The Agriculture Industries Confederation (AIC), which published an update this week on the progress made so far against its sustainability roadmap, believes that UK feed mills can move entirely to green energy with a fair tax relief system.
In April, the organization noted that the carbon emissions associated with UK based production of compound feed per ton were 23% lower than in 2000, following the introduction of Climate Change Agreements and targets on associated relative energy efficiencies being met. "These are industry data validated by the [UK's] Environment Agency."
Also in line with its roadmap objectives, the trade group said it will be rolling out sustainability training for its FAR registered animal feed advisers, which are around 5,000 in number, this autumn.
The AIC said its sustainability roadmap, released a year ago, was designed with a clear purpose in guiding the trade group’s collective work, its direction of travel and to help member companies align their activities and planning.
In terms of additional advances made since those goals were revealed, it said its member companies have been publishing their own sustainability linked targets and realizing new initiatives and innovations in that respect.
Nitrogen use efficiency
As to how it has been meeting its farm and land management goals, the AIC said it has been promoting a collective campaign setting out ambitions for improving farm nutrient balance, FCR, soil health, and nitrogen use efficiency.
“Momentum is now resulting in action,” it said.
The industry body is also collaborating in a forum involving the AHDB, farming bodies, retailers, and processors – coordinated by WRAP – and also that of the Sustainable Food Trust, to draft a common set of metrics for measuring change and targeting improvements in sustainable food production.
Work is ongoing in relation to those initiatives, it said.
“We continue to help shape government policy for farming and land use and the advisory landscape,” added the AIC.
Soy sourcing
Moreover, the organization said that work on reviewing and updating its guidance on responsible sourcing, reflecting the recent changes made to FEFAC's Soy Sourcing Guidelines (SSGs) 2021, is well underway.
The new text should be agreed in the coming weeks.
