The Specialty Feed Ingredients Sustainability (SFIS) Project Consortium has finalised the Product Category Rules (PCRs) for the evaluation of the environmental footprint of animal production, when using Specialty Feed Ingredients (SFIs) in feed.

The SFIS project aims to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production through innovative specialty feed ingredients, today announced Commissioned by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures (FEFANA), the overall results of the SFIS study showed that the use of SFIs in animal diets reduces the consumption of basic feed ingredients. The rigorous SFIS analysis provides solid scientific evidence demonstrating that the use of amino acids and phytase contributes to the mitigation of the environmental impact from poultry and pig production. The addition of these specialty feed ingredients reduces excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus into the environment, while at the same time reducing the recourse to finite resources (e.g. phosphate). The results of the study were validated by an independent Scientific Council made up of global experts in the fields of LCA methodology and animal nutrition.

Publish and share the results

"The development of product category rules is an important achievement for the specialty feed ingredients industry as it establishes common agreed rules to be used by all," said Dr Michael Binder, Chair of the SFIS Technical Board. "By setting up a standard approach, the SFIS project will enable specialty feed ingredients to be included in the evaluation of mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impact of animal production on a global basis" added Dr Binder. "The SFIS project partners are committed to sharing the positive results of their work with international organizations and other feed chain operators," highlighted Philippe Becquet, Chair of the SFIS Management Board. "The project team, supported by its Scientific Council, will publish the results in the forthcoming issue of the peer reviewed Scientific Journal of Animal Science. The SFIS project is a prominent example of how the feed industry is working together to improve the sustainability of the whole feed and food chain," added Becquet.

About the SFIS Consortium

The Specialty Feed Ingredients Sustainability (SFIS) project consortium is led by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures (FEFANA), and brings together the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the Japan Feed Manufacturers Association (JFMA) and the Brazilian Feed Industry Association (Sindirações), as well as companies active in the production of feed and specialty feed ingredients. The project partners have joined together to measure and establish the role of specialty feed ingredients, specifically amino acids and enzymes, on the environmental impact of livestock production and are united in the goal to contribute to the reduction of emissions in the food and feed chain. A Scientific Council composed of distinguished world-class experts serves as the independent advisory body for the SFIS Project.