What if plant breeders are focusing on the right traits for the field but overlooking what animal feed manufacturers actually need?
At the Euroseeds Congress 2026 in Valencia, Seed World Europe spoke with Alexander Döring, Secretary General of the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC), about how plant breeding can better address the nutritional needs of Europe’s animal feed sector.
For feed manufacturers, protein quantity is only part of the equation. Amino acid composition, digestibility and anti-nutritional factors all play important roles in determining the nutritional value of crops.
Döring highlights opportunities for plant breeders to improve feed quality, including reducing trypsin inhibitors in soybeans to improve protein utilisation. He also discusses how developing more resilient protein and oilseed crops could help strengthen Europe’s domestic protein supply.
Closer collaboration between plant breeders and feed manufacturers is another priority. By better understanding the nutritional requirements of the feed sector, breeders could develop varieties that support greater nutrient efficiency while contributing to Europe’s broader food security goals.
Watch the interview to discover why Döring believes stronger cooperation between the seed and feed sectors could help Europe produce not just more protein, but better-quality protein.
