ProTerra focus on sustainable value chains at 2014 conference

The focus of the 2014 Conference will be Creating Sustainable Value Chains. With approximately 75% of the soy produced worldwide being used for animal feed, and with demand for animal-based food expected to rise, pressures on the ecosystem are expected to spiral.  The 2014 ProTerra Foundation Conference will look at the scale of the social and environmental challenges faced by a growing world population and the rising demand for food and feed.

Delegates from the agricultural value chain will be able to learn about the practical solutions available, and will be able to find out more about ways to improve and upscale existing good practices. Evidence is that more co-operation along the value chain as well as at sector level is required.

Sibyl Anwander, the new Executive Director of The ProTerra Foundation said “In 2012, approximately 270 million tonnes of soy was produced, and this figure is expected to rise to meet the growing demand for high protein animal feed from developing and emerging countries. Over recent years, vast areas of forest, grassland and savannah have been converted to agriculture, and biodiversity is in decline. Without improved productivity and support for sustainable production systems combined with necessary changes in  consumption patterns and a clear protection of high conservation and value areas, the pressure on natural resources will further increase, leading to irreversible losses of biodiversity.
“The conference will explore strategies for risk reduction and for creating added value for responsible companies and their clients along the value chain, as well as consider the potential for collaboration between participators of the private and the public sector . We believe it is a must attend event”.
The 2014 ProTerra Conference will be held at the Privathotel Lindtner, Hamburg on Wednesday 15th October 2014. For more information visit www.proterrafoundation.com.