English We’re thrilled to release our new film ‘Soy No More: Exploring agroecological alternatives to soy-based pig and poultry.’
This short film, which we’ve produced in collaboration with Hodmedods a Stezzo Films, shines a light on the pioneering work that farmers in East Anglia are doing to produce agroecological alternatives to soy-based animal feed.
The film is part of our Soy No More campaign, and follows on from the release of our 2023 report which looked at the detrimental impact soy production is having on the Amazon, and modelled different scenarios for eliminating soy from pig and poultry feed mixes in the UK.
Our report explored the impact that replacing soy in pig and poultry diets in the UK would have on land-use in the UK, and looked at what might be possible if current UK cropland area was prioritised for growing pulses for human consumption, and pigs and poultry were fed on the byproducts from this pulse production, as well as food waste inedible for humans.
The farmers in this film are doing exactly this.
Mike Mallet at Maple Farm in Suffolk sources, processes and mixes his own feed for his flock of 2,000 heritage breed chickens, using midds from his own wheat mill, as well as by-products from locally grown pulses. Mike works closely with East Anglian pulse pioneers Hodmedods to provide a more valuable use for the co-products and by-products from their pulse processing, by using them in his feed mix.
Mike processes feed for other farmers, too, such as Chris Howes and Lou-Bishop Howes from Edfords Farm and Butchery in Suffolk, who feature in the film. We also meet Stuart and Rebecca Mayhew from Old Hall Farm in Norfolk who run a completely soy-free cow and calf dairy, as well as keep soy-free pigs and chickens.
You can watch the full film below.
