Towards implementation of sustainable animal diets: evidence generation, perspective building and way forward.

One of the major bottlenecks in meeting the increasing demand for livestock products is in reconciling feed production, required in ever-increasing amounts, with good management of natural resources and protection of the environment The process at all stages has a major impact on several factors including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, animal productivity, product quality and safety, animal welfare, water and air pollution and land use changes. Production of animal feed and feeding is the basis of viable livestock production systems and sustainability will be illusory without making the diet sustainable. Thus, implementation of the sustainable animal diet (StAnD) concept, developed by FAO through the consultative process that integrates three dimensions of sustainability (people, planet and profit; also called 3-P dimensions), is crucial. It is expected to provide socio-cultural benefits for the people, promote animal welfare and protect the environment through efficient use of natural resources. This study is an intermediate step towards implementation of the StAnD concept to validate the elements of different dimensions of the StAnD through a review of the literature. Some situations exist where there is antagonism within and between the different dimensions of StAnD. However, this paper has identified the most promising approaches for putting the StAnD concept into practice immediately, the application of which provides win-win situations and enhances synergies in different dimensions of sustainability with respect to the StAnD. These includes: locally available feed resources that do not compete with human food; novel feed resources and by-product feeds; phase feeding and precision feeding; straw-based densified mixed ration block; ration balancing programmes on-farm; lesser known plants; adoption of conservation agricultural and agro-ecological practices for feed production; energy efficient machinery and renewable energy at all stages of the feed production and use chain; promotion of grass based livestock production systems and pastoralism. Towards this end, this review also builds new perspectives particularly with respect to socio-cultural aspects of feed production and use, and suggests future research and development (R & D) needs and priorities. These should be tailored towards exploiting the use of by-products or co-products from agro-based processes, food waste and novel feed resources in animal diets particularly with the aim to remove their content of human food; identifying methodologies to monitor success of the StAnD application; development and use of fuel efficient engine; developing nutritional interventions that meet animal welfare standards; formulating appropriate policies and providing incentives and support to facilitate StAnD use. Guidance to implement the StAnD concept for the people, planet and profit dimensions of StAnD is also available.