Agribusiness: celebrating world food day by charting innovative paths to increase productivity.

 

Celebrating world food day by creating innovative agricultural solutions to end poverty, tackle malnutrition and save our planet.

The exponential population growth to 9.7 billion by 2050 means all hands must be on deck to  rise to the challenge. There must be inclusion of innovative ideas in the way farming, processing and marketing of farm produce is done now to ensure increase productivity.

The use of design thinking comes into play here to chart the path to  productivity using smart agricultural constructs.

Robotics has been incorporated to livestock and general farming to increase productivity and also increase revenue by preventing losses. Africa needs to embrace more of technology-based agriculture to produce more and ensure food security. 

 Agricultural solutions are basically centered around :1) increased productivity which can be achieved by improved seeds, improved animal breeds, new farm practices,education of farmers, adoption of climate smart agriculture .

 2) Leveraging technology to provide data to farmers to improve productivity like Zenvus .The use of robots to enhance productivity such as use of

  3) Curbing food waste this can be by provision of cold hubs for farmers, provision of processing hubs to convert excess products or left overs to a new product with longer shelf-life.

4) Funding for farmers which can be in form of loans or private partnership in form of investment platforms.

5)Access to market: creating linkages for farmers to sell produce at  reasonable prices. The creation of new markets to improve productivity by adoption of circular economy in all agricultural value chains.

  Circular economy not only curbs wastes but closes loops in production cycles.

  6)  Adoption of clean energy to drive innovations in agriculture to reduce cost of production while saving the planet by reducing emissions.

Agribusiness :How to use circular economy to boost productivity in dairy value chain.

 

The circular economy is a new approach to the reduce-reuse-recycle model.

 

The circular economy has the added advantage of not only making products or by-products go back to production cycles it ensures sustainability of business and environment.

 

 What is the circular economy and how can this be implemented in the dairy value chain?.

 

  Circular economy is a model of production /consumption that involves the use, reuse and recycling of products, byproducts and materials of production to create a sustainable cycle of production and consumption.

Dairy industry is based on circular production cycles with the dairy and Agri-food sector sharing a history that dates back to early dairy business.

 

The use of pasture land for feeding dairy cows, by growing different crops on rotated pieces of land, by fertilizing the land with animal’s waste and at the same time keeping animals as a long-term stock of nutrients, the sector builds on the long and deep knowledge of humankind.

        

Dairy cows have a unique ability to consume non-edible feed stocks and turn them into a very nutritious protein that humans can eat.

 

 The concept of the circular economy is to look at the cycle of production and identify points or areas in the cycle that can be redirected into the production phase to achieve the following:

 

 

1)    Reduce waste and the resultant pressure on the environment by creating clean alternatives.

2)    Reduce cost of production by reusing some inputs or by-products thus increasing profit margin.

 

3)    Create new channels of production by creating new viable products from existing products.

 In the dairy industry the circular economy is employed in the following ways:

 

1)    The waste from cows provides a source of fertilizer that can be put back into the farm, it is also fed into bio digester thus helping to curb methane emissions and produce a renewable energy source for the farm.

 

2)    Cows utilize the grazing lands  as well providing a source of milk and natural fertilizer, and at the end of life the cow can be converted into a variety of products, such as beef, pet food, and leather goods

 

3)    Whey, a co-product of the cheese-making process was once put onto land, or fed to pigs, but is now being used as high-value protein concentrates for specific human nutrition (sports, infants, and the elderly) in a growing market, and in special cases, for young animal feed.

 

4)    Nutrient recycling from waste water treatment plants sludge from dairy processing: digestate (sludge output from a digester) e.g. from digesting manure or food waste is of outmost importance for a circular economy to function properly (whilst guaranteeing and safeguarding food safety and animal health).

 

5)    Waste to electricity: using the biogas from the digester to produce electricity. The heat will be redirected to the stalls to keep the facility warm, thus also increasing productivity at reduced cost.

 

6)    Cow mats produced from hide also boosts productivity by increasing the comfort of the animals thus stimulating more milk production.

Azolla: the miracle fern and animal feed.

The cost of feed of livestock coupled with climatic changes has pushed farmers to look inwards and promote innovative practices to keep their flock and also create wealth.

 

Azolla: the miracle fern and animal feed.

 Farmers have sought out practices like hydroponics,which they have used to make fodder for livestock and also vegetables for man. see and also  are

Farmers have also embraced aquaponics and aeroponics to grow vegetables and legumes for man and livestock to create wealth and ensure food security.

The race to feed the estimated 9 billion by 2050 and the pressure on land and ecosystem at large has pushed more green initiatives to farmers to cut losses and conserve the environment. 

The Azolla fern is a miracle fern that has been incorporated into agriculture in  India,China, Vietnam e.t.c.  The aquatic plant is easy to cultivate and nurture and requires no extensive preparation/processing before been fed to animals. 

 Azolla can be fed wholly to cattle and pigs without any additional feed as it provides necessary nutrients needed for growth and development. Azolla farming is cheap,easy and readily available for farmers. 

 Azolla is an aquatic fern usually referred to as the miracle fern because its rich in organic nutrients and usefulness  as feed and fertilizer. Azolla contain 25-30 % protein, essential amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and Beta- Carotene, calcium and iron minerals . 

 Azolla contains phosphorus, potassium, ferrous, copper, magnesium, bio-active substances and it is this what makes Azolla a perfect organic fertilizer.

 Azolla can be used as a cattle feed and research has shown that Azolla helps to increase the milk production. Its also used as a feed to quail, rabbit, fish, duck, pig etc.

When fed to hen on a daily basis, Azolla promotes production of good quality of eggs. Azolla has Anabena that helps to absorb nitrogen, and the nitrogen absorbed is converted to protein and amino acid which is later stored in the leaves. 

 Nitrogen is one main factor that helps in a plant’s growth this makes Azolla, a high standard fertilizer that aid in the growth of a plant. 

 Azolla also act as a mosquito repellent , the dried Azolla is also used as a partial substitute to Groundnut meal in feed compounding. 

When Azolla is produced in excess it can be dried and stored in plastic bags for preservation. The inclusion of Azolla in poultry diet, is the in dried form and added ratio is 5% of normal ration.