"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.

Sustainability – you have probably been hearing this word a lot lately. It is a hot topic around the globe right now, and beef industry sustainability is at the center of the conversation. As Dr. Jude Capper puts it, “all of us within the industry, regardless of what our role is, have to think about and have to be talking about [sustainability] going forward, because it really isn’t an issue that is ever going away.”

Capper, who has been working in the sustainability space for about 15 years, shared some thought-provoking insights into what should be considered going forward in the world of sustainability during the Alltech ONE Conference (ONE). Let’s discuss four key points Capper made in her presentation.

1. We need to define “sustainability”

“There are honestly as many definitions of this word as there are people in the universe, almost,” Capper stated. “But from a scientific point of view, and particularly when we’re talking about food and farming systems, it’s generally considered to be a balance between three things. And those are environmental responsibility, economic viability and social acceptability. And all of those things, in the long term, have to balance.”

Right now, however, the global focuses are clear: greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and net zero. This is demonstrated by companies worldwide regularly announcing some degree of net-zero-type commitment. However, what this has led to, according to Capper, are graphs and metrics being produced that attempt to measure sustainability but that neglect to accurately represent the global beef industry and its various systems around the world.

“We see a huge variation,” Capper said. “We can’t make global averages, or global commitments or globally say we’re going to implement practice ‘x,’ whatever that might be because there’s so much variation in the system.”

To further this point, she cited some data from Gerber et al. in 2013, showing a global lifecycle assessment of beef systems. The bar chart is partitioned out by region and represents greenhouse gas emissions/carbon footprint in terms of carbon per kilo of deadweight. True representation is difficult here — when you look at the world average compared to each region, it supports the opinion that we cannot expect the same systems and practices to work globally.

“We can have very clear goals, but the way that we achieve those goals is always going to vary according to the system, the region, the market, the culture and the opportunities we have there,” Capper explained. “We should always see, if we do it in a carefully considered, well-thought-out way, the positive correlation between improving efficiency, having lower carbon footprint, lower resource use and at a lower cost as well. So, there’s a positive correlation between the economics and the environment.

“But the thing that we always have to bear in mind is that just because it’s environmentally beneficial or at a lower economic cost doesn’t always mean that it’s socially acceptable.” 

2. Beef producers are utilizing sustainable practices

Capper went on to lay out ways to improve the productivity of our systems and stated that most producers are already actively pursuing these goals. However, she reiterated that there is no “one size fits all” system. 

When it comes to system efficiency, Capper touched on a few data points to put it into perspective. In her calculations, one cow in a cow-calf system needs just under 4,000 kilograms of feed, takes in just over 20,000 liters of water, and emits almost 2,500 kilos of carbon dioxide every single year. With this in mind, it could be easy to promote cutting cattle numbers and assume the world would benefit.

But, as Capper states, we must consider all of the positives that we get in terms of biodiversity, landscape maintenance, soil quality and using land where we simply cannot grow anything else to produce high-quality, nutritious food. The opportunity for showing the benefit cattle have on the environment is hard to quantify right now, but it is there. And even so, there are still ways beef producers can improve sustainability (converting crop land to grazing land, focusing on genetics, etc.).

3. Cattle can contribute to global cooling

Capper shared some data from Oxford University that clarifies some of the differences between methane and other greenhouse gases.

“In the past, we assumed that, as with carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, any methane that we emitted into the atmosphere just builds up and builds up and builds up over time,” Capper explained. “So that was under a metric called ‘Global Warming Potential,’ or GWP 100.”

GWP 100 got us one step closer to standardizing the effects of greenhouse gases. However, it did not consider the differences between methane (a short-lived climate pollutant) and carbon dioxide (a long-lived climate pollutant). GWP*, the new metric, is seen as an improved way to measure the effect individual greenhouse gases have on global warming. This is important as methane emissions from beef production are recycled as part of the biogenic carbon cycle. To keep it simple: the biogenic carbon cycle is when plants take in and store carbon dioxide that is consumed by cattle and released as methane. Then, after a dozen years or so, that methane is converted back into carbon dioxide, and the cycle continues. Because plants need carbon dioxide and cattle can consume plants like grasses, cattle are vital to this cycle. And it is even possible that cattle can contribute to global cooling through this. 

“Methane can only contribute to global cooling if methane emissions actually decline over time,” Capper stated. “And it only has to decline by a tiny bit, but they have to keep coming down rather than getting more and more and more every year (…) So that means that if we do things to improve productivity, fertility, pasture management, all of those things that I talked about earlier, such that we can make the same amount of beef, for example, with [let’s say 1% fewer cattle], then we could have a really positive effect in terms of global cooling.” Even with this approach, it is important to account for beef cattle's vital role in balancing our ecosystem and utilizing otherwise unproductive lands.

4. We need a standard carbon footprinting tool

A challenge the industry faces is creating a standard carbon footprinting tool. Ideally, one that can transcend across global regions and various production systems. There are tools out there, but we need one that is standardized and more all-encompassing. If we can accomplish this as an industry, we can confidently not only contribute to global cooling but also give producers more opportunities to market their cattle as consumers ask for data-backed sustainability claims in the meat at the grocery store.

By addressing this and the other points Capper mentioned in her presentation, she believes that the beef industry can accurately represent itself in the global sustainability space and properly demonstrate its positive impact, now and into the future.  

I want to learn more about nutrition for my beef cattle.

The pig mortality issue

Pig mortality is one of the biggest challenges the swine industry faces today. Data from the USDA (2015) shows that in the United States, the average post-weaning pig mortality is 3.6% in the nursery and 4.1% in the grow-finish stage. Combined with an average pre-weaning mortality of 10–15%, it is not uncommon to observe overall mortality rates of 15–20%. That represents a significant inefficiency in our system that must be addressed if our industry wants to become more profitable and more sustainable.

The first point that must be addressed is understanding the causes of mortality. As part of the Improving Pig Survivability project, Gebhardt et al. (2020), a team effort from Iowa State University, Kansas State University and Purdue University, conducted a review of the most relevant data and observed that the vast majority of pigs die because of respiratory disease (caused by agents such as PRRS virus, influenza A virus, circovirus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae), followed by scours/diarrhea (caused by E. coli, PED virus and rotavirus, among others).

Figure 1. Percentage of mortality causes adapted from USDA, 2015. Source: Gebhardt et al., 2020.

A few strategies have been shown to produce a significant positive impact on pig survivability. Management tools such as biosecurity, pig care, temperature and ventilation control, water availability and quality, cleaning and disinfection, and increasing the weaning age can drastically change mortality and removal rates (Main et al., 2005; Faccin et al., 2020, Gebhardt et al., 2020). Additionally, novel technologies such as feed mitigants (Dee et al., 2021), microbiome modulation and gene-edited pigs are promising tools for the future. However, as nutritionists, we must ask ourselves: Are there any strategies that we can implement through the feed to help alleviate the losses in performance or reduce the number of pigs our customers lose to any given challenge?

Crude protein in pig nursery diets

Crude protein is probably the most researched and consistent nutritional tool against enteric challenges in pigs. The newly weaned pig — at around 21 days of age — has a relatively limited digestive capacity, as its gastrointestinal tract is adapted to digest milk exclusively. When piglets are fed a high crude protein diet, in addition to all other stressors of the weaning process, there is a good chance that a significant portion of that protein will not be digested in the stomach and small intestine and, as a result, will reach the large intestine, where it can be used as a substrate for bacterial growth. Consequently, that may lead to diarrhea, poorer performance, increased mortality and an increased need for antibiotics.

Research shows that feeding a diet with 18% or less crude protein can:

• reduce the amount of protein fermented in the large intestine and improve fecal consistency (Nyachoti et al., 2006; Htoo et al., 2007)
• reduce the inflammatory response after an E. coli challenge (Opapeju et al., 2010)
• reduce the E. coli population in the gastrointestinal tract (Opapeju et al., 2009)

It is important to acknowledge that performance can potentially be impacted by feeding low crude protein diets. It is critical to ensure that the pigs’ amino acid requirements are being met. If diets are formulated with synthetic lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine, the next limiting amino acid is likely isoleucine. If synthetic isoleucine is also being used, then histidine likely becomes the limiting amino acid. Research suggests that nursery pigs require around 32% histidine:lysine (Cemin et al., 2018), and a typical nursery diet can easily go below that value.

Protein for the synthesis of non-essential amino acids can also be a limiting factor. It is important to use a lysine:crude protein ratio in the formulation software to understand the maximum inclusion rate of synthetic amino acids. Finally, pigs have a remarkable ability to compensate for poorer performance in the nursery during later stages (Menegat et al. 2020). Feeding a low crude protein diet may result in a slower start, but given the appropriate time and diet formulation, in the later stages, pigs will exhibit compensatory growth and can achieve excellent overall performance.

Fiber in swine nutrition

Carbohydrates can generally be classified as storage or structural carbohydrates. Storage carbohydrates typically refer to starch, which is easily digested by the pig and readily available as an energy source. Fiber, therefore, can be defined as all structural carbohydrates that resist digestion and are fermented in the hindgut (Kerr and Shurson, 2013). Additionally, fibers can be further classified based on several characteristics, such as viscosity and fermentability, but the most common way they are discussed in swine nutrition is based on their solubility in water.

Soluble fibers are rapidly fermented by the pig to produce volatile fatty acids: acetate, propionate, and butyrate. These components can be used as energy sources by the enterocytes, resulting in the proliferation of the epithelium. They also have a prebiotic effect by enhancing beneficial bacteria fermentation while reducing the pH to eliminate pathogens. However, soluble fibers do increase digesta viscosity, which, in turn, reduces the passage rate and predisposes colonization by pathogens. Insoluble fibers, on the other hand, are more resistant to fermentation and do not contribute significantly to the production of volatile fatty acids. However, the main benefit of insoluble fibers is that they increase the digesta passage rate, therefore preventing the colonization of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (Agyekum and Nyachoti, 2017).

Considering the differences between fiber sources, what exactly should be fed to the newly weaned pig? Some research suggests that soluble fibers can increase the incidence of diarrhea in early nursery pigs (Pluske et al., 1998). However, it is important to note that this negative effect is driven by the increased viscosity of the digesta and not because of the fermentability of soluble fibers. Therefore, it appears that insoluble fibers are a better recommendation, particularly for weaned pigs (Molist et al., 2010). However, some reports suggest that a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber could provide a synergistic effect as long as the soluble source has no impact or only a small impact on viscosity (Wellock et al., 2007; Molist et al., 2014).

Soybean meal for health-challenged pigs

The effects of soybean meal on PRRS-positive pigs have been previously demonstrated by several researchers (Johnston et al., 2010; Rocha et al., 2013; Rochell et al., 2015). Their studies generally agree that pigs challenged with the PRRS virus have improved performance and/or a reduction in serum viral load when fed high levels of soybean meal. The reasons for the benefits of this ingredient are not fully understood, but one of the hypotheses argues for the presence of bioactive components, such as isoflavones and saponins. These components have several beneficial properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties (Smith and Dilger, 2018). Recently, Smith et al. (2020) observed that PRRS-infected pigs fed high levels of isoflavones had a significant reduction in mortality rates. When considered altogether, the data suggests that soybean meal or components of it have the potential to provide some protection, especially against respiratory challenges.

Figure 2. Mortality rate of PRRS-infected weanling pigs fed high levels of isoflavones. NEG = negative control, uninfected pigs. POS = infected pigs. ISF = infected pigs + isoflavones. Source: Smith et al. (2020).

Functional amino acids in swine diets

It is generally accepted that pig diseases may cause a repartition of nutrients from growth to their more active and demanding immune system. It is also recognized that certain amino acids have important functions in the immune system, and as such, their requirements can increase during a health challenge. This group of amino acids is known as functional amino acids. For instance, threonine is one of the main components of mucin in the gastrointestinal tract (Wang et al., 2010), methionine is a methyl group donor and tryptophan has the ability to impact the inflammatory response and improve the intestinal barrier (Liang et al., 2018).

Rodrigues et al. (2021) challenged a group of nursery pigs with Salmonella and provided diets low or high in crude protein and with two different amino acid ratios: 1) control ratios or 2) control ratios with 20% higher threonine, methionine and tryptophan. The authors observed that in a situation where there is no health challenge, pig performance was not affected by increasing functional amino acid ratios. On the other hand, when pigs were challenged with Salmonella, those fed the increased functional amino acids saw a significant improvement in performance regardless of the protein level. Therefore, it appears that health-challenged pigs may benefit from significantly higher ratios of certain amino acids, although more work is required with different pathogens and stages of growth.

Figure 3. Performance of pigs fed increased functional amino acid ratios under a Salmonella challenge. Adapted from Rodrigues et al., 2021.

On-farm tools

As part of the Improving Pig Survivability project, Wensley et al. (2021) conducted a series of trials to identify and quantify the benefits of on-farm tools. The authors evaluated mat feeding, a strategy that consists of spreading a small amount of feed on a mat near the feeders with the objective of stimulating feed intake. Utilizing this strategy for 10 days after weaning resulted in a significant decrease in the mortality and removal rate in the nursery. A second study was conducted to evaluate the effects of creep feeding, which consists of supplementing the piglets’ diet by offering feed while they are still with the sow. The authors found improvements in the overall nursery mortality and removal rates by offering creep feed for four days before weaning, particularly if provided in a large pellet format. These two studies show that simple tools can be effectively used to improve pig mortality, although it is important to consider the extra labor involved in implementing these strategies correctly.

Summary

Pig mortality is a tremendous challenge for our industry. It is a complex issue that will require a concerted multi-disciplinary effort and that must include swine health, management, nutrition and new technologies to obtain the best possible outcome. As nutritionists, we do have tools available; it is critical that we understand and reevaluate crude protein levels, the utilization of fibers, the potential benefits of soybean meal and the use of higher levels of functional amino acids. Additionally, practical strategies such as mat feeding and creep feeding should be considered. Finally, it is important to consider that each system is unique in its challenges, requiring a complete understanding from the nutritionist to tailor solutions for individual situations.

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

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Rhea Freeman is a U.K.-based equine marketing expert and business coach. Her unique approach to working with her clients to develop a comprehensive marketing strategy for their small and medium-sized businesses has earned her multiple awards and international recognition.

The Alltech ONE Conference was lucky to have Rhea speak virtually all the way from Europe about 10 strategic marketing tips for social media. While Rhea focuses on equine businesses, her philosophies apply to any brand that is looking to expand their online presence.

#1: Find your people.

As Rhea reminds us, “Social media is not about you. It’s about ‘them’ and how you can serve them better.” As such, the first step to meeting your social media business goals is to do some market research and figure out where your audience hangs out online.

It seems obvious, but simply asking people where they spend their time and observing your audience out in the real world will help you identify which social platforms will make the most sense for who you want to interact with online.

#2: Define your objective for each platform.

In the words of Zig Ziglar, “You need a plan to build a house. To build a life, it is even more important to have a plan or goal.”

We would add to this that to build a social media following, you need to have concrete goals.

Each social media platform is different. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Twitter —  the list goes on, but what most of us know is that each platform serves different purposes and audiences.

Before jumping into content creation, decide how you want to use each platform where you have a presence, and create content according to the audience you are serving on that particular site.

#3: Post with intention.

Science has found that the average person currently processes as much as 74 GB of information per day through all different types of media. This is equivalent to watching 16 movies per day!

For reference, 500 years ago, 74 GB of information would have been what a highly educated person consumed in a lifetime.

And every year, the amount of information we process daily is estimated to increase by 5%.

So, what does this mean for social media? It is easy for brands to get lost in the noise.

When you post, don’t do it just to fill space. Have intention behind what you post, and use your platform to make a difference.

Understanding the purpose behind each post is critical. Rhea suggests asking yourself what you are trying to achieve with each post. Here are some examples:

• Engagement
• Education
• Inspiration
• Excitement
• Entertainment
• And more!

#4: Create quality content.

It is important to differentiate yourself and your brand by creating content that is as good as it can be. In Rhea’s words, “Be on a constant quest for improvement.”

If your image is what makes people stop, your caption is what drives engagement. Don’t skimp on any part of your content; it is all important for long-term growth on social media channels.

#5: Be consistent.

Rhea suggests thinking of your social media like a TV show. Remember the days when recording a show and rewatching it later were simply not an option? You knew that every week, on Thursday nights at 8 p.m., your show would come on — and you would show up for it, running to get snacks during the commercials!

If you are not consistently showing up on social media, your audience will wonder what happened to you, and they may even draw conclusions that you are no longer in business.

So, keep showing up. And keep creating content with the intention to make a difference. Your audience will notice.

#6: Be aware of your branding and style elements.

The goal of social media is to drive brand awareness through connection. What you are striving for is to create content that people recognize and associate with your brand, even before they see who posted it or your logo in the corner of the profile image.

Design isn’t everything, but it is certainly a component of a comprehensive marketing strategy, and it will help distinguish your brand from the rest.

Play around and have fun with your brand design, and remember that it is a reflection of your business.

#7: Encourage and nurture engagement.

Remember, social media is the cocktail party, not the university lecture.

Social media marketing allows us to reach our customers in some amazingly powerful ways that we do not want to take for granted.

Ask your followers questions on stories, feed posts or videos, and be sure to respond to what they post in their replies. Some of the greatest needs of humans are to be seen, heard and appreciated.

Listen to your followers, learn what matters to them and take the time to nurture your online relationships.

#8: Use the tools inherent in each social media platform.

No matter which social media channel you’re looking at, these apps were designed for people to use! This means that there are fun tools within each platform that were created to help you engage with others. Some examples include poll questions on Instagram stories, video editing features on TikTok and more.

Experimenting with different functionalities can help increase your reach. It can also help with market research by showing you what types of content are most relevant and engaging to your audience. Channel your inner construction worker and use that toolbox!

#9: Use the platform as a user.

Creating a social media marketing strategy is very important, but don’t forget to have some fun!

Rhea suggests:

• Engaging with other people’s accounts
• Following the hashtags that interest you
• Reaching out to new people
• Building relationships and connections
• Getting inspired by what others are doing

Think of social media as attending a conference day in and day out: It is a major networking opportunity that is waiting for you to engage. In fact, we’ve heard that social media is on par with the networking opportunities you will find at the in-person Alltech ONE Conference — and that’s saying something!

#10: Don’t become overly focused on the number of followers you have.

It is important to not become too obsessed with the number of followers you accrue. Of course, growing your following is important, but quality definitely rules over quantity when it comes to social media.

Make your social media goals all about growing a genuine following and connecting with them authentically. That will trump any number of bought or misaligned followers any time of day.

Thinking back to the networking example we mentioned previously, if you go to a conference with no interest in any of the topics being spoken about, why are you there? The people there are likely not “your people,” and you will find the experience very unfulfilling.

The same rule applies to social media: Go where you can find a community, and cultivate that connection and warmth on your own channels.

Wrapping it all up

Rhea ended her thorough presentation with this bit of wisdom: “Social media isn’t just about the sale. It is about community expansion, growing a brand, creating loyalty and celebrating and connecting with your people.”

Whatever your social media goals are for your equine business, put these principles into action and have some fun! We guarantee you will see results.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my horses.

As Alltech president and CEO Dr. Mark Lyons closed the 2022 Alltech ONE Conference following powerful presentations led by Alltech Humanitarian Award winners Mick Ebeling and Erik Weihenmayer, he invited the audience to consider a great deal about all that had been discussed. 

“We’ve been talking a little bit about some of the problems threatening global stability,” he said. “High inflation, the energy crisis, food poverty and the climate crisis [are all top of mind]. [And as Alltech ruminant research director Dr. Vaughn Holder reminded us], we have not just one now, but [rather] two very important jobs: nourishing people and preserving our planet. 

“We have the science that is showing us the way, but we also know [what to do] intrinsically,” Lyons continued. “It’s something that’s within us. Let’s not let negativity [and perceived barriers] suppress our inner truths.” 

A good thing 

Lyons went on to point out that we should take heart in Mick Ebeling’s message of doing at least a little bit of good for others each day.  

“[Doing good is good.] It’s good for our business. It’s good for our brand. It’s good for recruiting, and it’s good for retention,” he said. “[Think about it]. What is the number-one challenge in your business? People. It was before the pandemic, and it is even more so today.”  

Lyons has a point. According to a recent survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the so-called “great resignation” isn’t over: “Higher pay, more job fulfillment and wanting to be ‘truly themselves’ at work are the [key] factors pushing workers to change jobs.”

It would appear that the answer to this modern-day dilemma might be simpler than we may have originally thought. 

A transformative opportunity 

Lyons went on to note, “This is an opportunity for transformation. What a gift [we’ve been given: the ability] to work together to create a planet the way we want to see it. 

“We can have profitable businesses while solving the world’s biggest problems,” he continued. “There is so much more agriculture can do.”  

He’s not wrong. As studies have shown, we capture more carbon in the soil with animals on the land than we would without them. That’s information that the average person is likely unaware of, and “that’s the power that you [in agriculture] have. Tell the story,” Lyons urged the audience. 

“As my father [the late Dr. Pearse Lyons] liked to say, ‘Don’t get it right. Get it going’ — much to the remiss of many perfectionists, including [my mother],” Lyons continued. “But he was right! It’s not about perfectionism, it’s about progress. If we change the lens and the way we look at things, we can change the way we think.” 

The power of anti-goals 

Before you enlist Google’s help in discovering what anti-goals are, I’ll save you the trouble: Anti-goals are a concept developed by Tiny Capital co-founder Andrew Wilkinson. They’re about things you don't want to happen or the person you don’t want to be a year from now. So, essentially, instead of envisioning positive outcomes surrounding potentially hard-to-attain goals, you think about all the things you don’t want to happen and what actions you can take to avoid these potential challenges.  

So, consider: What things do you not want to happen? What outcome would make achieving your goal hardly worth it? How do you avoid that? This is an example of inverted thinking. It’s much easier to solve a problem backwards than it is forward, and anti-goals are designed to help you assess potential barriers before you encounter them. 

Camp or climb? 

In closing, Lyons remarked, “Every great ascent begins with a vision. Are we okay here? Are we going to be complacent? Shall we camp? Or will we climb?” 

He encouraged the audience to give those around them the courage to achieve great things and to work toward a Planet of Plenty™. 

“[Before we part, I’d like to ask] you to do a [few] things,” Lyons said. “[The first is to] think of that one person you can help, as Mick [Ebeling] challenged us to do. [The second is to] think of one collaboration [you can set into motion] — someone you can work with who can help you achieve your ambitions. And [finally, I would encourage you to] think of someone you could bring [to the Alltech ONE Conference] next year.”  

You never know. These few simple tasks could transform your life, that of another — or both. See you on the ascent. 

To register for access to on-demand content and more from the Alltech ONE Conference, visit one.alltech.com.

True to form, blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer began his presentation at the Alltech ONE Conference by explaining that he had only recently gotten back from climbing Cotopaxi, one of the signature peaks of Ecuador. He had undertaken this adventure to support a climber with a broken back who was reaching 18,000 feet via a sled and a team of people all dedicated to helping him achieve his goal.

Weihenmayer admitted that while the result of this trip was uplifting and inspirational, the process and path of getting there were literally exhausting.

“Accomplishments are fun to talk about,” Weihenmayer said. “What I think doesn’t get talked about enough, though, is the struggle. Because for me, [honestly], it's been a struggle to live this life.”

Weihenmayer is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. He began losing his vision at the age of 14 due to a disorder called retinoschisis, but that never stopped him from achieving his goals. He followed a passion for wrestling in high school, going on to represent his home state of Connecticut at the national level. He also discovered a love of rock climbing, which has led him down an exciting and awe-inspiring road — one that has seen him reach the peak of the highest summits on all seven continents, and much more.

What he has learned from his life and accomplishments is that overcoming challenges is all about the approach. How we see and perceive these obstacles determines how we work through or past them.

Camper or climber?

Weihenmayer told the audience that while writing his second book, “The Adversity Advantage,” he learned that there are three types of people: quitters, campers and climbers. Deciding not to dwell on the quitters, he explained that campers are the people who start out with hope, optimism and excitement, but somewhere along the way, they stop. This can be due to fear of the unknown, a lack of confidence after making mistakes, cynicism toward the world or simply exhaustion from constantly running into life’s many barriers.

Climbers, on the other hand, are the rare group that never stops going, growing and evolving. They are always moving forward onto the next adventure, challenge and idea, no matter what the world throws at them or the setbacks they endure. The question, however, is this: How do we continue to climb when it is so much easier — and makes so much more sense — to camp?

Weihenmayer explained that his own personal journey to becoming a climber began when he first began to lose his vision. When his sense of sight was all but gone, he used what little he had left to watch television. It was then that he learned about Terry Fox, an amputee with a prosthetic leg who ran across Canada. Weihenmayer realized that what drove Fox was a light inside of him, a passion that fed off of the frustrations and challenges of life. From this point on, Weihenmayer decided to stop focusing on everything he had lost and chose instead to look inward, discover his own light and emerge as a stronger and better person.

“I was tired of building walls around myself and protecting myself from loss,” he explained. “I wanted to break out of that prison partly constructed by my own fears.”

This led to Weihenmayer learning rock climbing. But while he says that this path has proven to be exhilarating and exciting, he admits that there is an aspect that still scares him: the reach.

The reach is the trust we must put into the unknown in order to keep moving onward. It allows us to take advantage of an immense number of possibilities that are never seen. However, Weihenmayer also admitted that when we reach, we bring adversity into our lives, and while it may be easier to avoid reaching, it is only by facing this adversity that we can achieve greatness.

Weihenmayer continued by giving examples of people he has met who not only face their adversities but use them in incredible ways. He calls them alchemists.

“What these alchemists do, I think, is different,” Weihenmayer explained. “They figured out how to seize hold of that storm of adversity that swirls around us to harness its energy and use that energy to propel themselves forward to places they would have never gone to in any other way.”

Lava Falls

Unfortunately, Weihenmayer explained that even when we have everything in the right place — the drive to succeed, the preparation for the task and a team backing us up the whole way — things still do not always go to plan. This was something he found as he tried to kayak through the Grand Canyon and, namely, the Lava Falls rapids.

Weihenmayer explained that everything had been prepared. He had trained for months with his team. They had developed a communication system that would enable him to easily navigate the course. However, on the day they attempted Lava Falls, everything went wrong, and he ended up overturned from his kayak, swimming blind through the rapids.

However, Weihenmayer said that he could not let this failure stop him, and that when we get knocked back, we all need to lean in, tap into the light inside us and try again. For Weihenmayer, this meant another — this time successful — attempt at the rapids, but for us all, it can mean the difference between achieving our dreams and never knowing what could have been.

“It is not one step that makes a path on the Earth,” he said, quoting Henry David Thoreau. “Nor is it one thought that makes a pathway in the mind. Instead, we step again and again and again towards those thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”

To register for access to on-demand content and more from the Alltech ONE Conference, visit one.alltech.com.

For evergreen optimists like Mick Ebeling, barriers, though perhaps initially intimidating, are only meant to be overcome, as soon as possible — the sooner, the better. Ebeling’s company, Not Impossible Labs, was born of necessity out of a chance meeting with the family of a locally renowned street artist known as Tempt One.

The start of something amazing

Tempt was suffering from the debilitating effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and had lost the ability to move any part of his body aside from his eyes. His family was desperate for the chance to effectively communicate with him again.

When Ebeling learned of this, he asked them why Tempt didn’t have a speech-generating device (SGD) like the one used by theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. Tempt’s brother informed him that owning such a device was only a possibility if you were wealthy (they weren’t) or had excellent insurance (they didn’t).

So, Ebeling — a successful video producer and entrepreneur — offered to buy Tempt an SGD. Naturally, the family was thrilled, and Ebeling, admittedly a bit caught up in the moment, told them he would also figure out a way for Tempt to draw again.

Although they were elated, Ebeling was initially worried he had overpromised. Despite this, he began to set things into motion, inviting a proclaimed team of “misfit geniuses and mad scientists” from around the world to live in his home while they worked on a solution, and the EyeWriter was born. It was truly life-changing, giving Tempt the ability to draw for the first time in seven years.

Ebeling and his team quickly made plans to open-source the technology associated with the EyeWriter, initially thinking that they’d simply go back to their regular lives afterward. But then, something incredible happened: Time Magazine named the EyeWriter a Top 50 invention of 2010. The Museum of Modern Art asked to put it on display. Award after award started coming in. And Ebeling realized that he could do more to help others in need.

Commit, then figure it out

Ebeling is on a mission to provide “technology for the sake of humanity.” His mantra? “Commit, then figure it out.” Working with a unique team of innovative thinkers, doers and creators, Ebeling’s Not Impossible Labs designs devices to better the world by giving accessibility to everyone.

Driven by the belief that “impossible is a fallacy,” Ebeling began to seek out other ways to help the disabled. And so, Project Daniel — initiated by the story of a 12-year-old Sudanese boy who lost his arms to amputation following a bombing near the field where he was tending his family’s animals — came to life.

Worried about being a burden to his family, young Daniel sadly admitted he would rather be dead than alive without arms. Upon hearing this story, Ebeling, who had a 12-year-old son of his own, realized that he had to solve this problem. So, the Not Impossible team set to work and, just a short while later, flew to an active war zone in Sudan, armed with 3D printers, laptops, spools of duct tape and more — all with the goal of building Daniel some arms.

This concept had been hatched on July 11, and just four months later, Daniel was able to feed himself for the first time in two years.

The Not Impossible team went on to create the first prosthetics laboratories powered by 3D printers. Most prosthetic arms cost around $15,000; Daniel’s cost $100. As Time Magazine said, “It’s hard to imagine any other technology doing more to make the world a better place.”

Enlightened capitalism

Ebeling reached out to Intel to ask for funding to keep Project Daniel going. They agreed and provided a modest amount in comparison to what they’d spent on other marketing and branding projects.

And yet, the thing that ended up doing the most for the company was that little investment in doing good. This led Ebeling to realize that doing good is — quite simply — good. It’s good for companies. It’s good for branding. It’s good for growth — and it’s a great business strategy.

The thing is that people want to make a difference. They want to do more. As Ebeling pointed out, “What have we learned in the last two years? It’s reminded us that life is fragile and that we could disappear, just like that.”

Many are re-evaluating their priorities and are seeking ways to make an impact in their local communities and beyond. So, Ebeling challenged the audience to consider what they could do for others.

“Will you help create advantages?” he asked.  “[Because the reality is] when the world benefits, your business benefits. Everybody benefits. This is how you create [meaningful] change. This is [known as] enlightened capitalism.”

Tackling future absurdities

Since the inception of the EyeWriter and Project Daniel, the Not Impossible team has gone on to design several other astounding inventions that have changed the lives of many, including — but not limited to — a blind skateboarder, a group of deaf music lovers and a former pioneering avant-garde jazz pianist afflicted by the debilitating tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebeling began to think about how big a problem food insecurity is, even in affluent countries like the United States.

“[Over] 50 million Americans struggle daily to put food on the table,” he noted. “One in five kids in America struggles with food insecurity. This is absurd. Why are people going hungry? This makes no sense. We are a wealthy country. We have plenty of food. [I realized] this is a supply chain issue.”

So, what happened next? You (probably) guessed it. The Not Impossible team created a solution known as Bento, a platform designed to connect people with readily accessible, nutritious, pre-paid meals from nearby restaurants in a stigma-free manner, all through discreet text messaging. And Time Magazine once again recognized Not Impossible on their best inventions list, making it the only company to ever win that award twice.

The why behind the try

As Ebeling closed, he remarked, “So, why do we do this? Why do we pull this stuff off? Because we shouldn’t! We don’t have the degrees or the credentials or the diplomas. There is nothing in who we are that drives us to do this aside from beautiful, limitless naivete. We simply didn’t get the memo that we weren’t supposed to be able to do this or pull this off.”

“What are you going to do with the blessing of your life?” he continued. “You won the lottery! Are you going to keep it to yourself? Or are you going to try to make this world a little bit better in the short, brief amount of time that you’re here? The one question I want to ask you to consider as you go back to your lives later this week is, ‘Who is your one? Who is the one person in your life that, if you think about it, you could help? Who is your Daniel?’”

This. This is how we can work together to make the world a better place. So, don’t wait. Start now. As Not Impossible has proven many times over, even a little effort backed by a passionate purpose can go a long, long way.

To register for access to on-demand content and more from the Alltech ONE Conference, visit one.alltech.com.

At the height of the 2008–2009 financial crisis, Unilever brought in Paul Polman as its CEO to jolt the business back to vigor and success. In his 10 years at the company, Polman led Unilever to double its revenues while reducing the company’s environmental impact by half. He has been described by the Financial Times as “a standout CEO of the past decade.”

Today, he works to accelerate action by businesses to achieve the UN Global Goals, which he helped developed. Polman recently co-wrote a book titled “Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take”. He joined the Alltech ONE Conference (ONE) virtually to share how organizations can transform themselves to achieve big goals by serving the world.

“It really is about making a business model where you can show that you profit from solving the world’s problems, not creating them,” advised Polman. “And when you can honestly answer the question, ‘Is the world better off because your business is in it?’”

The world needs business to step up

“What was very clear during the financial crisis, to me, (was) that we missed an opportunity to address the two most burning issues that science points us to: climate change and inequality,” said Polman. He sees the increases in disparity, natural disasters and diseases as the cost of our failures.

Polman went on to explain that if we put the planet’s age of 4.6 billion years old on a scale of 46 years:

• Human beings have only been around for four hours.
• The Industrial Revolution only started one minute ago.
• In that one minute, we’ve cut down 50% of the world’s forests.

“You can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet,” Polman said. “Anything you can’t do forever is, by definition, unsustainable.”

For many companies, corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments are about less plastics in the ocean, fewer carbon emissions and less deforestation. But in a world that has overshot its boundaries so much, Polman argued that “less bad” is still bad.

“So, the only way of thinking is really to think restorative, reparative, regenerative,” he continued. “And that is what we call ‘net positive’.”

Net positive is not about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.

According to Polman, a change needs to happen well beyond the scale of the Industrial Revolution. Increasingly, CEOs are required to be broader social leaders and to partner up within and beyond the industry level. Many CEOs are struggling to make change — and that is normal. The good news, however, is that the greatest challenges also present the greatest business opportunities.

“We are at the point confirmed by study after study (where) the cost of not acting is becoming higher than the cost of acting,” said Polman, “which actually makes it an enormous economic opportunity to create this greener, more inclusive, more resilient future and not go back to the past where we came from, which, frankly, had run out of steam.”

Helping the world is good for business

Polman noted three opportunities for businesses who step up:

1. Being highly valued in the financial market: Doing right by stakeholders is good for shareholders. Companies focusing on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance get higher returns in the market.
2. Attracting the best talent and increasing engagement: Gen Z and millennials are looking for purposeful companies to work for, where they can make a bigger difference than themselves and work on something that improves the state of the world.
3. Getting economic benefits from using sustainable technology: Moving all supply chains to sustainable supply chains can reduce costs by 9–16%, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In food and agriculture, farmers are using precision farming, artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy to provide food to people in a sustainable way. “Planetary health (and) regenerative agriculture … are, by all means, possible,” said Polman. “We see economic benefits coming through as well.”

Key takeaways from Unilever’s transformation

For business leaders who wants to embark upon the path to net positive, Polman shared the following tips:

1. Think long-term

When Polman came to Unilever, he did something unusual in the business world: He stopped providing quarterly earnings reports to focus on a long-term strategy that would benefit all stakeholders. Within 10 years, Unilever saw a 300% shareholder return and a 19% return on investment capital, outgrowing their competitive set. This reconciled the need for shareholder returns.

“People often behave short-term because of the boundaries that are put around them,” said Polman. “It’s clear that the issues like climate change or inequality or food securities or these enormous opportunities out there can really not be solved in the rat race of short-term reporting.”

2. Have an aligned purpose

“Our first step was really to define that purpose, to get our people behind that,” Polman recalled. “You cannot run a purposeful company if you are not purposeful yourself.”

Unilever spent a year working to find out everyone’s personal purpose before collectively developing the company purpose: making sustainable living commonplace. This paid homage to their co-founder, Lord William Lever, who wanted to make good hygiene common practice in the 19th century. To drive performance, Polman introduced “3+1,” where three objectives aligned across the company and one objective was about personal development.

Unilever started to build true momentum when its purpose-driven brands were more profitable and growing faster than others. Those brands included the likes of Lifebouy, a bar soap with the mission to help children reach the age of five when 4 million children die every year of infectious diseases. That brand has grown by double digits and has more than doubled in size over 10 years, when it was previously a dying brand.

3. Setting aggressive, net-positive goals

“Once we decided that we wanted to make sustainable living commonplace, we also felt that we needed to take responsibility for our total impact in the world,” said Polman.

Unilever started to measure its impact in terms of water, waste, carbon emissions and livelihoods. The company wanted to decouple their growth with an environmental impact and increase their overall social impact.

Unilever set 50 targets in building a multi-stakeholder model, including:

• Improving the health and well-being of 1 billion people
• Creating 5 million jobs for smallholder farmers
• Running zero-waste factories

The company made these goals public. For Polman, transparency drives trust, and trust is the basis of prosperity. Being trusted attracted the needed partnerships that opened up many business opportunities for Unilever.

4. Create partnerships

Business cannot thrive in a society that fails. “Net positive” is about driving the broader systems changes that society needs. No company can do this alone — but in partnering up with each other, as well as with civil society and governments, businesses can drive bigger transformations.

Unilever worked with numerous other companies (including its competitors), as well as governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in its effort to improve the well-being of people and the planet. This built credibility for the company. Consequently, Polman earned the only seat at the table as a private-sector representative on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) working group in 2013.

In concluding his virtual talk at ONE, Polman emphasized the important role that agri-business plays in creating a thriving world for all.

“I think what you (Alltech) are doing and what you are referring to as the Planet of Plenty™ is an important vision where you bring together the key principles of consumer health, environmental health and also animal health — where you leverage, obviously, very important technology, where you call out the importance of sustainable farm management, where partnership is engraved very high in your philosophy,” Polman said. “These are all key elements.”

“I could not think of a more important industry for the integral parts of health or people and planet — what we call planetary health — probably than this industry that you represent,” he continued. “The implementation of the [United Nations] Sustainable Development Goals, I would argue, is in the hands of the people that control our food and land-use systems. And that’s why it’s so important that we talk today.”

To register for access to on-demand content and more from the Alltech ONE Conference, visit one.alltech.com.