SmartFeed4Food
About this good practice
The main goal of the project is the reduction of waste of fruits and vegetables through their re-usage in the livestock sector to produce innovative silage bales. From a circular economy perspective, the project will contribute to the reduction of livestock production costs, the enhancement of local economies and the preservation of the environment. The innovation is based on the use and dynamic combination of locally produced forage and different types of fruits and vegetables, mixed with different integrations by using a special pressing machine that produces bales of pressed silage, wrapped in a film plastic.
Livestock farms will be able to optimize the food management costs of beef cattle, due to the optimization of diets and the reduced purchase costs of the necessary raw materials. Furthermore, the food change produces an effect of improvement of life performance, increasing the economic budget of agricultural enterprises. The project will also help farmers to organize meat chain and to certify the quality of meat
Consorzio di Ricerca Filiera Carni e Agroalimentare, Leader
La Mongolfiera, Producers Organization Fruit and vegatbles, partner
Opac Campisi, Producers Organization
Calleri Salvatore, Forage Producers Farm
Caligiore Salvatore, Livestook breeding
azienda agricola Zirone di Curcio Rosa Maria, Livestook breeding
Gallo Mario, Livestook breeding
Mangimi Di Pasquale, Livestock feed producers
Leone Corrado, Azienda Agrituristica
Macelleria Garfì Paolo, Butcher
Resources needed
Total funding 499.853 Euros
Personnel expenses 186.500 Euros (4 researchers)
External services 124.400 Euros
Consumer goods 85.453
Material Investments 49.500
General Expenses 44.500
Mission and transfers 9.500
Evidence of success
The trial showed interesting results as in terms of reduction of purchasing costs of raw materials as in terms of circular economy.
The innovative silage does not require a special storage, and its shelf life is up to three months at room temperature. Trials showed that animals like the taste of silage, the average weight gain is comparable to those fed a traditional diet and the quality of meat is positively affected by vegetables introduction such as for an higher polyphenols content.
Potential for learning or transfer
Farmers will be able to optimise feed management costs for beef cattle by optimising diets and reducing the cost of purchasing the necessary raw materials. In addition, the change in feed, which has a performance-enhancing effect in Vitam, increases the economic budget of the farm. This protocol can be applied to any other region interested in testing it. It needs just a plant to produce bales of pressed silage. The protocol can be also tested on different animal species. The project has achieved two objectives: firstly, a new product for use in animal feed that is easy to produce and environmentally friendly; secondly, a completely indigenous meat of high quality, the result of this technological transfer of maturation, whose tenderness is always in demand by consumers, especially young people, and which offers new opportunities for sustainable local development.
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