement goals that will change the narrative around animal production.”

By acknowledging how imperative it is to pork producers that things are done the right way, pig farmers are raising the bar for animal agriculture in this space.

A commitment to doing what is right

Sharing the sustainability work being done in the industry allows pork producers to continue to shine the light on its commitment to people, pigs and the planet. Pork producers must continue to drive conversations and engagement using the real, on-farm data made available through the On-Farm Sustainability Report, McDonald said. Reporting progress and quantifying the substantial, continual progress toward sustainability displays how much pork producers want to improve the world we live in.

View the most recent sustainability report from the National Pork Board here:

https://www.porkcares.org/

I want to learn more about nutrition for my pig herd.