Decrease in rapeseed area risk for protein in feed

The German oil seed processing industry, which is united in the OVID, warns that the protein supply for animal feed is at risk. This is mainly due to a declining rapeseed acreage.

The self-sufficiency level of protein-rich feeds has fallen in Germany from 40% in 2014 to 28% in 2018, the OVID reports. The share of rapeseed meal has halved during this period. In 2014, approximately 75% of the protein-rich animal feed grown in Germany still came from rapeseed. The processing industry hints that it regrets that rapeseed is losing importance.

According to the OVID, rapeseed produces much more protein-rich scrap than leguminous plants. As a result, it has traditionally been an important source of protein-rich animal feed. In addition, rapeseed cultivation also provides oil and is a useful crop in crop rotation. Thanks to rapeseed, Germany was able to increase its level of self-sufficiency in protein-rich animal feed in 2014 to 40% of the total.

More home-grown protein
However, a downward trend has started from 2014; Cultivation has come to a head mainly due to changes in government policy. For example, the subsidies on biofuels, for which rapeseed is an important source, have been further reduced. The share of biofuel in the European blending obligation has not been increased further either. This is because the contribution of biofuel to the CO₂reduction is questioned.

In addition, the government in Germany has increased the surcharges on various protein-rich fodder crops (such as leguminous field beans and lupine). According to the OVID, soy cultivation also offers opportunities to increase the German self-sufficiency level in protein-rich animal feed. However, insects as protein-rich animal feed are not a serious alternative to rapeseed meal in the short term, according to the organization. Protix recently opened the largest insect factory in the world for the breeding of flies that provide fat and protein for animal feed.

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