Growing ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) requirements of global food companies has led to innovative processes along the food supply chain to reduce waste and energy consumption while increasing value and maintaining animal welfare standards. Whether it’s at the farm, within production facilities or at retail or foodservice, ESG reporting is becoming mainstream, and a growing number of companies are working to show verifiable progress toward sustainability goals.
Animal welfare and environmental stewardship are among top priorities for ESG reporting. APC, the leading global manufacturer for blood-derived functional proteins is supporting their customers’ ESG goals by providing environmentally sustainable products that benefit the swine industry.
The USDA reports that nearly 74 million swine were raised in the US in 2021, resulting in nearly 15 billion pounds of pork in the country. The viability and health of the pork industry is crucial to meeting the needs of the US and export markets, and sustainable practices play a growing role in that competitive market.
According to the National Pork Producers latest report, “The environmental impact of pork production is an important matter that is not independent of the industry’s economic contribution. The most recent retroactive life-cycle assessment of the pork industry shows that U.S. producers have significantly reduced the resources required to produce each pound of pork. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, hog production accounted for 0.47% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, making the industry’s carbon footprint per pound of pork produced nearly 21% smaller than in 1990.”
APC supports US pork producers in their efforts to be more sustainable by providing nutrient-rich feed ingredients that promote the health of swine herds and enhance sustainable practices. Plasma is a natural functional protein is seen as a valuable, sustainable protein resource. Spray-Dried Porcine Plasma (SDPP) is produced to retain all biologically active functional proteins that help support an animal’s immune system, health, and growth. For more than 30 years APC has added value to the meat production process by reducing waste and providing valuable feed ingredients that help animals thrive.
“We understand that expectations in the areas of traceability, biosecurity and environmental stewardship are top of mind for our customers, which is why we are committed to safe, responsible sourcing of our products.” Said Dave Dirks, Chief Operating Officer at APC.
How is SDPP contributing to a sustainable food system?
- Innovation has created a valuable protein source from a previously discarded co-product of the animal processing industry. This process has reduced waste that would otherwise go through treatment plants or to landfills.
- SDPP is an environmentally friendly, natural ingredient that supports animal health thus reducing reliance on use of antibiotics.
- SDPP in feed increases nutrient uptake, thus yielding healthier pigs from weaning to
- APC manufacturing plants are in regions where meat packing facilities are located to reduce transportation costs and GHG emissions throughout the production and transportation process.
SDPP proteins are an alternative ingredient to high levels of zinc oxide. High levels of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) are commonly used in nursery pig diets to manage post-weaning diarrhea, particularly the effects of pathogenic E. coli on pig growth and health. The European Union has moved to restrict the use of high levels of ZnO and other countries are following suit.
Supporting Immune Function / Reducing Antibiotic Use
Spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) has been a proven contributor to pig health, supporting immune system development and maintaining optimum body conditions. Not only does this have health benefits for piglets and sows, but the utilization of SDPP also reduces the need for other additives and antibiotics in feed.
Research has shown that when the immune system is functioning at a normal level, animals are able to better tolerate stress factors so more nutrients are directed to productive functions such as growth and performance.
SDPP undergoes a series of rigorous production and biosecurity processes to ensure 99.99999999999% reduction in potential viral risk. Those measures include:
- Species dedicated tankers for raw material
- Aseptic collection SOPs of all in-process samples
- Ultraviolet (UV) processing technology to “pasteurize” raw materials, which reduces the amount of potentially harmful organisms that may be present.
- Spray drying
- Finished product is covered with fitted plastic pallet covers
- Biocontainment — Packaged porcine ingredients are stored in a controlled environment for 14 days @ 20° C
“We know our customers and farmers depend on a safe, reliable product for the health and wellbeing of their animals. We also know there is growing pressure to reduce environmental impact, which is why we are committed to continuous improvement to meet the growing sustainability demands.” Dirks added.
About APC
APC is the global leader in the manufacture and sales of blood-derived functional plasma proteins and red blood cell products. Ingredients are used in animal feed diets and other industries to add value through the unique properties that positively impact billions of animals – and plants – each year. Today APC employs 500+ people in eight countries with 17 manufacturing facilities worldwide. To learn more about functional protein use for swine production, visit www.apcproteins.com or subscribe to APC on YouTube.
