Are 600 million people around the globe at risk of food insecurity by 2030? According to the United Nations, this is a real possibility. Growing economic disparity, rising global temperatures, the intensification of international conflict, and other issues are contributing to a global food crisis.
Even with all these factors, is it still possible to eliminate hunger worldwide? That’s the vision of the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Ending global hunger and malnutrition is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a roadmap for creating a more peaceful and prosperous future.
The Acadian Tasco® team is eager to play our part. By supplying our customers with nutrients and organic compounds for their livestock, we’re making animal nutrition easier and more cost effective. Here’s how this contributes to the UN zero hunger and malnutrition goal.
Challenges in the Fight Against Hunger
Eliminating food insecurity, malnutrition, and global hunger requires an understanding of how these challenges manifest. What are some of the tangible issues that governments, businesses, and aid organizations can impact through collaboration?
Addressing high food prices is a good starting point. The United Nations identified that although food prices have dropped since 2020’s supply chain challenges, they still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. As of this writing, the average meat index is 16% and the dairy index is 18% higher in 2024 than in 2019. If producers can lower the cost of feed inputs and supplements, they can help to reduce the cost of meat without undercutting their profit margins.
Another major hurdle is increasing the nutritional value of the plant and animal products that people consume. A study of the USDA nutrient content of 43 garden crops between 1950 and 1999 shows reliable declines in six nutrients: protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and ascorbic acid. As a result, people need to consume more calories to obtain the same nutritional value for these key nutrients.
Livestock now need to eat more vegetables and grains to derive the same nutritional gains. Fortunately, providing animals with the right nutritious supplements can help overcome some of these deficiencies, maximizing what’s bioavailable so each meal makes a larger dent in the fight against hunger.
How the Right Feed Supplements Help Producers Feed the World
When it comes to providing people around the globe with an economical source of meat, producers need to focus on what they’re feeding their animals. Ration formulation should account not only for nutritional value but also the impact on digestive and immune health, so their animals are nutritious and resilient.
In our experience, brown seaweed like Ascophyllum nodosum offers an abundant source of vital nutrients and minerals for overall herd health management. This marine resource provides:
- 0 mg/kg of iron, which transports and stores nutrients
- 10 to 50 mg/kg of manganese, which contributes to bone and cartilage growth
- 35 to 100 mg/kg of zinc, which aids in enzyme regulation, protein synthesis, and metabolic processes
- 0 to 15 mg/kg of copper, which boosts cellular growth and immune responses
These nutrients can help animals to grow larger and faster as well as ward off illness that could hinder their growth.
Speaking of sickness, the high amount of dietary fiber in Ascophyllum nodosum can act as a catalyst for a healthy immune system. Dietary fiber acts as a source of food for microorganisms within their gastrointestinal tract, boosting probiotic populations. As a result, pathogens have a harder time adhering to intestinal walls, making it difficult for some types of harmful microbes to take hold. We’ve seen the positive impact this has on weaning pigs, nursing calves, and even adult animals.
When fewer animals suffer from debilitating or fatal diseases, producers have more animals that make it to market, helping to control costs and the return on investment. Additionally, as seaweed boosts an animal’s gut microbiome, it can make them more resilient during extreme weather conditions and transportation to market. This has a trickle-down effect on consumers, keeping the price of quality meat low.
Thinking Holistically to Fight Global Hunger
Seaweed is only part of the solution to global hunger. Governments, nonprofits, and food formulators need to fund research, create pipelines, and promote policies that make producing highly nutritious food ingredients easier. Along the way, Acadian Tasco® will continue to play our part, making nutrient-rich seaweed accessible to producers without putting a strain on the sustainability of the supply.
Want to learn more about how seaweed can help fight against hunger and malnutrition? Read about the nutrients our seaweeds offer.
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