Take out the confusion by committing to protein requirements today

Competitive UK-grown protein source NovaPro supports British production and feed security

Dairy producers can take any confusion ahead of the pending implementation of EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) out of the conversation, by committing now to home-grown protein sources, avoiding potential imported soya supply issues and premiums further down the line, a market expert reports.

Various commentators are picking up on the all too familiar concept of VUCA, with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity terms that could easily be applied to future availability of imported soya products, yet this could conversely provide an opportunity to take the risk out of forward budgeting.

The implementation of EUDR provisions, currently pushed back to the end of the calendar year, will mean that any soya product must be traceable to point of origin, with a segregated supply chain, and must not have been sourced from recently deforested land or an area that has contributed to forest degradation.

“We are in some respects back to where we were a year ago, with shippers not offering anything for imported soya products for January 2026 onwards, as they are still looking at how to meet those requirements, and the cost of doing so,” explains Chris Davidson, head of procurement at AB Agri’s ruminant division.

Fluctuations in the markets at the tail end of 2024 and into the early part of this year, with soya hitting near five-year lows before moving back up, have also created uncertainty.

Combine this with volatility on the back of dry weather in Argentina, alongside wet weather in Brazil pushing the soya harvest back in South America, it does increase the risk of a potential upside, although the crop does look good despite the delays.

“If we were to lose maybe 5-10 million tonnes between the two countries though, it would of course have an impact on the price,” continues Mr Davidson.

“On the back of this there has been some interest in buying forward, but for those wanting to take the risk out of next winter feeding, it can’t be done with soya, because you can’t physically buy it in for January 2026 and beyond,” he adds.

As a result, Mr Davidson says he is seeing quite a lot of interest in NovaPro from Trident Feeds, the UK grown and manufactured high energy rumen by-pass rape expeller.

With proven performance benefits, including improved intakes and milk yield, NovaPro represents a home-grown solution to replace or reduce soya in dairy rations.

Sourced from British rapemeal, as well as offering security of supply, NovaPro’s carbon footprint is also only around 1/7th of that of soya.*

Trials at the University of Nottingham found rations containing NovaPro produced an additional 1.7 litres of milk per cow per day compared to a soya and rape ration, demonstrating that the British-based protein is not only supporting British farmers and feed security, but also herd performance.

“There will be premiums on any soya prices that do eventually come through for January 2026 onwards, and with an appetite to cover for next winter, taking some risk out now is the sensible thing to do for anyone budgeting forward.

“NovaPro offers a cost-effective, viable UK-grown option to avoid the confusion and concern associated with imported soya. You can cover it forward today, and you know what prices you are going to pay. In doing so, you are also reducing your carbon footprint by buying British,” he concludes.

 * GFLI figure for soya coming into the UK including Land Use Change, NovaPro figure submitted for review into GFLI branded data