Editorial: Reducing feed-food competition: a transdisciplinary approach

The intensification of livestock production and the rising global demand for animal-source foods have brought increasing attention to issues of environmental sustainability, resource-use efficiency, and food security. Within this context, feed-food competition namely the competing use of agricultural land and resources to produce food directly for humans or to produce feed for livestock (1) has become a central topic in the debate on the future of sustainable agri-food systems. Traditional livestock production, especially monogastric systems, often relies on human-edible crops such as cereals and legumes, potentially increasing direct competition with human nutrition (2). However, more recent analyses show that a substantial proportion of livestock feed could consists of non-edible by-products, which reduces direct competition and promotes more circular and resource-efficient production models (3). Furthermore, livestock can convert inedible biomass into high-quality nutrients, contributing to food security through the supply of proteins and essential micronutrients (4). Assessing feed-food competition thus requires an integrated framework that considers environmental impacts, resource-use efficiency, nutritional contributions, and socio-economic dimensions (5, 6).The aim of this Research Topic was to collect global evidence on strategies that mitigate feedfood competition through the adoption of sustainable, circular, and transdisciplinary approaches. The nine papers included address two complementary pathways: the incorporation of agro-industrial by-products or former foodstuffs (FFs') into animal diets, and the use of technologies and nutritional strategies aimed at improving feed efficiency. Together, these studies provide valuable insights for researchers, feed manufacturers, farmers, and policymakers.A first group of studies focuses on the valorization of by-products rich in bioactive compounds. Ferlisi et al. examined the dietary inclusion of an olive mill wastewater phenolic extract (0, 74, or 225 ppm) in 135 heavy pigs. While growth performance, pubertal status, backfat thickness, and histopathological parameters remained unaffected, the highest supplementation level increased hepatic and muscle antioxidant activity and enhanced several serum antioxidant markers. Meat quality analyses revealed reduced cooking loss and changes in color parameters in supplemented pigs, suggesting that dietary polyphenols may influence meat structure and water-holding capacity.