Embracing circular economy principles in poultry farming

Great interest at today’s conference “Feeding the Future: alternative solutions for sustainable poultry farming” held in the framework of Terra Madre 2024 to present and discuss preliminary results of the SUSTAvianFEED project, funded by the PRIMA Initiative and coordinated by the Spanish feed manufacturer ALIA.

The environmental impact of livestock feed growing at an alarming rate, the proposal to apply circular economy principles to insect-based feed attracted considerable attention, leading to a lively discussion. Experts from Spain, Italy, Tunisia, and Turkey shared insights into sustainable poultry farming techniques, exploring how these practices can enhance local agricultural economies in Mediterranean regions while offering nutritional, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional feed.

“Animal biodiversity ensures healthier and more resilient species – said Achille Schiavone from the University of Turin- in the protection of those species the larval feeding tested by the Sustavianfeed project has proved very effective. The focus on improving broiler and laying hen farming by emphasizing biodiversity, agroecological practices, and supporting local economies—particularly women’s empowerment in developing countries – convinced the academic community”.

But what is the role of the consumer and how best to direct the choice of one feed over another? Explained to us by Özlem Karahan Uysal from EGE University “We have conducted a multiple aspects survey to test the perception and the potential response of the consumers to an animal-based nutrition and the overall response was good”.

Juan Antonio Cortés of ENTOMO, one of the partners in the initiative, contributed by explaining the ‘super circular economy’ process in the production of insect larvae. Moderated by Marta Gariglio from the University of Turin, the event responded to the promises to offer insights into sustainable poultry farming while contributing to the broader goals of food security and biodiversity conservation.