Development of a Sustainable Poultry Feed Formulation Decision Support Tool

The largest share of supply chain resource use and emissions associated with contemporary egg production is attributable to the feeds supplied to pullets and layers. Data collected for a Canadian 2012 national LCA benchmark study indicated considerable diversity in the range and geographical origin of feed inputs from agricultural, livestock, fisheries, and other production systems.

Each feed input that may potentially be sourced for use in poultry feeds is characterized by a distinctive life cycle resource use and emissions profile, with considerable variability between specific feed materials. Each material is similarly distinct in terms of its nutritional value for poultry, as well as its cost. Feed formulation is currently informed primarily by nutritional and cost considerations. However, “least environmental cost” feed input sourcing is the most critical lever for supply chain sustainability management for egg production. The rapid emergence of supply chain sustainability measurement and reporting programs suggests that consideration of the resource and environmental dimensions of feed sourcing will likely garner increased attention in the egg and other livestock industries.

This four year funded PhD project in the Food Systems PRISM Lab (www.prismlab.weebly.com) at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus will focus on the development of a feed formulation decision support tool that will integrate nutritional, cost and environmental impact data for major feed input supply chains for the Canadian poultry industry. Integration of nutritional and cost criteria with environmental impact data is essential, since feed input sourcing recommendations based on environmental criteria alone may result in feeds that are uneconomical or that result in poor feed conversion efficiency (hence negating any gains associated with lower environmental cost feed inputs).

Working with Egg Farmers of Canada staff, the student will survey and conduct follow-up interviews with Canadian feed mills in order to identify the current geographical distribution of feed input sourcing and feed formulation strategies for the Canadian poultry industry. Data for feed input origins, volumes, and cost will be collected. ISO-14044 compliant life cycle assessment models will subsequently be created for each major feed input supply chain, differentiating by production region, technology, and transportation modes. These models will employ data from Statistics Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, industry association and consultant reports, and peer-reviewed literature in order to develop the necessary life cycle inventory models on a consistent methodological basis. Working with experts in poultry nutrition and poultry feed formulation, a decision-support tool will be developed and trialled with a subset of Canadian feed mills. The student and EFC will subsequently work with egg producers (many of whom produce their own feeds) and feed mills to support implementation of the decision support tool.

Project outputs will include a PhD dissertation, presentation of results at egg and feed industry association professional meetings, conference presentations, submission of study results for publication in peer-reviewed venues, and a ready-to-use decision support tool for poultry feed formulators.

This project will commence in January, May or September 2018. Interested students should e-mail me a description of research interests (referring, in particular, to how your interests and experience relate to the specific project you wish to work on), a CV (including two academic and/or professional references), and copies of unofficial transcripts. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Please also indicate your interest in particular degree programs at UBCO, including in Biology or through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program. Also indicate your preferred start date (i.e. January, May or September 2018).

If you are an international student, please also self-assess your transcripts against the published requirements for admission to the UBC College of Graduate Studies (https://gradstudies.ok.ubc.ca/prospective/application-admission/admission-requirements/min-academic-requirements-international.html) and similarly self-assess your TOEFL test scores. Candidates not meeting these requirements will not be further considered.

Prospective students satisfying all of the above stated criteria may be contacted to schedule a Skype interview.

Application deadline to the UBCO College of Graduate Studies is June 2 for January admission, October 1 for May admission and January 31 for September admission. Prospective students are advised to correspond with Dr. Pelletier well in advance of this date in order to discuss their candidacy.