Feed
Our regular look at innovations in feed
Although the current pandemic may have placed a temporary pause on the sector’s growth, there is little doubt that the animal feed protein ingredients sector will continue to boom in the years ahead. Indeed, the latest Global Markets Insight (GMI) study predicts that the sector will be worth $245.06 billion by 2026, a seven point three per cent increase on the 2019 figure of $160.95 billion.
The stand out finding from the GMI report was that global demand will continue to expand, as sustainable protein sources for the world’s population need to be found in ever increasing quantities. The industry itself is expected to evolve and grow, with premium feed ingredients playing a pivotal role in ensuring the optimal health and wellbeing of all humans and animals on the planet.
The GMI found that in Europe pressures on demand could soon outstrip supply, following the mass increase in fish and livestock production. However, the report added that current signs were good in the way that the industry was handling the demands of increased growth.
The study also found that key growth drivers include Peru’s fast-flourishing aquaculture industry, as well as the renewed emphasis on meat and meat-based products in the Asia-Pacific region (a sector which is expected to exceed $226bn by 2025).
In terms of restrictions that may slightly hamper the feed ingredient industry, the study highlighted strict feed regulatory compliances as well as restrictions on fish farming which may reduce the quantity of farmable protein available.
The study also focussed on which ingredients might play a pivotal role in the coming years?
Oilseed meals, produced as a by-product of soybean, copra, sunflower, canola and cottonseed oil extraction, were expected to continue to play a much larger role in feed production. Thanks to oilseed meals’ wide variety of applications, this flexible ingredient will increase in use through the next few years
Canola meal is a similarly flexible solution that can be used in a wide variety of feeds. Thanks to its high cystine amino acid content, as well as high levels of methionine, it has proven especially popular in a wide range of feed solutions. Canola meal has also now been recognised more as a safe, natural feed ingredient which can be reliably used to safeguard stock from diseases and ailments
Yeast-based probiotics are also seeing a significant increase in usage, especially among ruminant feeds. This is due to the impressive recent advancements in yeast-based probiotics which have led to improved gut health, as well as preventing decreased rumen pH and enhanced fibre digestion. Dry yeast is expected to be more popular in the coming years than alternatives
Bone meal is expected to gain significant traction, especially so in North America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe
Enzymes, vitamins, prebiotics and organic acids are also expected to be utilised much more frequently within animal feed, in order to ensure the continued health of animals to keep our food chain running at a sustainable and manageable pace. Experts suggest that, in order to gain a competitive advantage in the feed ingredients market, companies should be developing novel microbial strains and expanding their portfolio of products. Phytase specifically is an enzyme which has been steadily increasing in use in past years. In 2018, phytase sales saw an increase of 3.91 percent up to 25,701 million tonnes and this number is expected to continue its steady increase
Amino acids have become more and more utilised in the market as we become a much more health-conscious population. The Asia-Pacific region is again expected to see the largest growth in use of amino acids owing to their improved economic conditions and an increased demand. In second place to Asia-Pacific is South America, who also use a significant amount of amino acids for their feed. China will, it is estimated, continue to be the largest exporters of amino acid solutions.
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The stand out finding... was that global demand will continue to expand”