What does the future hold for the field of Animal Nutrition and Food Ingredients? How will technological advancements reshape the food industry? These are just a few of the questions addressed by Professor Dr. Leonardo Barcellos in this latest installment of BRFi Talks. A veterinarian by training from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Barcellos holds a master's degree in Zootechnics and a doctorate 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 to Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, aiding in the development of materials and theoretical frameworks concerning fish welfare.
When considering innovations in the Animal Nutrition market that enhance productivity, is there a gap in research dissemination, testing, and innovation? How can the sharing of information and technological advancements in ingredients benefit the industry?
This is a topic we’ve explored not only in animal nutrition but across various sectors where technological progress has outpaced academic research. Unlike the past, when science evolved faster than industry applications, today, companies—not just in animal nutrition—possess technologies whose intricacies even seasoned professionals in the field struggle to explain. Consequently, there’s often a lack of comprehension among those adopting these technologies. Those receiving the innovations may not fully grasp the benefits they offer.
In many instances, the individuals tasked with selling or presenting these technologies lack sufficient expertise, making it challenging to communicate their value effectively. In this domain, for instance, we have veterinarians, farmers, and zootechnicians who are well-versed in complex physiological processes, understanding how substances are absorbed or how technologies influence animal microbiota and its myriad effects. To me, the issue lies here: the industry must increasingly establish corporate universities to ensure proper knowledge transfer.
We’ve reached a point where simply contemplating how these technologies can be utilized isn’t enough; we must also focus on how to effectively communicate their value to workers. This represents a significant challenge—a matter of professional development, as the adage goes: “I can train my technician, but is the market ready to comprehend it?â€
Consider BRFi. They don’t merely sell products and concepts; they also offer courses and educational resources to help the market and consumers better understand their offerings. It’s crucial for us to evolve beyond mere product sales; we must educate users about the importance of these innovations and how to maximize their potential. If this doesn’t occur, technicians and workers will remain unable to leverage these technologies, creating bottlenecks that everyone will need to navigate.
Thus, there’s a pressing need to bring industries, companies, and academia closer together.
While collaborations have existed before, we’re now at a juncture where the demands for technological precision, detailed customization, and client-specific solutions pose unprecedented challenges. Hosting events to introduce products isn’t sufficient anymore—it must be something meticulously crafted for each market segment or customer group. Technology will facilitate this, as disseminating research is no small feat for universities or industries alike. Consequently, scientific journalism within companies is gaining traction.
We know that productivity extends beyond nutritional diets. Today’s producers must also consider the living conditions of animals. How can optimizing the environment positively impact productivity and meet species-specific needs beyond nutrition?
Several issues precede nutrition. Implementing a highly specialized diet won’t suffice if there are underlying deficiencies. In my field, this is straightforward: water quality, genetics, and numerous other factors cannot be resolved solely by feeding animals nutrient-rich diets filled with additives. While introducing innovative ingredients is essential, it’s equally vital to emphasize that they’ll only yield results if foundational issues are addressed first. This brings us back to a recurring theme: personalization.
That’s because various challenges can undermine the success of nutritional innovations, leaving producers disillusioned. Therefore, there’s an urgent need to focus on the environment and two other critical areas every company should prioritize—traceability and animal welfare.
A favorable environment and attention to animal welfare yield excellent outcomes. Moreover, these aspects can be leveraged to add value, which often remains untapped. Even modest investments in animal welfare and environmental protection could significantly benefit the industry since societal interest in these areas continues to grow. Demands for ethical treatment of animals are intensifying, and associating your brand with responsible practices can translate into financial gains. The essence of animal welfare boils down to this: “How well is the animal coping with its surroundings?â€
Enhancing the environment is pivotal to achieving the goals set by the industry. Often, the root cause of a product failing to deliver anticipated results lies in misaligned conditions within the production chain. Such imbalances hinder the intended benefits of the product.
Sustainability is deeply intertwined with innovation. Do you believe sustainable ingredients represent the cornerstone of the future of animal nutrition?
I am certain of it. While it might not be the sole solution, it’s undoubtedly one of the most critical. In some scenarios, stepping backward becomes necessary. For instance, producing at 70% capacity might be more sustainable than pushing for 80%. Environmental and economic considerations, debated over the past two decades, are now more relevant than ever.
Take welfare initiatives as an example. Their connection to added value is becoming increasingly apparent. Ingredients that don’t necessarily maximize production but promote sustainability can generate revenue. There will always be a market for such approaches.
Wasting feed that harms the environment is unacceptable. We must tailor ingredients to specific animal categories and life stages to ensure optimal utilization and minimize waste. Hydrolysates and peptides align with these goals.
As technology advances, I foresee these compounds playing a transformative role in delivering personalized nutrition tailored to distinct animal groups and life stages. Perhaps, in the future, they could even inspire novel production models.
In essence, a more customized approach based on production characteristics. And this applies exclusively to animal nutrition. Human nutrition will undoubtedly embrace these innovations as well—something we’re already witnessing.
Looking at these formulation innovations, what impact do you anticipate from enzymatic hydrolysates and bioactive peptides?
I envision a shift toward a more therapeutic and personalized form of nutrition. Instead of using whole hydrolysates, the focus will soon shift toward extracting specific peptides for targeted functions.
We moved from bagged feeds to bulk systems, and now we’ll need multiple silos—one for each stage of an animal’s life cycle. Undoubtedly, the animal nutrition sector will need to adapt by offering technologies that enable producers to evolve while addressing questions like immune systems and preparation during various production phases.
The keyword will be adjusting nutrition to suit each production chain and its individual steps. Whether academia can keep pace with these developments remains uncertain.
In summary, the four themes—research dissemination, environmental optimization, sustainability, and peptide innovation—are interconnected. Bridging these gaps requires effective communication strategies to enhance animal welfare and prevent suboptimal product performance. Sustainability, once considered niche, will soon define everything. Lastly, the vast potential of hydrolysates and peptides presents exciting opportunities for both current and future applications.
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