Impact summary
Livestock provide one third of the protein consumed by humans. Alternatives to imported soya, a key protein component of ruminant diets, are needed to provide food security. Participatory and scientific research led by Dr Christina Marley in IBERS enabled Waitrose and their producers to understand and overcome barriers to adopting home-grown protein forages as protein feed for ruminant livestock. The resulting removal of imported soya from beef, dairy and lamb production systems by a major UK food retailer has impacted on production and commerce, provided environmental benefits for the sector, and contributed to a 16.9% decrease in UK soya imports.Beneficiaries
Farmers, producers, retailers, environment.Impact status | Complete |
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Impact date | 01 Jan 2012 → 31 Jul 2020 |
Category of impact | Economy, commerce and organisations, Environment and sustainability - natural world and built environment, Production and food security, Professional practice, training and standards, Public understanding, information and debate |
Impact level | Benefit |
Keywords
- sustainable
- forage
- supply chain
- farmers
- soya
- feed
- production
- food
- security
Documents & Links
- Impact case study - Aberystwyth University _ Prifysgol Aberystwyth - 6 - Reducing reliance on imported protein feed within a ruminant
File: application/pdf, 261 KB
Type: Text
Related content
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Research outputs
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Increasing legume forage productivity through slurry application: A way to intensify sustainable agriculture?
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Effect of sowing ratio and stage of maturity at harvest on yield, persistency and chemical composition of fresh and ensiled red clover/lucerne bi-crops
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Genetic improvement of forage species to reduce the environmental impact of temperate livestock grazing systems
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Effects of chicory/perennial ryegrass swards compared with perennial ryegrass swards on gastro-intestinal parasites in grazing beef steers
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
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The effect of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) when compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on ovine gastrointestinal parasite development, survival and migration
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Effects of feeding different ensiled forages on the productivity and nutrient-use efficiency of finishing lambs
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Projects
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Efficient forage-based systems for ruminant livestock production in the UK
Project: Externally funded research
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To investigate the benefits of chicory for beef cattle
Project: Externally funded research