The need to provide enough animal protein for a growing population while reducing the environmental costs of farming will require "smart science and innovative solutions," so DSM Animal Nutrition & Health has launched its new strategic initiative: "We Make it Possible."

The goal of the strategic initiative is to lead a "robust and achievable transformation worldwide in sustainable animal protein production, and to accelerate solutions that will foster a brighter future," DSM said in an Aug. 25 announcement.

“DSM is purpose led and performance driven, and we know that the agriculture industry can transform itself from within,” DSM Animal Nutrition & Health president Ivo Lansbergen said. “For too long, sustainability has been someone else’s problem, a problem for tomorrow, but it is not an impossible challenge. We believe we can make animal farming sustainable. Our need is to be providing a decent living for farmers and affordable proteins to the world population, all while reducing the footprint of animal farming. 'We Make it Possible' is a commitment to tangible and actionable solutions that cater to the customers we care most about: people and planet Earth."

Lansbergen added, "Sustainability is in our DNA. We want to demonstrate our new vision both within DSM and beyond, how we see the future of the farming industry and the role we want to play. This strategic initiative reflects our commitment not only to be part of the value chain but to be a change agent, steering the global conversations, connecting the various stakeholders of the farming ecosystem, thinking ahead [and] generating ideas and new ways of working. If not now, when?”

The strategic initiative is driven by six sustainability platforms that will address the major challenges facing the animal farming industry. These are:

“DSM has a long and rich heritage in the sustainability arena, and it is on that basis that we operate as a purpose-led company. Companies can no longer delay this aspect. They must step up and embrace sustainability in all aspects. It is vital to the success of business, just as it is vital to everything else,” DSM Animal Nutrition & Health vice president Christie Chavis said. “We will create value across three dimensions simultaneously: people, planet and profit.”

DSM Animal Nutrition & Health vice president of sustainability and business solutions David Nickell added, “By applying our science, innovation and sustainability leadership behind these key areas, we believe we can make a substantial difference to the sustainability of the animal protein industry. At DSM, we ... have and continue to develop business solutions that enable the industry to make affordable and measurable improvements in the sustainability of animal protein, and we hope that many others will follow suit.”

The strategic initiative comes after many years of investment and innovation in scientific solutions aimed at providing real answers to the challenges facing the agriculture industry, DSM said, noting that the initiative marks not a new beginning but a significant acceleration of the sustainability journey.

Royal DSM is a global science-based company focused on nutrition, health and sustainable living. DSM delivers business solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, personal care and aroma, medical devices, green products and applications and new mobility and connectivity. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about 10 billion euros and have approximately 23,000 employees.