The challenge to improve the measurement of the environmental impacts of livestock supply chains was the focus of the newly formed technical advisory group (TAG) on feed additives by the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership. The first face-to-face meeting of the TAG was held from 26 to 28 February 2018 in Rome, Italy.

The meeting was attended by 21 international experts from different regions and technical backgrounds to share their knowledge and experience to develop the LEAP guidelines on feed additives. The guidelines focus on the assessment of the environmental impacts associated with the production of feed additives and on capturing the potential effect of feed additives on greenhouse gas emissions, water use and nutrient losses. Feed additives play a key role to improve the quality of feed, animal performance and health, and quality of animal-sourced foods as well as to improve the environmental performance of livestock.

The outcomes of the meeting were the formation of two work streams, the development of the action plan and outline. The first working stream focuses on the development of the guidelines to assess the environmental impacts of feed additives production at the industry level. The second work stream targets the modelling of the potential effects of feed additives. These guidelines will complete the existing LEAP guidelines on animal and feed supply chains. An action plan for the development of the first draft of the feed additives guidelines was proposed and agreed to by the TAG members.

The second face-to-face meeting is scheduled to take place in Rome, Italy, from 4 to 6 July 2018.