Ivo Lansbergen (DSM-Firmenich): ‘Use a data-driven approach to enhance sustainability’
A data-driven approach helps to support the livestock industry to produce more efficiently — Ivo Lansbergen, president of animal nutrition and health at DSM-Firmenich, is convinced of that. Precision farming solutions, he says, provide an opportunity for the livestock sector to enhance sustainability.
Ivo Lansbergen: “A sustainable livestock sector is one that is good for people, farmers, producers and the planet. At its core, it must strike a balance between meeting the growing demand for animal-based products, ensuring the profitability and viability of the industry and minimising the environmental impact of livestock production.
At DSM-Firmenich, through scientific innovation and collaborative partnerships with our customers, we’re pioneering ingredients and precision technologies that respect animals, people and the planet. For example, our Sustell platform measures environmental footprints at the farm level and has enabled data-driven decisions that improve productivity, farm profits and sustainability.
Through innovations like these, we have been able to create an ecosystem that allows profitability and sustainability to coexist.”
By promoting resource efficiency, minimising waste and emissions and supporting animal welfare, our precision technologies are elevating the productivity and sustainability of animal protein to the next level
“By providing data-driven solutions, precision technologies empower livestock producers to reduce operational costs, enhance sustainability practices and identify strategic investment opportunities.
Through advanced platforms, the livestock industry is better equipped to meet the growing demand for animal-based products in an efficient and effective manner to feed the growing global population.
By promoting resource efficiency, minimising waste and emissions and supporting animal welfare, our precision technologies are elevating the productivity and sustainability of animal protein to the next level, ensuring that the growing global population can be fed in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner.”
“On the horizon, there are growing pressures from various stakeholders to accurately measure and improve the sustainability of eggs, meat, milk and seafood. In this landscape, owning transparent data and robust sustainability credentials is becoming crucial for animal nutrition businesses.
Ubiquitous data and effective data management are the biggest enablers to tackle the challenges the feed and animal protein industries face. We need a data-driven approach to recognise and reward farmers with lower environmental footprints. By encouraging all farmers to adopt best practices, we can significantly reduce farming’s overall footprint. This will drive a “Race to the Top” in sustainability, aligning with food companies’ commitments to reducing carbon footprints through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). By harnessing the power of data, businesses can substantiate their sustainability claims, optimise their operations, and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly animal agriculture sector.
We will also see significant changes in animal nutrition, as advancements in our understanding of the animal microbiome and its impact on health, productivity and environmental footprint will lead to the development of targeted nutritional strategies. These may include the use of probiotics, prebiotics and other microbiome-modulating feed additives to improve animal performance and reduce emissions.
Furthermore, we will witness an increase in the use of local ingredients, by-products and novel ingredients, such as algal oils and single-cell proteins, which can offer lower environmental footprints and less volatility in supply. Incorporating alternative ingredients into animal diets can improve the sustainability of feed and livestock production.”
“The separation is about setting up both our animal nutrition and health business unit and the DSM-Firmenich group for further future success. DSM-Firmenich believes that the full potential of the animal nutrition and health business can be best realised through a different ownership structure.
My goal for animal nutrition and health is to strengthen our distinctive position as a global leader with its unique and integrated combination of vitamins, premixes, performance solutions and precision nutrition.”
Co-author: Marieke Ploegmakers, All About Feed
