Circular systems for animal production and processing

While advances in animal production and processing systems have led to greater efficiencies in resource use, there are still many opportunities to capture and repurpose underused resources across the supply chain. Several technologies have been developed for reuse of wastes as value-added products, but new technologies are needed, as well as broader adoption of existing technologies. Connections to other supply chains would provide opportunities for circularity to keep more resources in the system and reduce the amount of waste released as pollutants. Completely new approaches carry a heavy risk, but they also offer financial rewards from reusing captured resources in new ways. A thorough analysis is necessary to determine which opportunities are most viable, most practical, and will yield the greatest benefits. ASABE members can contribute to increasing the circularity of animal production systems in several ways, including the development of new robotic and sensing technologies, the design of facilities that collect and reuse heat, water, and gases, and the implementation of models to assess the environmental and economic benefits of new production practices.