July 10, 2023
Researchers develop sustainable chicken feed from food waste
Researchers at Australia's University of New England have developed a sustainable poultry feed alternative that could save the country's poultry industry nearly AUD 500 million (~US$334 million; AUD 1 = US$0.67) annually while also reducing carbon emissions by 5%, Yahoo! News reported.
The innovative chicken feed was produced in collaboration with Food Recycle Ltd and Poultry Hub Australia.
The study focused on feeding 24- to 34-week-old laying hens a diet made from recycled food scraps obtained from breweries, nursing homes, and other community organisations. Through Food Recycle Limited's technology, the food waste was processed and transformed into powdered chicken feed.
The research found that the new feed had no adverse effects on egg quality or the health and well-being of the chickens.
Feed accounts for the majority of poultry production costs, with approximately 65% of expenses attributed to feed in Australia. Simultaneously, the country grapples with mounting food waste in landfills, contributing to the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
By diverting a significant portion of this food waste and repurposing it as animal feed, the project reduces expenses and emissions for feed companies while also minimising the volume of food circulating through the waste stream.
Researcher Thi Hiep Dao highlighted the benefits of recycling food waste into poultry feed, stating that it would lead to cost savings, improved feed efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and the fulfilment of the increasing demand for sustainable and low-carbon poultry production in Australia.
The partnership behind this breakthrough foresees waste-based feed becoming available in over 20 countries worldwide.
Norm Boyle, chief executive officer of Food Recycle Ltd, anticipates that within five years, recycled food waste feed will be the go-to solution globally for the poultry, swine, and aquaculture industries.
- Yahoo! News
