International conference spotlights sustainable production

 For the past five years, the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, in collaboration with SEGES Innovation, has hosted an international conference on topical international issues that extend beyond Denmark’s borders. This year, the theme was sustainable feed for pigs, which is particularly relevant in Denmark since the recent adoption of the Tripartite agreement. 

The event attracted 185 participants from 18 different countries. 

An answer for a sustainable future 

One of the presentations took the form of a panel debate comprising four experts in the feed area: Finn Borum, wheat breeder at Sejet Plant Breeding, Daniel Skovlund, sustainability consultant at DLG, Jesper Kystgaard, Ag-Solution Manager at BASF and Søren Bruun, Chief Executive Officer at Frichs Pyrolysis. Jens Elbæk, head of department at Plant & Environmental Innovation at SEGES Innovation, moderated the discussion. 

The panel discussed how pig production could address global demand while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint.  

Among the solutions were that plant breeding can make feed more efficient and sustainable by developing wheat with a lower fibre content and higher protein. 

All tools to be deployed

It was also pointed out that although regenerative agriculture leaves ecosystems in a better state, the solution presents some challenges. According to the panel, technologies such as nitrification inhibitors could also reduce emissions, but the financial incentives are lacking. Pyrolysis and biochar were also mentioned as groundbreaking methods for capturing CO₂ and creating green energy.  

In the end, the panel’s message was unequivocal: there is no simple solution. If pig production is to become greener and economically sustainable, all available tools need to be deployed.