Beef producers can now get more than a Big Mac from McDonald's. The fast-food giant announced on Thursday a collaboration with Syngenta and one of its protein suppliers, Lopez Feeds, that will incentivize cattlemen in the U.S. to use Enogen corn in their feed rations. In return, this collaboration will pay producers 4 cents per head per day on feed.
It's all part of the Enogen Feed Forward opportunity designed to reduce the environmental impact of raising beef, improve sustainability and help producers increase feed efficiency. The program is expected to launch for the 2025 planting season.
Enogen corn hybrids, used for both grain and silage, were developed by Syngenta to boost feed efficiency in beef and dairy cattle as well as enhance ethanol production. The specialty corn contains a robust alpha-amylase enzyme directly in the grain, eliminating the need to add a liquid form of the enzyme in the ethanol production process and other advantages that increase ethanol yield.
That same alpha-amylase enzyme more quickly converts starch in Enogen grain or silage for feed to usable sugars than traditional hybrids. The increased digestibility (nutrient uptake) of Enogen corn can improve feed efficiency by about 5%, according to university research, while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"We've been working with the Enogen feed strategy for a couple of years now to really build it out for Enogen feed," pointed out Eric Boeck, in an exclusive interview with DTN/Progressive Farmer. "McDonald's has always been one of those key influencers that we were talking with along the way," explained the regional director, North America seeds, at Syngenta.
In turn, companies like McDonald's and Lopez Foods are looking for ways to meet climate commitments to reduce their environmental footprint and increase sustainability efforts.
"McDonald's is starting with a priority ingredient for our company -- beef," said Kendra Levine, director of U.S. sustainability for McDonald's. "We believe the innovative collaboration with Syngenta is an opportunity to help us make progress toward our science-based climate targets."
PROGRAM PARAMETERS
Participants enrolled in the Enogen Feed Forward opportunity commit to using Enogen in their feed rations, consisting of 50% or more of the total dietary starch in the total mixed ration (TMR). In addition, the program requires a number of days on feed (DOF) at required TMR minimums:
-- Backgrounders: 70-120 days.
-- Finishing: 120-225 days.
-- Dairy Culls: 180 days.
Under this scenario, a producer could earn an extra $2.80 to $4.80 and $4.80 to $9 per head, respectively, by feeding category at the target DOF.
To be paid, producers submit documentation that includes a TMR report, close-out report, Enogen contract and Enogen seed invoice.
GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Boeck stressed the heightened attention on carbon and CO2 emissions has laid the groundwork to introduce the Enogen Feed Forward opportunity.
"It provides the perfect opportunity to help food suppliers reduce their carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in livestock production, while helping the producer enhance feed efficiency and an additional source of income.
"Even more important," he added, "agriculture gets a lot of bad press when it comes to the environment, despite ranchers and farmers being the best advocates of the environment," he continued. "This paid opportunity directly benefits consumers and is a way for agriculture to tell its story on protecting the environment and sustainability."
Life-cycle assessment shows potential for environmental savings resulting from the increased feed efficiency from using Enogen in the ration, including lower emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and lower use of land, energy and water per unit of production. Specific findings calculated by Syngenta show that per 1,000 head of beef cattle, this collaboration could potentially achieve annual savings of:
-- 196 tons CO2e in GHG reduction.
-- 69-acre reduction in land use for growing feed.
-- 6 million fewer gallons of water used.
-- 231,000 kilowatt-hours energy savings.
For more information, go to www.Enogen.com/FeedForward.
Gregg Hillyer can be reached at gregg.hillyer@dtn.com
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