The Poultry Podcast Show - #3 - Where are we regarding sustainability in animal production?

Sustainability is all about keeping humans and nature in harmony. Subsequently, there has been a broad discussion regarding sustainable production, net zero emissions, and the use of antibiotics and water in animal production. So, we need to consider the environmental impact of animal production activities and the challenges of implementing environmentally friendly alternatives to the animal production system. Would that become conventional production instead of niche production? How economically sustainable is it for the animal producers?

In today’s episode, I talk with Dr. Ermias Kebreab about these sustainability challenges in animal production. I also talk about what we can expect for the following years in terms of changes in animal production systems.

What you’ll learn:

1. Mathematical modeling explained and applied in poultry

2. Sustainability challenges in the food chain

3. The demand for sustainable animal food products

4. Sustainability and its benefits to animal production

5. The importance of raising animals for food

6. Take-home message

Meet the guest: Dr. Ermias Kebreab is Associate Dean of Global Engagement and Director of the World Food Center at the University of California, Davis. He also holds the Sesnon Endowed Chair in Sustainable Agriculture there. His research interests include animal nutrition, mathematical modeling of biological systems, and the environmental impacts of livestock. Dr. Kebreab is a contributing author to the 2019 IPCC update on enteric methane emissions and co-chaired the feed additive and methane committees of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. He has authored over 250 peer-reviewed articles and received several awards, including Excellence in Ruminant Nutrition and International Agriculture from the American Society of Animal Science, and the 2022 Chancellor’s Innovator of the year award. He served on two committees of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine on methane and nutrition of dairy cattle. He is a regularly invited speaker and has recorded a TED Talk. His research was in the top 10 of all research conducted in the University of California system in 2021. He holds a B.S. degree from the University of Asmara, Eritrea, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Reading, U.K.