ABOUT US

The recent IPCC special report on Climate Change and Land stresses that it will be impossible to keep global temperatures at safe levels unless there is a transformation in the way the world produces food and manages land. It estimates that 25-30% of global greenhouse gas emissions are consequence of the food system, which greatly contributes to pollution of air, soil and water, and to biodiversity loss. At the same time, climate change will severely affect agricultural production (reducing yields and land available for agriculture), with dramatic consequences for the livelihood and rural communities, among others. Feed production and processing account for the majority of the sector’s emissions (45% according to FAO) due to the great resources’ consumption, the vast energy and water consumption of the process, the enormous amount of land-use change and deforestation problems. The European Union imports a large quantity of raw materials of the livestock feeding sector, especially soybean (85% of the soybean, 24% of corn and 8% of wheat and corn consumed). 14 million tonnes of soya beans per year are imported to feed our animals, which increase the agri-food sector impact in climate change and reduce the region autonomy. It is necessary to introduce sustainable practices based on circular economy principles. New food chains must be environmentally friendly, foster local economies and consider social aspects. Feed production will be the mainstream of this change. SUSTAvianFEED aims to demonstrate innovative poultry farming systems by the inclusion of sustainable animal feeding. The project will develop a sustainable nutritional formula for poultry farming in which insects will play a key role and which will lead to an innovative poultry farming approach.

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Period of Implementation

Apr 1, 2021 - Mar 31, 2025
Total Budget

EUR 2,299,388.45

OUR IMPACT

Goals

1. reduction of at least 10-15% of GHGs emissions per kg of poultry feeding in comparison with the traditional ones. 2. improvement of the use of agriculture by-products to produce insect will contribute to circular economy. 3. contribution to poultry biodiversity preservation by promoting the use of autochthonous poultry breed and local hybrid in Spain, Italy, Tunisia and Turkey. 4. reduction of feed cost by promoting the use of local by-products. 5. promote mix crop-livestock systems, which include insect farming (to valorise agriculture waste), alternative poultry feeding practice (including insects and agriculture by-products), thus promoting circular economy. 6. socioeconomic growth of small-scale farmers in the Mediterranean marginalized rural areas, thanks to high quality poultry products. 7. implementation of the gender equality and women empowerment of the Mediterranean regions , with a specific focus in Tunisia.

Objectives

to develop a sustainable nutritional formula for poultry farming through the use of insects and the substitution of protein sources with high and negative environmental impact (as soybean or fishmeal) in the poultry feeding programs by regional agri-food sector by-products in order to follow circular economy principles. to reduce the environmental impact of the poultry sector while offering quality, safe and affordable products. to promote local economy, socioeconomic growth and local resilience of Mediterranean areas. to demonstrate the feasibility and suitability of alternative nutritional formula in real poultry farming contexts. to improve animal health and welfare. to promote gender equality and empowerment of women. to develop a multi-actor approach in which relevant actors of the whole value chain are involved.

WHERE WE WORK

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