Trends and innovations: the future of human and animal nutrition
What does the future hold for the field of Animal Nutrition and Food Ingredients? How will technological advancements reshape the food industry? These are just a few of the questions that Professor Dr. Leonardo Barcellos addressed in this latest installment of BRFi Talks. As a veterinarian with a degree from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, a master's in Zootechnics, and a Ph.D. in Physiology, Barcellos has been teaching at Universidade Passo Fundo since 2001. His expertise spans Physiology, Animal Welfare, and Aquaculture. Additionally, he serves as a consultant for the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry, focusing on developing materials and establishing theoretical frameworks for fish welfare. This is a topic we've discussed not only in animal nutrition but across various sectors where the industry evolves at a pace that academics often struggle to keep up with. It's a shift from the past, when science advanced faster than the industry. I see companies—whether in animal nutrition or elsewhere—owning technologies that even industry professionals find challenging to explain. Consequently, there's often a gap in understanding; those receiving the technology may not fully grasp its benefits. In many cases, the individuals tasked with selling or presenting these technologies lack the depth of knowledge needed to communicate effectively. For instance, in the field of nutrition, we rely on zootechnicians, farmers, and veterinarians who must comprehend complex physiology, absorption processes, and how technologies affect animal microbiota and their myriad impacts. To me, this is the crux of the issue: the industry must increasingly establish corporate universities to bridge this gap. We've reached a point where it's not just about figuring out how to use these technologies but also how to present them to workers. This presents a significant challenge—a matter of qualification. As the saying goes, "I can train my technician, but is the market ready to understand it?" Take BRFi, for example. They don't just sell their products and company philosophy; they also offer courses and communication strategies to help the market and consumers understand their offerings better. It's essential that we move beyond mere sales to educate people about the importance of these technologies and how to maximize their potential. If this doesn't happen, technicians and workers won't be able to leverage these technologies, creating bottlenecks we'll all need to overcome. While collaboration has occurred before, we're now at a stage where the demands for technological, detailed, and personalized product solutions for clients have become more complex. It's no longer sufficient to host events and explain products; they must be tailored specifically to the market or customer. Technology will play a crucial role here, as disseminating research is challenging for both universities and industries. As a result, scientific journalism within companies is gaining traction. There are issues that precede nutrition. Applying a highly specific diet won't suffice if there are underlying deficiencies. In my field, it's straightforward: water quality, genetics, and other factors cannot be resolved simply by feeding animals a highly fortified diet. While introducing new ingredients is important, it's equally vital to ensure that other foundational aspects are addressed first. This ties back to a recurring theme: personalization. Various problems can undermine the effectiveness of nutritional innovations, leading producers to believe they don't work. Hence, attention must be paid to the environment, along with two other critical areas that every company should prioritize—traceability and animal welfare. A good environment and proper animal welfare yield excellent results. Moreover, these areas represent untapped opportunities for added value, which are often overlooked. Animal welfare and environmental protection are fields where even a small investment can yield significant returns, especially as societal expectations grow. Demands for better animal welfare are increasing, and companies like BRF, which promote ethical practices, can capitalize on this trend. Clearly, the better the relationship between animals and their environment, the fewer resources animals need to expend. Thus, the essence of animal welfare remains: "How well is the animal coping with its environment?" Enhancing the environment is key to achieving the industry's goals. Often, the reason a product fails is due to misalignment in the production chain. Such imbalances hinder the expected outcomes of the product. I am certain of it. While it may not be the sole factor, it's among the most critical. In some cases, it necessitates taking a step backward. Sometimes, reducing production slightly (say, from 80 to 70) leads to greater environmental sustainability. The discussions around sustainability and economics over the past 20 years remain highly relevant today. For instance, we see a lot of emphasis on welfare and its conversion into added value. Ingredients that might not maximize production but ensure a more sustainable operation will generate income. There will always be a market for such approaches. Wasting feed that harms the environment is unacceptable. We must tailor ingredients to each animal category and life stage to optimize their use and minimize waste. In my view, this aligns with the benefits of hydrolysates and peptides. Given the rapid technological advancements, the future of these compounds lies in providing highly customized nutrition for different animal groups and life stages. Perhaps, in the future, new production models will emerge. In short, a more personalized nutrition approach based on production characteristics. This applies not only to animal nutrition but also predicts that hydrolysates and peptides will undoubtedly find applications in human nutrition, a trend we are already witnessing. I envision a more therapeutic and personalized nutrition. Instead of using whole hydrolysates, the focus will shift toward extracting specific peptides for targeted functions. We moved from bagged feeds to bulk feeding, and now we'll need multiple silos—one for each life stage of the animal. Undoubtedly, the animal nutrition sector will need to adapt to offer technologies that allow producers to evolve while addressing questions like the animals' immune systems and their readiness for each production phase. The keyword will be adjusting nutrition to each part of the production chain. Will academia be able to keep up? I'm unsure if sufficient progress has been made in this regard. In summary, the four questions are interconnected, with numerous developments on the horizon. The challenge lies in spreading these innovations effectively. Improving animal welfare through better alignment between animals and their environments is crucial; the better the environment, the higher the animal performance, preventing suboptimal results. Sustainability, once seen as niche, will soon become central. Lastly, the immense potential of hydrolysates and peptides, though not entirely novel, will redefine the industry. Nebulizer Medicine,Nebulizer At Home,Nebulizer Treatment,Nebulizer For kids,Best Nebulizer Machine,Best Nebulizer Shenzhen Urion Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.urionhealth.comWhen it comes to innovations in the Animal Nutrition market that boost productivity, is there a lack of publicity, testing, and dissemination of these innovations? How can sharing information and advancements in ingredients enhance the industry?
Thus, there is a clear need to bring industries, companies, and academia together.
We know that productivity extends beyond nutritional diets. Producers must also focus on the living conditions of the animals. How can optimizing the environment positively influence productivity and meet the species' needs beyond just nutrition?
Sustainability is closely linked to innovation. Do you believe sustainable ingredients are the key to the future of animal nutrition?
Looking at innovations in formulations, what impact do you foresee with the use of enzymatic hydrolysates and bioactive peptides?