Allevamento animale e sostenibilità ambientale. Vol. 2: Le tecnologie

[Autom. eng. transl.] The chapter deals with the issue of sustainability of the feed industry, highlighting the feed system as an integral part of the food production cycle and the link between plant and animal production. The feed mill has the main role of enhancing the by-products of the milling industry, becoming an active part in the production chain, not only from an economic, social and environmental point of view, but also as a valorizer of resources from other production chains with a view to of circular economy. The chapter deals with the Italian production context linked to the feed market, from the purchase of raw materials to the production of the various types of feed according to the animal categories to which they are destined. The current feed system is not only a feed producer, but occupies a fundamental function as an optimizer in the use of agro-industrial resources, the transfer of technology, knowledge and services to the livestock system, resulting in important positive environmental effects at the farm level , local and national. The evaluation of the carbon footprint of 1 kg of feed, in relation to the geographical origin of the raw materials and the energy sources used in the technological processes, highlights how the activity of the feed mill has a very low impact compared to the production of the necessary inputs and related transport to and from the feed mill itself and how the positive environmental effects of the feed industry deserve attention and recognition. The feed mill also plays a very important economic-social role as a tool for the development of the territory, necessary for the economy and for animal production. In conclusion, the SWOT analysis is shown with which it is possible to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the entire feed system.