Feed Life Cycle Assessment standard launched for sustainability
Not for profit certification scheme GMP+ International has officially launched the Feed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standard, marking an important step forward in harmonising methodologies and strengthening sustainability within the feed sector.
Following an extensive development phase and close collaboration with industry stakeholders, the Feed LCA standard went fully operational on 6 May and is now ready for implementation.
Consistent environmental impact assessment
The standard enables companies to consistently calculate and communicate the environmental impact of feed products, supporting more sustainable decision-making throughout the supply chain. This will cover certified companies involved in the production of compound feed, premixtures, feed materials, feed additives and feed trade.
Sector-specific methodology explained
The Feed LCA standard provides a harmonised methodology tailored specifically to the feed industry. By aligning data collection and calculation rules, it ensures reliable outcomes, contributing to sector-wide sustainability objectives and strengthening trust among stakeholders.
Already known as running the world’s biggest programme for animal feed sustainability and safety, this step is the latest in a long line of developments, starting in 1992 when the Dutch feed industry set up Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) as a certification scheme for feed safety. GMP+ now has over 19,000 certified companies across 90 countries.
PEF approach and guidance
To harmonise calculations, this standard follows the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) approach, developed by the European Commission. Because feed production has unique characteristics, sector-specific guidance is provided through the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) Feed for Food-Producing Animals. These rules translate general PEF principles into practical requirements for modelling ingredients, processes, and impacts by defining:
- System boundaries: Definition of the required life cycle stages and processes, including raw material sourcing, energy use, and transport.
- Impact categories: Specification of relevant environmental indicators, such as climate change, land use, water consumption, and resource depletion.
- Modelling requirements: Rules for accurately representing feed ingredients, co-products, and processing steps.
- Data quality criteria: Requirements to ensure transparency, traceability, and reliability of both primary (direct measurements) and secondary data sources (industry databases).
Use of recognised databases
Tools recognised under this standard apply the defined methodology and make use of internationally recognised databases, such as the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI) database. These databases provide harmonised life cycle inventory data and emission factors for feed ingredients, supporting robust and comparable assessments.
Standard’s scope and boundaries
The scope of this standard covers feed production processes and associated upstream supply chain activities, including raw material sourcing, energy used in production, and transport. The downstream boundary of the scope is the entrance gate of the livestock farm. Clear system boundaries ensure that assessments remain focused and aligned with the intended purpose of the standard.
Continuous updates and improvements
Finally, the application of LCA under this standard is an iterative process. Regular updates are required to reflect changes in feed formulations, ingredient sourcing, production technologies, and regulatory requirements. This dynamic approach ensures that sustainability reporting remains accurate, relevant, and supports continuous improvement in environmental performance.
E-learning module support
To support implementation, GMP+ International also offers a dedicated e-learning module. This training provides practical guidance on how to apply the methodology and integrate it into existing processes: https://www.gmpplusacademy.org/#/library/1104
Industry endorsement and adoption
There was immediate support for the scheme, with desm-firmenich announcing that its Sustell platform is endorsed under the new standard. Sustell is a leading ISO-assured animal protein footprinting platform that supports end-to-end LCA across the complete value chain – from crops to feed to farm to processing – for all major farmed species according to the latest calculation methodologies.
Commenting on the new MI5.7 standard from GMP+ International, Dr David Nickell, Vice President of Sustainability & Business Solutions at dsm-firmenich, said: ‘It is crucial to move beyond carbon alone and adopt full life cycle assessment approaches that reflect the true environmental impact of feed across the value chain.’
“Trusted by feed producers and integrators in every region of the globe, Sustell makes feed footprint calculations scalable and credible,” said Dr Heinz Flatnitzer, Global Head of Emissions Value Management at dsm-firmenich. “Through our extensive Sustell partner network, feed mills can carry out footprint calculations efficiently and with confidence, while reducing effort and cost. This creates a clear pathway to new value creation opportunities, from preferred supplier status to carbon value monetisation.”
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