Sustainable feed production from Norwegian bio-resources for livestock and aquaculture (SUSFEED)

In SUSFEED we will develop a model of the Norwegian feed supply system by mapping the potential domestic feed ingredients, their potential for industrial up-scaling and sustainability. In recent years, considerable attention has been given to find sustainable and cost-effective agri- and aquaculture feed materials to address issues such as food security, GHG emissions, climate change, and, in Norway, ambitious targets to increase salmon production. This search for novel feed ingredients and sources is creating new opportunities for companies working with bioresources. While there has been a focus on developing new feeds, we have very limited knowledge on the overall feed system and how it is changing. How sustainable will the feed system be and how can we get sustainably source feed in the volumes required? The aim of SUSFEED is to develop an in-depth understanding of the feed system: how feed can be harvested, produced, processed and distributed to supply the growing and changing needs of Norway’s agri- and aquacultural sectors. For this, we will apply a systems approach for mapping the domestic feed system and conduct environmental, social and economic sustainability assessments. SUSFEED's multi-disciplinary team involves researchers from the social sciences, biology, agronomy, nutrition, industrial ecology, operations research and technology, working closely with 17 business partners, stakeholders and other interest groups involved in the feed value chain. This will provide the basis for the establishment of a future feed supply system that operates across sectors and incorporates potentially disruptive technologies and innovation the coming decades. Main research partners are Ruralis, SINTEF, NIBIO, and Aarhus University. Main business partners are Biomar, Felleskjøpets Fôrutvikling, Montasjen, Invertapro, and Folven gaard. In total there are 24 partners in SUSFEED. Main funder is the Research Council of Norway.

In recent years, considerable attention has been given to identifying sustainable and cost-effective animal feed materials to address issues such as food security, GhG emissions, climate change, and, in Norway, ambitious targets to increase salmon production. This search for novel feed ingredients and sources is creating new opportunities for companies working with bioresources. One option is the use of new feed technologies that promise to enhance food security, lower GhG emissions, promote sustainability and create new industries for food production in Norway. This is likely to dramatically transform the existing feed system. While there has been a focus on developing new feeds, we have very limited knowledge on the overall feed system and how it is changing – knowledge that is critical for meeting the future needs of the agri- and aquaculture sectors. How sustainable will the feed system be and how can we sustainably source feed in the volumes required? The aim of SUSFEED is to develop an in-depth understanding of the feed system: how feed can be harvested, produced, processed and distributed to supply the growing and changing needs of Norway’s agri- and aquacultural sectors. For this, we will apply a systems approach to mapping the domestic feed system and, using a systems model, conduct environmental, social and economic sustainability assessments. SUSFEEDs multi-disciplinary team involves researchers from the social sciences, biology, agronomy, nutrition and technology, working closely with 18 business partners, stakeholders and other interest groups involved in the feed value chain. Our primary output will be a model of the Norwegian feed supply system that maps potential domestic feed ingredients, their potential for industrial up-scaling and sustainability. This will provide the basis for the establishment of a future feed supply system that operates across sectors and incorporates potentially disruptive technologies and innovation the coming decades.