Some thoughts on feed resource management in different ecosystems and socio-economic circumstances

In this article aspects of feed resource management is discussed. It is emphasised that feed resource management is generally poor in developed countries due to high labour costs and relatively low costs of fossil fuel. Similarly, subsidized agriculture in EU and other countries has led to many problems of environmental degradation and since subsidies have become part of the cost of land etc., it has not contributed greatly to farm incomes. Drastic changes in the Common Agricultural Policy will be necessary in the next decade, made necessary also by EU expansion. Total resource management can be seen practised in many developing countries in which crop livestock are not separated and where crop by-product and animal excreta are both valuable resources. When crops and animals are separated as in many so called developed countries, both crop by-products and animal excreta contribute to waste. Examples are given of systems in which plant, animals and soil are seen in holistic relationships. Examples are also given on how human food production can be increased by unlocking bonds between lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose.