Sustainable sourcing keeps the poultry supply chain local

In today's global economy, local sourcing and transportation are key to minimizing the environmental impact of poultry supply chains and helping the poultry industry achieve net zero goals. As an added benefit, local suppliers are especially valuable in times of disruption or crisis.

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Hand holding with leaf icons in the Earth Network connection on nature background, Technology ecology concept. Environmental protection concept.
Laymanzoom | bigstockphoto

In today's global economy, local sourcing and transportation are key to minimizing the environmental impact of poultry supply chains and helping the poultry industry achieve net zero goals. As an added benefit, local suppliers are especially valuable in times of disruption or crisis.

During “Net zero and the future of sustainable poultry production,” a panel discussion recorded by WATTPoultry.com and Evonik Animal Nutrition at the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), a trio of industry experts discussed the things poultry producers can do to accelerate net zero and other sustainability goals.

The panelists were: 

  • Andy Rojeski, head of strategy, investor relations and Net Zero programs, Pilgrim’s
  • Faazi Adam, director of sustainability, animal nutrition line, Evonik
  • Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER

Terrence O’Keefe, content director, WATT Global Media, moderated the talk.

Terrence O’Keefe: How important do we think transportation and local sourcing are to achieving net zero?

Faazi Adam: I think it is more important than it suggests just by looking at the numbers. If you look at LCAs of the supply chain, it is overwhelmingly from feed production and the transportation aspect is actually not so high. But if you think of it more holistically, I think this is something that is really important. 

Especially over the past year or so, we've all seen how key supply security is for maintaining normal business operations. If you have a supplier that is local to your region and reliable that that makes a big difference. If you don't have that, then it can cause a lot of issues.

If we're talking specifically in the feed industry and you can't access a specific additive that you need for your formulations, then you need to reformulate or you have a problem. This can cause a lot of unforeseen business expenses and, in the end, it can be quite detrimental to sustainability programs when you have to deal with a crisis situation that comes from supply security. 

If companies are able to secure some sort of security of supply, that that really helps in the long run with sustainability even if it's not necessarily reflected in the LCA of poultry production.

Andy Rojeski: I think as we take a look at local sourcing, having that end-to-end view will provide better visibility in recognizing that there might be certain regions or certain parts of the country that are better at doing some things than others. Having that end-to-end view  and making sure that we have kind of clarity about where it's coming from and who is involved  I think is what's going to provide better direction about the value of local sourcing and the impact it can have on the environment. 

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