More rapeseed meal in compound feeds despite declining production

March 22, 2020 |

In Germany, UFOP reports that whereas the use of oilseed meals from rapeseed and soybeans in feed production has dwindled over the past four years, the share of rapeseed meal has increased. The use of oilseed meals in compound feeds has declined continuously over the past four years. Whereas the share of soybean meal sagged from 48 to 41 per cent in the past four years, that of rapeseed meal rose from 41 to 44 per cent.

In the first half of the 2015/16 marketing year, it amounted to 3.4 million tonnes, whereas in 2019/20 the figure was down around 17 per cent to 2.84 million tonnes. The share of soybean meal fell particularly sharply, not least as a consequence of the declining pig population. Soy meal use plummeted almost 30 per cent to 1.2 million tonnes. In contrast, the use of rapeseed meal declined 10 per cent to 1.3 million tonnes.

According to information published by Agrarmarkt-Informationsgesellschaft (mbH), most soybean meal used in feed production is GM soybean meal imported from non-EU countries, especially Argentina, the US or Brazil. It is mainly used in fowl and pig feeds. The reasons for the rising demand for GM-free rapeseed meal are the fact that dairy products are increasingly labelled “without GM” and the feed value of rapeseed meal. Feed projects undertaken by the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP) have repeatedly confirmed the high suitability of rapeseed meal as sole protein component in dairy feeding.

UFOP has underlined the enormous importance of highlighting the unique selling point of “without GM” for safeguarding domestic rapeseed production. As much as approximately 60 per cent of the rapeseed is processed into rapeseed meal. UFOP has pointed out that rapeseed is by far the most important GM-free source of protein in Germany and the EU, with an area of more than 6 million hectares. This aspect is playing an increasing role also in France, which is reflected in the fact that dairy products are increasingly declared “GM-free”, as they are in Germany.

Against this background, UFOP is watching the lack of strategy for rapeseed oil-based biodiesel with concern, the biodiesel market being the key outlet for rapeseed oil. The association has argued that the perspective of regional protein supply through rapeseed, the most important flowering crop, can only succeed if rapeseed oil can achieve an adequate level of appreciation. German producers of biodiesel are by far the most important purchasers of rapeseed oil. UFOP has emphasised that politicians must at last recognise the economic interrelations in the existing bioeconomy and take into account the full ecosystem service of rapeseed cultivation in crop rotation in life cycle assessments. The association expects those responsible to bear this approach towards improving the competitive situation in mind when developing the agricultural strategy.

UFOP

Category: Fuels

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