Dr. Hans Stein receives the DSM Nutritional Sciences Award 2015

Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, has announced the winner of the DSM Nutritional Sciences Award 2015. Dr. Hans H. Stein, from the University of Illinois has received the award in recognition of his outstanding research in swine nutrition, specifically helping to optimize the digestibility of nutrients contributing to sustainable food production.
The DSM Nutritional Sciences Award is part of DSM’s Bright Science Awards Program. DSM is deeply committed to promoting pioneering scientific research that leads to products or applications that enhance people’s quality of life. The DSM Nutritional Sciences Award is granted in recognition of outstanding contributions to innovative research in the field of human and animal nutrition by established scientists anywhere in the world.
In the field of animal nutrition, the award is granted to scientific work that has significantly contributed to improving animal nutrition and health through innovative concepts and more sustainable animal farming. The theme for the 2015 award is Optimum Swine Nutrition for Sustainable Food Production. An international judging committee selected Stein from the candidates proposed via a public call for nominations.
Stein has a broad understanding of animal nutrition, the pig industry, and the challenges of producing food for the growing world population. In particular, his research towards accurately determining amino acid requirements and optimizing calcium/phosphorous supply for growing pigs helps  reduce the excretion of undigested feed components (which are potentially harmful to the environment), and thus greatly contributes to the improvement of sustainable swine farming. 
Recently, Professor Stein was invited to join the prestigious committee in charge of writing the 11th Edition of the National Research Council’s publication on Nutrient Requirements of Swine, which is further proof of his intellectual leadership within the field.
DSM’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Marcel Wubbolts: “The issue of sustainability is an ever pertinent one, and research, such as that of Professor Stein, is paving the way for sustainability, not only in terms of current research, but also teaching.”

DSM breeder performance ingredient endorsed by European Union

DSM Nutritional Products’ CAROPHYLL Red 10%, a key ingredient in MaxiChick, has been officially recognized by the European Union (EU) as a zootechnical additive.
As the first ever European approval for a canthaxanthin product, this exclusive authorization validates the beneficial effects of the carotenoid supplement on the reproductive performance of breeding hens.
Used successfully as a pigmenting feed for more than 40 years, this approval marks a significant milestone in recognizing the hatchability and fertility benefits of canthaxanthin. The EU’s zootechnical use of canthaxanthin is exclusive to CAROPHYLL Red 10%.
Preceded by a positive scientific assessment from the European Food Safety Authority and a European patent in 2013, this European holder-specific endorsement is the successful end result of DSM’s comprehensive research and development and registration process.
Catherine Hamelin, European category manager carotenoids at DSM, said: “We are excited about this EU breakthrough authorization. By achieving this approval, DSM has once again demonstrated its position at the forefront of innovating in animal nutrition.
“Canthaxanthin is well recognized to fulfill a number of important biological functions in wild and domestic birds during embryo development. Now officially recognized as a zootechnical additive, CAROPHYLL Red 10% delivers clear benefits to customers in enhancing the reproductive performance of their breeding hens, particularly in conjunction with vitamin D3. This is particularly significant, as our MaxiChick solution has been demonstrated in scientific studies and field tests to produce three more chicks per housed hen and deliver an ROI of 4 to 1.”

DSM Vitamin E facility closing for maintenance

DSM will temporarily suspend manufacturing Vitamin E in Switzerland for one month. The company will perform the annual plant maintenance from the end of July to the end of August to ensure continued performance.
DSM will work with its customers during this time to avoid any supply disruption. All confirmed orders will be honored.

DSM acquires Microbia Inc. to expand its position in specialty ingredients

Royal DSM N.V. has acquired Microbia Inc. in a bid to expand its position in specialty ingredients.
DSM plans to incorporate Microbia's research and development capabilities to support DSM's development of the natural carotenoids market. "The acquisition of Microbia represents a significant step for DSM in our strategy to accelerate our innovation activities in natural products and fermentation processes," said Leendert Staal, president and CEO of DSM Nutritional Products. "This acquisition allows us to expand our product portfolio as well as our research and development capabilities."

DSM to open fourth feed plant in China

Netherlands-based Royal DSM N.V. will break ground for its fourth Chinese premix feed facility in Changchun, a major city in northeastern China, in May.
The new $5 million feed plant is expected to produce 25,000 metric tons of premix feed annually starting in December 2009, DSM spokeswoman Wang Ren told Feed International.
According to Wang, this feed factory will serve local farmers as well as animal feed producers in Jilin province, Liaoning province, Heilongjiang province and Inner Mongolia.
“Despite the economic depression, DSM takes an optimistic view of China, especially China’s premix feed market,” DSM China President, Jiang Weiming, said in a statement.
DSM's first Chinese premix feed plant was opened in 1997. Today, the company has three factories in Shanghai, Shandong province and Hunan province.