Alltech launches research alliance with top Chinese universities

Global animal health company Alltech has launched a $2.5-million Alltech–Chinese University/Institute Research Alliance with leading Chinese universities and academic research institutes. Agreements were signed in October at a press conference in Beijing and at ceremonies at the Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agri-Products – Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, South China Agricultural University, Northwest A&F University and Jiangnan University.
As part of a 2011 Global Feed Tonnage Survey conducted and released by Alltech, it was shown that China is now the largest feed market in the world. As such, Alltech is putting significant resources into China, including transferring Dr. Mark Lyons, one of its senior vice presidents, to China in January 2012. Another senior vice president, Aidan Connolly, visits China approximately once a month to support Alltech’s operations in the country.
“Issues such as mycotoxins, feed and food safety and the environmental impact of our industry are strongly present in China," said Lyons. "Also, in times of the highest ever raw material prices in history, Chinese animal producers still need to be profitable by reducing feed costs and increasing animal performance. One of the biggest questions for China is how the country can improve the feed conversion rate and, at the same time, decrease the dependence on crop imports. Alltech’s investment of more than $2.5 million to the Chinese Research Alliances over the next five years clearly indicates our commitment to find sustainable solutions to these challenges together with some of the world’s best universities."

The research alliances at each university will focus on specific key areas that address emerging challenges to animal agriculture in China, including:
• Alltech – IQSTAP Feed Toxicology Research Alliance: Mycotoxin testing methodology development and application
• Alltech – ZJU Animal Nutrition and Feed Science Research Alliance: New feed additive evaluation and solution development
• Alltech – NWAFU Animal Science Research Alliance: Application of animal metabolic chamber in the control of greenhouse gas emission
• Alltech – SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance: Nutrigenomics in yellow feather chicken
• Alltech – JNU Food Research Alliance: Programmed Nutrition on the regulation of meat quality

The research alliances will be run by the joint Alltech/University/Institute Management Committee, responsible for the programs’ preparation, justification, monitoring and outcome review. This strategic, long-term partnership will be critical for the consistency of future scientific studies and will be the basis for successful breakthrough in scientific research. These alliances are expected to be the catalyst for future advances in agricultural technologies.