#tbt: An analysis of the top animal feed companies in 2014

In 2014, global compound feed production rose by 1.6 percent in 2014 — in part driven by the growing volumes of the world’s leading animal feed manufacturers.
101 animal feed companies produced 1 million metric tons or more of compound feed in 2014.
An analysis on www.WATTAgNet.com in September 2015 reviewed the regional growth of feed-producing companies and highlighted a few of the major developments with key players in 2014 and the first half of 2015:

• When breaking down the regional makeup of companies, Asia accounts for the greatest representation on the Top Companies list, boasting 47 companies in total, 23 of which are located in China.
• A broad look at the production developments by continent shows that Europe claims the second largest number of high-volume feed producers and North America ranks No. 3.
• Sorting the information by country reveals that the United States possesses 11 of the top companies; Brazil, France, Thailand and Japan each have five companies in the top 101; Germany, the Netherlands and South Korea are each represented by four companies; and India and Denmark have three.
• U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill bumped the New Hope Group out of the No. 2 position after the Chinese company saw a notable decline in its 2014 production volume.
• Wen’s Food Group (No. 5), China’s West Hope Group (No. 26) and Easy Bio (No. 48) each report nearly doubling their production in 2014 over 2013 numbers.
• Several multinational corporations increased their momentum on the world stage through major acquisitions, sales and mergers.

Marine Harvest to build new feed factory in Scotland

The Board of Directors of Marine Harvest ASA has approved the development of a new feed factory in Scotland. The specific location is yet to be decided.
The investment is estimated at approximately GBP80 million (US$121 million) and will be phased over the years 2016-18, with approximately 95 percent of the capital expenditure falling within 2017-18. The investment size reflects that the product range will be broadened. The investment is expected to yield good results, with a capital return target in the range of 15 percent.
The factory is expected to have a total capacity of around 170,000 tonnes of feed, with the potential for further expansion. The investment is subject to acquiring land, obtaining relevant permissions and consents. The construction phase is planned to commence in 2017 and expected completion of the feed plant during the first half of 2018. All existing external feed supply contracts in Scotland, Ireland and the Faroe Island expire during the first half of 2018.
Existing management within Marine Harvest Fish Feed will provide support to the build-up of the new operational management.

China animal feed sector profit up, operating revenue down

With the weak performance of livestock farming, significant decline of the number of hogs and decreasing demand for animal feed, the operating revenues of China’s animal feed sector in the first three quarters of 2015 totaled to US$19.39 billion, down three percent year on year. Meanwhile, the gross profit margin of the same period was 11 percent, up 1.64 percent year on year, reported Feedtrade.com. It was the decreasing costs of the feed ingredients, especially prices of the corn and soymeal that accounted for the increase of the gross profit margin.
According to the data collected by China Feed Industry Association, which had tracked the business of 180 Chinese feed companies, the pig feed production of these companies in the first nine months of 2015 fell 16 percent year on year; the production of aquatic feed decreased by 14.4 percent. As for the poultry feed, the output of the feed for layers declined 4.4 percent compared with that of last year, while the yield of the feed for broilers increased 13.7 percent year on year.
In the fourth quarter of the year, with the upturn of the hog prices, the year-on-year decline of the sales volume of the pig feed began to narrow; sales changes of the aquatic feed are not obvious with the arrival of the off-season. The feed sales for broilers are likely to grow from 2014 and the sales for layer feed might stay flat with last year. According to Feedtrade.com, the sales volume of feed in 2015 as a whole is expected to see another downturn since 2013.
The Deputy Secretary General of China Feed Industry Association Sha Yusheng said on November 23 that the number of feed production companies is fewer than 9,000, compared with 7,000 in 2014. Of the 10 leading feed companies including Tongwei Co. Ltd., Haid and Zhengbang Group, only four of them reported year-on-year revenue growth.

New Canadian Bio-Systems website features latest feed tech information

 The world of feed technology is rapidly evolving with groundbreaking science and a range of innovative new options to support efficiency, performance, health and environmental benefits.

Now industry can get a unique look inside this world through the newly revamped website of Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. (CBS Inc.)

"The new website is designed to provide all of our customers and partners—and everyone with an interest in feed technology—with a unique look inside the world of CBS Inc.," says Krisjan Jones, operations director. "It represents the evolution of our business, the new opportunities emerging, and the new developments shaping the future."

The new website, located at www.canadianbio.com, offers comprehensive information on CBS Inc. and the company's products and services. This includes options for poultry, swine, beef, dairy and more. It also features a broad range of fresh, regularly updated content, including feature stories, news and information releases, meeting reports and more.

The site also features premium content from the CBS Inc. FeedScape e-newsletter, "Showcasing ideas & innovations in the new world of feed technology." (Free sign-up for the newsletter is available at subscribe.canadianbio.com).

"We're in a new era of communications where 'content is king,'" says Jones. "The new site reflects this focus. We have made a commitment to developing a strong base of quality content, regularly updated and expanded, to help our customers and partners keep up to date with the latest developments and to help support them in their management decisions."

The website features a cutting-edge design based on the latest thinking in next generation web development. It is mobile friendly, social media friendly, and offers Live Chat for customers to interact immediately and directly with CBS Inc. The site also offers comprehensive language selection to support international customers around the globe.

"The website has become a major hub and anchor to our connection with industry," says Jones. "We want to make it the best experience possible for all users, with a site that is not only leading edge but also very user friendly and simple to navigate, whether from the desktop or mobile phone. This dovetails nicely with our growing social media effort, to offer a comprehensive next generation, interactive, multi-platform base for CBS Inc. knowledge and information."

CBS Inc. expands NutraMix availability

Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. (CBS Inc.) has once again expanded the availability of its feed quality product, NutraMix, for harvest time, as a means to provide industry with an important safeguard to ensure high quality livestock feed.
"This is a critical time of year for feed production and livestock sectors," says Mark Peters, CBS Inc. Sales & Marketing Director. "Having that insurance policy to support high quality feed is of utmost importance. We're pleased to offer expanded availability of NutraMix to customers across North America and internationally, both directly and through our distribution partners."
NutraMix offers a powerful one-two punch as a feed enhancer that helps support safe, high-quality feed as well as animal performance benefits. It is available for use with both monogastric and ruminant livestock, including pigs, poultry, beef cattle and dairy cattle.
"It's about feed quality. It's about performance. It's about the right science making a difference, to provide that peace of mind," says Peters. "With NutraMix, you know the quality is there and the animal is getting the best nutritional value possible from the feed."
Threats from grain diseases and other potential sources of contaminants present a real concern and that fluctuates year-to-year based on the growing conditions and region, says Rob Patterson, CBS Inc. Technical Director.
"The risk is pretty substantial in a lot of places. No matter where you are it can be tough to predict. The approach with NutraMix is to take away the guessing game and know you're protected. It's unique in the marketplace and we see growing demand among feedmills, producers, nutritionists and others industry, to get that combination of defence and feed value optimization."
One key component of the CBS Inc. NutraMix system is MycoCheck - a custom feed analysis tool available to NutraMix customers. "MycoCheck allows us to analyze samples and come back with precise recommendations on the best use of NutraMix," says Patterson. "Customers only use what they need and make sure they have the right application level to get the job done."
NutraMix includes a combination of absorbents, yeast polysaccharides and vitamins, carefully formulated to maximize the complementary activities of these ingredients. More information on study results and product benefits is available directly by contacting CBS Inc.

Patent-pending use for Diamond V Original XPC

Diamond V announces the patent-pending use of Diamond V Original XPC™ as a “method for foodborne pathogen reduction in livestock.”

Feeding all-natural Original XPC as recommended during food animal production helps reduce the prevalence and numbers of Salmonella and Campylobacter in the animal, production environment, and food processing plant, as described in the pending patent and supported by numerous scientific studies. Reducing these pathogens pre-harvest can improve food safety.

Over 125 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles describe how the pre-harvest technologies of Diamond V products support immunity, health, and performance of poultry, pigs, dairy and beef cattle, aquaculture species, and other food animals. Diamond V technology for pre-harvest reduction of foodborne pathogens deserves attention from all decision makers throughout the food supply chain, including executives, quality assurance personnel, veterinarians, and farmers.

Consumers today are concerned about how their food is produced and accept the use of effective, all-natural products. Diamond V’s unique, all-natural, fermentation-based products offer safe, cost-effective, pre-harvest solutions for food animal production.

“Our industry-leading research and ‘first in the field’ patent pending pre-harvest pathogen reduction applications give producers and consumers confidence that Diamond V technologies and expertise help provide additional security from food safety challenges,” says Jeff Cannon, Diamond V President and CEO.

Diamond V’s pending patent is based on numerous studies at many research institutions that involved pathogenic challenges to healthy animals by several different strains of Salmonella and Campylobacter. The resulting body of scientific knowledge on the effects of Original XPC on foodborne pathogen reduction represents the largest known collection of pre-harvest food safety research projects. These projects are the replicable work of leading investigators using varying methods. The quality, consistency, and reliability of these multiple sources of data further support Diamond V’s unique pending patent.

Most efforts to reduce pathogen numbers in food animals and products, including chemicals applied during processing, are not completely effective. Research shows that the pre-harvest pathogen contamination of animals correlates directly with the post-harvest presence of pathogens in food products. Research also indicates that, while there is no “silver bullet” to completely eliminate foodborne pathogens, a multi-step intervention plan -- including pre-harvest mitigation at the farm level – is most effective.

PAL-VITAL feeding bowl passes DLG FockusTest

The PAL-VITAL feeding bowl for broilers of the German manufacturer PAL Bullermann has been awarded with the test label “DLG FokusTest”. The product successfully passed a test in practice by the DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society). During development of the feeding bowl, the manufacturer had already focused on hygienic aspects like few critical edges or cleaning-friendly surfaces.
The tool-free mounting of the feeding bowl was easily possible within about 30 seconds. Daily cleaning of the bowl is simple: open the plates with one hand via snap lock and hinge. The bowl does not have sharp edges or manufacturing marks, leading to a low injury risk for broilers and users. The test criterion “handling” was rated “++ = considerably better than standard.” As the plate can remain attached to the bowl during cleaning, the test criterion “cleaning” also reached this best possible rating.
Concerning the evaluation of feed dosing as third test criterion, the responsible DLG test engineer Iris Beckert stated: “Before new feed is refilled automatically, the residual feed quantities in the bowl were very small. Due to the inward-curved edge of the bowl, feed losses as well as contamination of the feed were very low.” She added that due to the low filling level and subsequently always fresh feed, there was a low stimulus for the chicks to use the bowl for scratching. As a result, behavioral introduction of feed contaminations was also low, a positive effect that the bird keepers confirmed. Further details on the used methods and the test results can be obtained by downloading the DLG test report 6238F which is available as a PDF free of charge at http://www.dlg.org/feeding.html.
The DLG FokusTest is a DLG usability test intended to allow product differentiation and special highlighting of innovations in machinery and technical products used primarily in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, fruit cultivation and viticulture, landscape, and municipal management. It focuses on testing a product's individual qualitative criteria, e.g. fatigue strength, performance, or quality of work. The scope of testing can include criteria from the testing framework of a DLG SignumTest, the DLG's extensive usability test for technical products, and concludes with the publishing of a test report and the awarding of a test mark.
The DLG FokusTest “Handling, Cleaning and Feed Dosing” includes repeated investigations at a real-life farm at different times during the fattening period and also examines the assembly of the bowls and the time needed for cleaning. The testing was based on the DLG testing framework for poultry feeding bowls, in the version of 1.2/2014. Other criteria were not investigated.
The DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs sets the benchmark for tested agricultural technology and farm inputs and is the leading provider of testing and certification services for independent technology tests. With the latest measurement technology and practical testing methods, DLG test engineers carry out testing of product developments and innovations. As an EU-notified test laboratory with multiple accreditations, the DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs provides farmers and practitioners with important information and decision-making aids, in the form of its recognized technology tests and DLG tests, to assist in the planning of investments in agricultural technologies and farm inputs.

Volac, Wilmar create joint venture for animal feed fats

Volac International Ltd. and Wilmar International Ltd. have created a joint venture group to develop their added-value animal feed fat business around the world.
Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients combines the nutritional reputation, global brand and sales network of Volac with the operational raw material logistics and scale of Wilmar.
The joint venture will help the companies become a global leader in animal feed fats, supporting the dairy farming industry through deep nutritional expertise, by marketing an expanded MEGA branded range of feed fat products which are responsibly sourced through a leading sustainability approach and by maximizing operational efficiency.
“Volac believes that responsibly sourced feed fats will play a key role in sustainable livestock nutrition in the future and therefore we are expanding our fats business as part of our company strategy. The joint venture with Wilmar will supply sustainable and traceable fat nutrition ingredients which will help improve the productivity of livestock production across world markets,” said David Neville, managing director of Volac Animal Nutrition.
“Wilmar and Volac both have an aspiration to set the agenda for sustainability,” said Napoleon Pefianco, managing director of Wilmar Europe Holdings B.V. “Through the joint venture, we will use our combined resources to develop sustainable feed ingredients globally, putting the joint venture at the leading edge of ethically sourced feed fat ingredients.”

DOSTOFORM wins spot in the 'Top 100' SMEs

Animal feed specialist DOSTOFARM GmbH is being honored today as one of Germany’s most innovative SMEs at the German SME Summit in Essen. The Westerstede-based company joins an exclusive group of prize winners dating back more than 20 years. Top 100 mentor, Ranga Yogeshwar awarded the Top 100 seal of approval. The award to Dostofarm is the outcome of a two-stage analytical procedure by a team of research scientists.
Dostofarm’s senior management is the driving force behind its new developments. The company showed foresight at an early stage, entering the natural feed additives market more than 15 years ago. Natural feed additives are used to improve health and performance among livestock, and Dostofarm is a specialist provider of oregano-based products for animal food and husbandry. This active ingredient renders the prophylactic administration of antibiotics unnecessary, thus avoiding problems related to the development of resistance. “As a result, we help people and animals in equal measure,” explains executive director Reiner Mecking.
“Our large number of global contacts allow us to pick up innovative ideas at an early stage and incorporate them into our products and marketing,” adds executive director Thomas Logemann. Strategic partnerships with other companies allow Dostofarm to operate in large markets.
The company, which was founded in 1999, has already established itself in this growth market nationally and internationally. “We always want to be the first to the market with our products, as that is how we can stay ahead of our competitors,” comments Logemann. Dostofarm grew its revenues by 50 percent between 2012 and 2014, and its development of new markets will boost sales further. The company was also registered as a food manufacturer in 2014, meaning that people, as well as animals, may soon be able to enjoy the beneficial effects of oregano oil.
“Generating good ideas and implementing them quickly is an important competitive factor for us,” commented Mecking. “This is why we invest a lot of time and money into managing innovation. In doing so, we are relying on the creativity and inventiveness of all of our employees. I should like to extend our heartfelt thanks to them for helping us win this Top 100 award.” The accolade is awarded on the basis of a two-stage analysis developed by Nikolaus Franke, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, and his team. The decision as to which companies ultimately receive the Top 100 award lies exclusively with the academic coordinators (research scientists) of the project.
The Top 100 are outstanding in every respect: this year’s crop includes 71 domestic market leaders and as many as 31 global market leaders. In the last three years, the top innovators have together applied for a total of 3,405 German and international patents. Nearly 41 percent of their recent revenues came from new products and innovations, which they brought to the market before their competitors (average of all SMEs in Germany: 6.6 percent). This success is no accident; the top innovators invest an average of 10.5 percent of revenues in research and development (average of all SMEs in Germany: 1.5 percent). Two thirds of the Top 100 are family businesses.

China’s Zhengbang expanding pig and feed production

Zhengbang Group, a leader in agricultural industrialization and agroprocessing in China, has announced that it will raise CNY1.139 billion (US$190 million) to expand its pig and feed production. Of the money the company raises, CNY732 million will be invested towards live pig operations, CNY64.5927 million will be devoted to new feed production sites, and CNY340 million will be used to repay loans from various banks.
The project includes three pig breeding centers in Fuyu that will house 9,600 pigs, a 10,000-head piggery in Haifeng, and a 4,800-head piggery in Ji'an. Collectively, this project is expected to produce a total of 404,000 commercial pigs and 96,000 piglets annually to contribute CNY664 million in revenue and CNY79 million in net profits, according to a report provided by Smart Agriculture Analytics.
The new feed mill will have CNY64.5927 million in funding and is planned to produce about 600,000 tons of mixed feed, 120,000 tons of aquaculture feed and 300,000 tons of pig feed annually to earn CNY1.53 billion in revenue and CNY11.166 million in net profits.
Zhengbang hopes the expansion will lower its debt-asset ratio and increase financial stability.
Records show that the company's main shareholders did not participate in the recent purchasing plans.

Nutrinsic developing feed from beer-making waste

The MillerCoors Trenton Brewery in Butler County, Ohio, and Colorado biotechnology firm Nutrinsic Corp. have teamed up to convert wastewater from the beer-making process into fish and animal feed, according to a report.
Nutrinsic has built a multimillion-dollar addition onto MillerCoors’ water reclamation facility to capture wastewater and convert it into single-cell proteins. Protein production is in the testing phase and will be tweaked until the protein is ready to sell to farmers and feed suppliers.
The process alters the water to help microorganisms that produce protein grow. The protein is then harvested, concentrated, sterilized and dried. Packaged under the brand name ProFloc, it will then be used as a substitute for other types of feed such as fish meal or used as a feed ingredient.
“Our vision as a company is to make a contribution to meet expanding protein needs,” said a Nutrinsic spokeswoman, adding that the effort is also aimed at sustainability.
“We work with food and beverage processors like MillerCoors to recover nutrients from their byproduct that would be otherwise wasted,” she said.
The process will divert about 20,000 tons of wastewater that previously was applied as fertilizer for farming. The rest of the solids will continue to be used for fertilizer.

KSE becomes 60th partner of Feed Design Lab

KSE Process Technology B.V. has become a partner of the Feed Design Lab, the research and education center for innovation and sustainability of the feed industry.
“The world population is growing fast and thus the demand for food. Also the rising prosperity makes the demand for pet food grow, since people are able and willing to spend more money on their pets. A sustainable animal feed industry is necessary in order to meet these demands,” said Rene Smulders, commercial director at KSE. “Becoming a partner of the Feed Design Lab is a step forward for us in creating a sustainable feed industry and that’s exactly where the Feed Design Lab stands for.”
“Through the partnership with KSE we’ve reached a very nice milestone, since they are our 60th partner,” said Trudy van Megen, director of the Feed Design Lab. “Together with them, and all our other partners, we are able to create an innovative and learning community within the feed industry.”
At the Feed Design Lab, feed and technology companies internationally cooperate in an open innovation network to reach a sustainable animal production chain. In order to reach this goal, a production facility has been established in which research to new raw materials takes place, where new healthy feed can be developed, where new production techniques can be tested and where education and training activities can take place.

ForFarmers posts lower revenue for 2014

Dutch feed cooperative ForFarmers posted revenue of EUR2.3 billion (US$2.5 billion) for 2014, a 7.3 percent drop from the previous year. However, its overall organic gross profit was stable.
The company’s gross profit was EUR408.1 million, up 4.5 percent from last year, due to acquisitions and positive currency effect.
Total feed volume, including compound feed and other categories, was up 5 percent from 2013 to 8.9 million tons, with organic volume growth at 1.8 percent. The largest growth was in the pig sector, while the layer and dairy sectors also contributed.
“In 2014, we demonstrated that we can make our client proposition more attractive, while at the same time improving our profitability. Our clients also benefited from lower raw materials prices passed on in our feed products,” said Yoram Knoop, CEO.
Total feed volume in the U.K. was up 8.3 percent to 2.9 million tons. Gross profit in the U.K. was EUR145.5 million.
Total feed volume in the Netherlands was up 1.4 percent to 3.9 million tons. Compound feed sales declined 2.1 percent. Gross profit was unchanged at EUR180.4 million.
In Germany and Belgium, feed volumes were up 7.5 percent to 2.1 million tons. Gross profit rose to EUR82.2 million.

Evonik’s new methionine complex begins operations in Singapore

The new methionine complex of Evonik Industries in Singapore officially came on stream on November 4, after two years in construction. This plant has an annual capacity of 150,000 metric tons, bringing Evonik’s methionine capacity worldwide up to 580,000 metric tons.
"With this new facility — the most modern of its kind and the first world-scale methionine plant in Asia — we are continuing to expand our market and technology lead in DL-methionine," said Klaus Engel, chairman of the executive board of Evonik Industries. Evonik markets DL-methionine under the MetAMINO brand name.
The company has spent more than EUR500 million (US$627.8 million) on the complex, the most it has ever invested in a single chemical project.
"Methionine is one of our core businesses and Asia is the fastest-growing methionine market in the world. This is why we decided to build here," Engel said.
MetAMINO and all strategically important precursors will be produced in the new methionine complex. "Thanks to our local presence, our complete back-integration in the new plant, and our global production network for MetAMINO, we are able to offer our customers in Asia maximum security of supply," said Dr. Reiner Beste, head of Evonik’s Health & Nutrition Business Unit.
Progress in feed technology, rapid population growth and rising consumption of meat in the region are fuelling Asia’s high methionine demand.
The main reasons for choosing Singapore as the site for the new plant in Asia were the excellent local logistics, the business-friendly, stable environment, and the high level of education. The new production complex will create around 200 jobs for highly qualified individuals.

Nuscience Group becomes sole owner of Novi Mix

Nuscience Group, a manufacturer of animal feed solutions in Europe, has become the sole owner of the Serbian company Novi Mix. Nuscience Group acquired a 51 percent interest in the company last year, and has now decided to acquire the rest of the shared ownership.
“In the last year we have seen that the Serbian market is changing rapidly and feed suppliers more and more want to buy high-quality premixes instead of producing them,” said Patrick Keereman, CEO of Nuscience Group. “Midterm, the access to the European market will further support this tendency.”
Nuscience Group is a global player in premixes, concentrates, mineral feed, young animal nutrition and feed additives for the animal nutrition industry. After the acquisition of the majority package of Novi Mix d.o.o., the Serbian company changed its name to Nuscience Premix International d.o.o. “In the modern Velika Plana plant we are able to produce high-quality vitamin and mineral premixes for the needs in the Serbian market.”
With the state-of-the-art factory for the production of premixes in Velika Plana, Nuscience Premix International (NPI) is able to offer its customers tailored nutritional feed concepts in addition to its standard product portfolio. A well-educated team of collaborators with extensive knowledge in the field of nutrition and health-safe feed production is able to produce more than 35,000 tons of premixes per year.
To achieve the expected growth of 25 to 40 percent in 2014 and 50 percent in 2015, NPI’s sales and technical staff will be trained thoroughly in feed formulation and farm management. They will also introduce Aromabiotic, a patented solution of medium chain fatty acids, and Young Animal Nutrition to the Serbian Market.

CPF Group sees net profit nearly double

The net profit of Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl (CPF),Thailand's largest meat and animal feed producer, nearly doubled in the first quarter, according to a report. The jump was driven by higher meat prices,lower raw material costs and a recovery in shrimp business.
CPF posted a net profit of 2.05 billion baht ($63.2 million) for the January-March quarter, up from 1.03 billion baht a year earlier.
First-quarter sales rose 12 percent to 98 billion baht from a year earlier, with international operations up 16 percent and domestic sales up 7 percent.
Lower meat prices, weakness in foreign operations, and the impact from a shrimp disease have hurt the company's profit since the second half of 2012.

Hamlet Protein, Hirshberg to distribute soya products in Israel

Hamlet Protein has entered into cooperation with Hirshberg Brothers & Co. Chemicals Ltd. for a distributorship of Hamlet Protein soya protein products for Israel.
The Hirshberg Group was founded in 1925 and has serviced the Israeli industry for nearly 90 years.
The company concentrates on technical sales of added-value ingredients. Each division has its own sales and marketing staff, supported by technical team members.
Within the animal feed division, Hirshberg Group represents leading companies supplying amino acids, enzymes, preservatives, acidifiers, milk derivatives and functional ingredients. It services poultry, ruminants, swine and aquaculture feed producers.

Evonik invests in biotechnology company Algal Scientific

Evonik Industries is investing in the technology startup Algal Scientific Corporation, Northville, Mich. Evonik is part of an investors’ consortium that is investing more than $3 million in Algal Scientific.
Under the trade name Algamune, Algal markets 1,3-β-glucan (beta-glucan), a polysaccharide that strengthens immune response. It is used as an additive in animal feeds and as a nutritional supplement as well as in pharmaceutical formulations.
This is the first time it has been possible to obtain beta-glucan from algae on an industrial scale. Algal has developed a new technology for this purpose and is currently in the process of starting up the first commercial production plant in Michigan. Beta-glucan is usually extracted from grain or produced using yeasts or fungi. Algal’s new biotechnological process needs fewer production steps and at the same time generates significantly higher yields.
In addition to the innovative production technology, the use of beta-glucan in a wide variety of animal feed applications is of particular interest to Evonik. The immune stimulating effect of beta-glucan results in healthier animals and efficient growth, thus contributing to resource-efficient nutrition of the global population. Beta-glucan is suitable for nutrition of pigs, poultry, and ruminants as well as for aquaculture.
“Algal contributes toward sustainable animal nutrition,” says Dr. Bernhard Mohr, head of Evonik Venture Capital. “In view of the growing global population and the subsequent increasing demand for animal protein, this is an interesting market with attractive growth potential."
“We are very pleased that Evonik is joining us as a strategic partner,” says Geoff Horst, CEO of Algal. “We have been able to attract a strong group of investors; this allows us to advance commercial production and our business.” Also part of the consortium, in addition to specialty chemicals group Evonik, are the U.S. venture capital firms Formation 8 (California), Independence Equity (Illinois), and Envy Capital (Michigan), as well as regional funds and business development companies promoting the establishment and development of attractive companies in Michigan.
Within its venture capital activities Evonik plans to invest a total of EUR100 million (US$138.6 million) in highly promising start-ups with break-through technologies and leading specialist venture capital funds. These investments will focus on Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Partnering with innovative start-up companies supplements Evonik’s approach of open innovation and creates excellent opportunities for accelerating the development of new businesses and opening up future growth fields.

Brewers’ yeast specialist Leiber renames subsidiary in Poland

Leiber GmbH renamed its Polish subsidiary, InterYeast, to Leiber Sp. z o.o., in March. To commemorate the company’s 60th anniversary,all locations of the brewers’ yeast specialist manufacturer now include the denomination Leiber as part of their company names. With the renaming and introduction of the standard Leiber logo, Leiber GmbH has taken an important further step in the strategic alignment of the company and is strengthening the name of Leiber as an international brand.
"The consistent step of renaming sends out a clear signal with regard to our corporate development, the bundling of our expertise across the various company locations and the strengthening of our joint growth strategy,” said Michael von Laer, managing director of Leiber GmbH.
At Leiber GmbH, located in Bramsche, Lower Saxony, an innovative biotechnological procedure is used to process the natural raw material beer yeast in order to create high-quality products that are used in animal feed, foods, food additives and biotechnology. Lieber has two locations in Lower Saxony and further manufacturing plants in Poland and Russia, which employ 170 people.

FDA announces website to report livestock animal feed problems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there is a new website available to the public to report problems related to livestock animal food.
The Livestock Food Reporting portal will accept reports about foods made for species considered to be livestock, including but not limited to, horses, cattle, swine, poultry and fish. FDA encourages anyone with concerns about animal feed to file a report, including veterinarians and livestock producers. This online portal provides an additional means for consumers to register complaints, and FDA's District Office consumer complaint coordinators will continue to accept reports via phone.
The Livestock Food Reporting portal is the latest addition to the Safety Reporting Portal, an online system designed to streamline the process of reporting product safety issues to the FDA and the National Institutes of Health.