DSM to boost sustainable animal protein in Thailand partnership as meat consumption grows in Asia

20 Jan 2022 --- Aligning with the growing demand for meat in Asia, DSM has joined forces with Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Thailand to measure the impact of animal-derived protein production with the help of Sustell, a data-driven sustainability service.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding in Bangkok regarding the implementation of the Intelligent Sustainability Service - Sustell, proprietary of DSM.

The tool provides guidance and solutions at farm level on how to improve sustainability profitably.

“Animal farming companies benefit from being able to fully understand their environmental footprint, allowing them to take ownership of it and make the necessary improvements which, depending on the company, is needed for them to meet their commitments to their customers, till the end consumer,” Carlos Saviani, global sustainability and business solutions lead tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

There is a rising demand for meat in Asia exacerbated by a growing population. The need for sustainable and environmentally sound animal protein production is key to achieving this goal.

Mitigating ecological cost of animal protein 
Thailand plays an important role in livestock production and is the world’s fourth-largest poultry exporter. With the population in Asia Pacific expected to grow over five billion by 2050, the demand for animal protein is also expected to increase rapidly, putting further strain on livestock production. 

DSM and CPF are proponents of reducing the environmental costs of farming through “smart science and innovative solutions” in the face of an expanding human population and consequent demand for meat. 

Sustell combines an advanced sustainability calculation tool that uses actual farm data with practical solutions and business development projects. It covers broilers, swine, layers and dairy production. The service will be extended to accommodate beef and aquaculture.

“In this way, we will make a step-change in enabling the industry to achieve tangible, measurable improvements in the sustainability of animal farming,” Saviani says.

“We are working with third parties to develop the appropriate service for these different farming sectors.”Sustell provides solutions at farm level to improve sustainability measures in a profitable way. 

CPF Thailand is an animal feed producer in the production of poultry, swine and aquaculture protein. Sustell will assist production by looking at key areas such as land use, emissions of biogenic derived molecules derived from CH4 emissions such as methane, water availability, soil quality, ecotoxicity, eutrophication, carcinogenic influences caused by particulate or ionizing radiation and ozone depletion, among many other factors. 

“Through this collaboration, we hope to enhance the entire value chain from farm-to-fork and advocate food security and self-sufficient society,” says Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO at CPF.

The European Parliament recently released a report that outlines areas for improving farm-to-fork strategy, initially proposed by the EU Commission in May 2020.

The Council calls for scientifically-sound impact assessments based on EU legislative proposals under the farm-to-fork strategy. It also calls to continue promoting the responsible use of pesticides, antimicrobials and fertilizers to produce food sustainably and support the environment.

FoodDrinkEurope (FDE) set out five tests that it believes the strategy must pass for it to deliver sustainable food systems. FDE urged the European Commission to incorporate its recommendations to preserve Single Market principles and to achieve carbon-neutral targets.

Environmental footprint data analysis
DSM and CPF will calculate and analyze 19 environmental footprints using feed and farm data. The companies will look for opportunities of improvement and model the adoption of interventions to reduce the environmental footprints of animal farming.

Sustell manages the complexity of thousands of data points with an intuitive, user-friendly interface that is connected to the Blonk APS-footprint calculation tool. Blonk’s APS-footprint tool incorporates complete life cycle assessment (LCA) functionality and generates comprehensible results. 

“Ultimately, the whole value chain benefits right through to consumers, as we strive to create a more sustainable animal protein industry in order to feed a growing global population, sustainably and responsibly, and within our planet’s boundaries,” says Saviani. 

DSM supports the livestock value chain through its strategic initiative “We Make It Possible” and climate change initiatives such as improving the lives of farm animals, reducing food waste and greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions from livestock and tackling antimicrobial resistance.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development and 14 member companies launched the Responsible Meat Initiative in 2021 with the message that meat proteins can play a vital role in creating a sustainable food system as long as it is produced and consumed responsibly. 

By Inga de Jong