b'PARTNER CONTENTCertification: Paving the Way for Climate Protection and Animal WelfareSEED SPECIALIST KWS IS SETTING NEW STANDARDS IN AGRICULTURE WITH ITS CERTIFIED FEEDING CONCEPT FOR PIGS. THE CONCEPT IS BASED ON A HIGH PROPORTION OF RYE AND CAN REDUCE CO EMISSIONS BY AS MUCH AS 30%.2 A griculture is currently facing major challenges: Climate change, the need to reduce its ecological footprint, grow-ing public demands regarding animal welfare. With the successful certification of a sustainable feeding concept for pigs, seed specialist KWS and its partners are now taking a significant step towards sustainable, climate-friendly livestock farming.UP TO 30% REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS WITH REGIONAL RYEThe focus of the concept is on animal feed containing a high proportion of rye. Thanks to its resource-efficient propertieslow water and fertilizer consumption coupled with high disease resist-ancethis cereal crop can make an important contribution to cli-mate protection. Hybrid rye produces approximately 70 kilograms less COper ton of crop yield than wheat does, for example.2With this in mind, KWS has jointly developed a sustainableFeeding pigs a diet with a high rye content promotes animal health and leads feeding concept for pigs together with the University of Veterinaryto a significant reduction in CO 2emissions from livestock farming.Medicine Hanover based on the results of the 6-R project1 funded by Germanys Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).ment and energy consumption. Species-appropriate, healthy The project proved that feeding pigs a rye-rich diet can reduceanimal husbandry and sustainable food production are societal COemissions by 20 to 30% up until slaughter. The KWS conceptdemands that we take seriously, emphasizes the expert. In 2has now received ISO 14064-2 certification, an internationallylaunching its KWS Sustainability Initiative 2030, the company has recognized standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouseset itself measurable goals for sustainable agriculture. Reducing gas emissions, which is unique in the livestock sector.resource use and supporting sustainable nutrition are key com-Dr. Andreas von Felde, Head of global product managementponents of this strategy.for animal feed at KWS explains: Roughly 60% of COemissionsThe positive results of the feeding concept prompted KWS 2in pork production come from animal fodder. By feeding the pigsalong with the University of Veterinary Medicine and other initia-a rye-rich diet, we can reduce this footprint by as much as 30%.tors2 to extend their research to poultry farming. The BMEL-funded Moreover, several studies have shown that rye not onlyFUETURE3 project is investigating how rye and regional protein supports the intestinal health of pigs due to its high content ofsources can be used in broiler farming. We hope to gain simi-fermentable fiber but also significantly reduces salmonella con- larly valuable insights as those obtained in pig farming.tamination in fattening farms. Rye additionally diminishes the development of boar odor and leads to more satisfied, calmerREAL ADDED VALUE FOR FARMERSanimals in the hog houses.A decisive advantage for farmers is that they can officially prove their climate-friendly measures by participating in the KWS feed-STRONG SIGNAL FOR THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY ing concept. Sustainable agriculture needs to offer real added The certification has created positive effects for the sector. Withvalue for farmers, and also be feasible, stresses von Felde. We the Meat Climate Platform, players in the meat industry haveoffer this added value through increasingly high-yielding, efficient set themselves the goal of finding solutions to reduce emissions.seeds. We are also promoting projects such as the certification The platform launched in 2025 identifies the main sources ofof sustainable feeding concepts in cooperation with industry part-COemissions in agriculture and the meat industry with the aimners. This will allow emissions and their reduction to be precisely 2of improving the footprint, explains von Felde. In acquiring thismeasured, thus resulting in greater transparency.certification, KWS is tackling a core building block of the valueEmission-reduced pig and poultry feed based on rye offer chain: We believe that weve brought everyone involved closerecological and economic benefits both to farmers and feed man-to the industry solution target for 2025. ufacturers alike. The concept is consequently an important con-Food retailers and consumers expect sustainable produc- tribution to supporting sustainable livestock farming in Germany tion methods in terms of animal feed, husbandry, farm manage- and Europe. 1 6-R: Regional renaissance of rye and oilseed rape for the reduction of problems in crop and livestock production through the reevaluation of substances and their systematic use to support environmental, animal and consumer protection. The 6-R concept was developed by Prof. Josef Kamphues (University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover Foundation) and is used today as the basis for a rye-rich diet. 2 Other participants in the FUETURE project include the Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences and the IFF (Internationale Forschungsgemeinschaft Futtermitteltechnik e.V.International Research Association of Feed Technology).3 Animal feed for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumptionInvestigations into animal feed selection and forms of supply to increase sustainability, animal health and regionality in broiler nutrition (FUETURE).MAY 2025|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 9'