How do GFLI members turn data into action for a more sustainable feed industry?
Through our communication series “Voices of GFLI” we’re going to dive deeper to answer that question of how members of GFLI leverage GFLI data to support their sustainability goals – and accelerate change across the value chain.
So, we’re excited to launch our first interview from the “Voices of GFLI” featuring David Nickell, Vice President Sustainability and Business Solutions at dsm-firmenich, sharing how its Animal Nutrition & Health business uses GFLI data to drive sustainable business solutions.
Enhancing Sustainability in the Feed Industry: Insights from Sustell
Last month, GFLI sat down (virtually) with Dr. David Nickell, Vice President of Sustainability and Business Solutions at dsm-firmenich, for the first instalment of ‘’Voices of GFLI’’. We spoke about the critical role of sustainability in the feed industry and the innovative solutions being developed to address environmental challenges. He shared valuable insights into the integration of GFLI data into Sustell’s platform and the broader implications for the industry.
For GFLI its important to know how the Feed Industry defines the importance of GFLI. We’re very curious what the thoughts of dsm-firmenich are with their online life cycle assessment (LCA) platform, Sustell. Dr. Nickell emphasized the importance of GFLI’s existence for the feed industry and sustainability efforts.
He explained, “The entire value chain in the animal protein sector is focused on understanding its footprint and establishing a clear pathway to sustainable production.” He noted that understanding the environmental footprint of feed ingredients is crucial. ‘’GFLI’s database provides essential data because in the animal protein business, depending on the species, it can be anything from 50 to 80% of the footprint of their animal protein,’’ he added.
Not only that, getting as close to primary data sources as possible is necessary to provide a representative and accurate figure, which the supply chain is starting to request more frequently.
How does dsm-firmenich integrate the GFLI data in Sustell?
Sustell integrates GFLI data to produce full ISO-certified life cycle assessments of animal proteins at scale. These credible footprints are increasingly important throughout the full value chain. It is becoming a way of working in which business and value can be created. Think, for example, about carbon markets. Dr. Nickell explained, ‘’Sustell has been built to unlock the value of environmental footprints in the market for all the multiple players in the value chain, allowing users to make recipes that target not only nutritional composition, but also lower footprints. The GFLI database is a fundamental building block in achieving that.’’
The platform connects various data sources, including GFLI, AFP and feed formulation software systems like Bestmix and Format Solutions. This integration allows for complex footprint calculations and assessments in a user-friendly and scalable manner. Sustell caters to a diverse range of users, from feed formulators and farm advisors to retail and finance industry professionals.
‘’Because the user experience is super important, Sustell’s interface and automated data access makes it a versatile tool for understanding and managing environmental footprints. It enables anybody to use the platform from wherever you are in the value chain.’’
Sustell is a certified ISO-compliant platform & allows for API linkage for data transfer while respecting data protection and security. Dr. Nickell values the third-party verification to ensure credibility.
Board member
In addition to his role within Sustell, and being on the board of the IFIF he also fulfils a key role within GFLI as a member of the Board of Directors since 2022.
Dr. Nickell plays a role in guiding the institute’s strategic direction. He states, ‘’Being on the Board is about making sure GFLI is fit for the future and for the purposes set out to represent and for the greater industry.’’ For GFLI, the expertise of Dr. Nickell’s extensive experience in the animal nutrition business and his commitment to sustainability make him a great asset to the board. His work with Sustell allows for insightful knowledge of the marketplace, as well as the developments within the supply chain. It creates a clear path for which the Institute ought to walk to continue to be the Feed Industry’s answer for sustainability metrics.
Goals
Speaking of goals, we looked ahead about future developments and challenges for Sustell and GFLI. What is Sustell’s view on this? Dr. Nickell foresees the need for more granular and regularly updated data in the GFLI database. He stresses the importance of certifiable and verifiable data to combat greenwashing and ensure the credibility of sustainability claims. GFLI plays an important role in being a credible and recognized source of high-quality data. The industry is raising its expectations in data and its level of granularity. GFLI needs to grow rapidly in order to continue to provide a data solution, while improving its management to create more regionalized data sets, have continuous updates, and allow company-specific data (branded data) into the database.
Dr. Nickell emphasizes the value data will have in the very near future: ’’Data owners will want to monetize their data to improve their systems for sustainable production & processing. Operationalizing carbon footprints on a batch level will become the norm, as opposed to the once-a-year’s efforts companies are investing now for their sustainability reporting. It becomes integrated into ERP systems, so it’ll be a continuous process. Food companies are looking towards what the consumer wants, and that’s choice during grocery shopping. In short, environmental footprinting will not just be a regulatory obligation, but a market in which financial incentives are brought about.’’ Any last key takeaways? Dr. Nickell says:
’’Granularity of data, third party verification to avoid greenwashing, and considering the full supply chain are all essential in our work to provide a footprinting solution that benefits all stakeholders.’
Overview
The interview with Dr. David Nickell provided a comprehensive overview of the current state and future direction of sustainability efforts in the feed industry. The integration of GFLI data into Sustell’s platform exemplifies how innovative solutions can drive the industry towards greater transparency and sustainability. As the industry continues to evolve, the collaboration between Sustell and GFLI, supported by the strategic guidance of board members like Dr. Nickell, will play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable future for animal protein production.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. David Nickell for his valuable insights and to his team for their significant contribution to this article.
Are you the new voice?
We invite all GFLI members to participate in ’’Voices of GFLI’’ and share their unique stories. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance the recognition of GFLI, highlight your company’s activities around LCA or branded data, and demonstrate the benefits of GFLI through real-world case studies. By joining this initiative, you become a GFLI ambassador, strengthening the collective voice advocating for sustainability in the feed sector.