Proposing a framework for sustainable feed formulation for laying hens: A systematic review of recent developments and future directions

Abstract Feed production is a significant contributor to the environmental footprint of livestock products. Feed formulation may therefore provide valuable opportunities to reduce impacts and improve sustainability outcomes in livestock production. Goal programming (GP) is currently the leading multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool used in feed formulation, taking into account cost and nutritional considerations only. Environmental goals are not typically included. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a commonly utilized tool used to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of environmental impacts along product supply chains. LCAs of feed inputs can produce information that enables discriminating among feed inputs based on the resource/environmental impacts characteristic of their production, processing, and transportation. The purpose of this review is to identify the necessary elements of a framework for the integration of regionalized life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) results for laying hen feed input supply chains into goal programming-based feed formulation. In this way, the sustainability of specific feed formulations can be evaluated and improved, subject to cost and nutritional constraints. Towards this end, published research addressing three sub-topics were reviewed: LCA of feed inputs, goal programming, and feed formulation. Integration of sustainability considerations into feed formulation must take four essential aspects into account, including: individual feed ingredients (as decision variables); total cost of ingredients; their associated, regionally specific life cycle environmental impacts (as objective functions); and the nutritional requirements of laying hens (as nutrient constraints). A framework for regionalized, life cycle-based sustainable feed formulation using weighted goal programming is proposed. Key improvement opportunities including integration of regionalized feed input supply chain models and impact assessment methods, and development of improved weighting methods to reconcile economic and environmental goals were identified and discussed.

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