What does the future hold for the field of Animal Nutrition and Food Ingredients? How will technological advancements redefine the food industry? These are just a few questions that Professor Dr. Leonardo Barcellos addressed in this latest installment of BRFi Talks. A veterinarian by training from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Barcellos also holds a master’s degree in Zootechnics and a Ph.D. in Physiology. Since 2001, he has been teaching at Universidade Passo Fundo, specializing in subjects like Physiology, Animal Welfare, and Aquaculture. Additionally, he serves as a consultant for the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, aiding in the development of materials and theoretical frameworks concerning fish welfare.
When considering innovations in the Animal Nutrition market that directly boost productivity, is there a lack of proper publicity, testing, and dissemination of these innovations? How can the sharing of information and new ingredients benefit the industry?
This is a topic we’ve discussed not only within animal nutrition but across various sectors where the industry has advanced at a pace far surpassing academia. Previously, science was evolving faster than the industry, but now it's the opposite. Many companies, not just in animal nutrition, possess technologies that even professionals within the sector struggle to fully comprehend. Consequently, there’s often a gap in understanding—those receiving these technologies may not grasp all the benefits they bring.
In numerous instances, individuals tasked with selling or presenting these technologies to the market lack sufficient knowledge to effectively communicate their value. This poses a significant challenge, especially in fields like nutrition, where professionals such as zootechnicians, farmers, and veterinarians need to deeply understand complex physiological processes, substance absorption, and how technology impacts animal microbiota and its myriad effects. To me, this highlights the pressing issue: the industry must increasingly establish something akin to a corporate university to ensure everyone is on the same page.
We've reached a point where it’s not just about figuring out how these technologies can be utilized but also about how best to communicate them to workers. This represents a critical qualification issue: “Can I train my technician, and is the broader market prepared to understand it?†Take BRFi as an example. They don’t just sell their products and brand; they also provide courses and educational resources to help the market and consumers understand their offerings better. It’s essential that we move beyond mere sales and focus on educating people about the importance of these innovations and how to maximize their potential. Otherwise, technicians and workers won’t be able to leverage these technologies effectively, creating bottlenecks that we must collectively address.
Bringing industries, companies, and academics closer together seems crucial.
While collaboration has occurred in the past, we're now at a juncture where the demand for technological advancements, product customization, and detailed solutions for clients presents a unique challenge. Simply hosting events to introduce products isn't enough anymore. Each offering must be tailored specifically to its intended market or customer base. Technology plays a vital role here because disseminating research isn’t easy for either universities or industries. As a result, scientific journalism within companies is becoming increasingly prominent.
We know that productivity extends beyond nutritional diets. Today’s producers must also consider the living conditions of their animals. How can optimizing the environment positively impact productivity and meet the species' needs beyond nutrition?
There are issues that precede nutrition. Applying a highly specialized diet won’t solve underlying problems like poor water quality or genetic issues. While promoting a new, additive-rich feed is important, it’s equally crucial to emphasize that these innovations work best when other foundational aspects have been addressed. This ties back to a recurring theme: personalization.
Several challenges can undermine the success of these nutritional innovations, leading producers to believe they don’t work. Therefore, it’s vital to focus on the environment and two key areas every company should prioritize—traceability and animal welfare. When animals are in a good environment and their welfare is ensured, productivity improves significantly. Moreover, these efforts can translate into added value, though this isn’t always realized. Animal welfare and environmental protection are areas that, even with minimal investment, deserve greater exposure since society views them favorably now and likely even more so in the future.
Demand for animal welfare is rising steadily. If a company and its products, like BRF, are linked to ethical practices and animal welfare promotion, there’s no doubt it will yield financial benefits. The emphasis should be on demonstrating how a healthy environment fosters better animal performance, reducing energy expenditure elsewhere. Ultimately, animal welfare means ensuring animals thrive in their environment.
Environmental improvements are key to achieving industry goals. Often, a product fails to deliver expected results simply because it’s being used in a production chain with misalignments. Such imbalances hinder the effectiveness of the product.
Sustainability is deeply intertwined with innovation. Do you believe sustainable ingredients will define the future of animal nutrition?
I’m certain of it. While it may not be the sole solution, it’s among the most important ones. Sometimes, we need to take a step back to move forward sustainably. For instance, producing at 70% capacity might be more environmentally sustainable than reaching 80%. Sustainability and economic considerations, which have been debated for decades, remain highly relevant today.
For example, we hear a lot about welfare and its potential to create added value. Ingredients that don’t necessarily maximize production but promote sustainability can generate revenue. There will always be a market for such products.
Using feed that harms the environment is counterproductive. We need to tailor ingredients to specific animal categories and life stages to optimize nutrient utilization and minimize waste. Hydrolysates and peptides hold great promise in this regard.
With rapid technological advancements, the future of these compounds lies in providing highly customized nutrition for diverse animal groups and life stages. Perhaps, in the future, they could even support new production models. In essence, a more personalized approach based on production characteristics will define the future of animal nutrition. And this is just the beginning; hydrolysates and peptides will undoubtedly find applications in human nutrition too, a trend we’re already observing.
Looking at innovations in formulations, what impact do enzymatic hydrolysates and bioactive peptides have?
I foresee a shift toward more therapeutic and personalized nutrition. Instead of using entire hydrolysates, our focus will soon shift to extracting specific peptides for targeted functions.
We’ve moved from bagged feeds to bulk feeding systems. Next, we’ll need multiple silos, each catering to different life stages of animals. Undoubtedly, the animal nutrition sector will need to adapt by offering producers advanced technologies that enhance productivity while addressing aspects like the immune system and preparation during each production stage.
The keyword moving forward will be adjusting nutrition to suit each production chain and its components. Whether academia can keep pace remains uncertain. In summary, a more personalized approach tailored to production characteristics will dominate the future of animal nutrition. And this is just the tip of the iceberg; the potential of hydrolysates and peptides extends far beyond current applications.
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