Low-opportunity-cost feed can reduce land-use-related environmental impacts by about one-third in China

Qunchao Fang, Xiaoying Zhang, Guichao Dai, Bingxin Tong, Hongliang Wang, Oene Oenema, Hannah H.E. van Zanten, Pierre Gerber, Yong Hou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Feeding animals more low-opportunity-cost feed products (LCFs), such as food waste and by-products, may decrease food–feed competition for cropland. Using a feed allocation optimization model that considers the availability of feed sources and animal requirements for protein and energy, we explored the perspectives of feeding more LCFs to animals in China. We found that about one-third of the animal feed consisted of human-edible products, while only 23% of the available LCFs were used as feed during 2009–2013. An increased utilization of LCFs (45–90 Mt) could potentially save 25–32% of feed-producing cropland area without impairing livestock productivity. Parallelly, about one-third of feed-related irrigation water, synthetic fertilizer and greenhouse gas emissions would be saved. Re-allocating the saved cropland could sustain the food energy demand of 30–185 million people. Achieving the potentials of increased LCF use requires improved technology and coordination among stakeholders.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)677-685
Number of pages9
JournalNature Food
Volume4
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

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