Novozymes scales back full-year forecast

Novozymes, the Denmark-based world’s largest industrial enzymes maker, scaled back its full-year forecast after reporting third-quarter results in line with expectations.
Novozymes said its earnings before interest and tax were DKK1 billion ($151.9 million), compared with an average forecast of DKK971 million in a Reuters poll of analysts. It had revenue of DKK3.5 billion, as expected.
The company said it expected earnings before interest and tax in 2015 to grow at 15 percent, compared with a 15-17 percent range previously forecast. That would be on top of organic sales growth of 4-5 percent compared with a previous range of 4-7 percent.
Chief Financial Officer Benny Loft said the biofuels market had changed significantly in the past year due to a dramatic fall in oil prices, which brought down biofuel prices and put its producers’ margins under pressure. In response, Novozymes is launching new enzymes for the sector.
According to a report, analysts say Novozymes is losing market share in the segment. The company's biggest competitor in the ethanol segment is DuPont, which took over Denmark's Danisco and its cellulosic ethanol enzymes business in 2011.
This month, Novozymes announced that it had acquired Pacific Vet Group-USA Inc. (PVG) for an undisclosed amount. Based in Arkansas, PVG develops and produces probiotics for animals. The company has significant know-how in probiotic applications for poultry, strong development expertise, a pipeline for the poultry hatchery segment, and a smaller commercial product portfolio.

'Energy-Sparing' feed enzyme featured at symposium

With increasing antibiotic regulations and a growing global population, feed utilization was a primary focus at last month’s European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition. Two studies recognized at the annual symposium featured Elanco Animal Health’s Hemicell®, the only “energy-sparing” feed enzyme that reduces Feed Induced Immune Response (FIIR) whether used with or without traditional energy-releasing enzyme products.
“Elanco recognizes feed enzymes are vital to the world’s food supply chain and is investing in several segments, including poultry, swine, beef cattle and aquaculture – all of which benefit from better feed-conversion efficiency,” says Patrice LaFargue, D.V.M., Senior Director-Global Enzyme Business at Elanco. “Hemicell is the catalyst for advancing what enzymes can offer producers, consumers and everyone in between.”
Abstracts for both Hemicell studies are available via the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition website; leading researchers include Ellen van Eerden, Ph.D. and Marco Antonio Martinez-Cummer, Ph.D.

“Advancing existing technology and creating new innovative production practices is the pathway to achieving future food security,” says Marco Antonio Martinez-Cummer, Ph.D., Global Poultry Nutrition Adviser at Elanco. “Many tools, like Hemicell, are already available, safe and proven to help operations fully utilize available nutrients to support animal health.”
Since acquiring the Hemicell technology in 2012, Elanco has grown its feed enzymes expertise and product offerings. Today Elanco’s enzymes global team has expanded to more than 35 nutrition and operations consultants. Additionally, Elanco is investing two-thirds of its food animal research budget in non-antibiotic development projects that address diseases.
For more information on how you can help achieve food security, visit ENOUGHmovement.com and join the movement to feed 9 billion people.

Direvo enzymes improve ethanol industry margins

Direvo Industrial Biotechnology has demonstrated that its proprietary enzyme blend, BluZy®-P XL1000, increased oil recovery over traditional mechanical separation and chemical addition by over 20%. BluZy®-P XL1000, custom designed to disrupt the corn fiber matrix and release oil, was tested in an extended commercial trial with a major US ethanol producer. Optimized corn oil recovery is a major margin improvement opportunity for the ethanol industry providing an immediate bottom-line impact through enhanced co-product revenues for an average sized plant. Additionally, ethanol yields are reportedly increased which is being validated through extensive trials with early adopters. BluZy®-P XL1000 can be utilized by ethanol producers with no incremental capital expenditures.
Jorg Riesmeier, CEO, stated that Direvo, with extensive bio-technical capabilities and enzyme know-how, has made significant progress to meet its business mission of improving the economic health of the corn-based ethanol industry. “The industry is focusing on improving the value of co-products. We are enthusiastic about how our products will lead to a more profitable and sustainable ethanol production business model. BluZy®-P XL1000 is our initial commercial launch of new value-added enzymes for the ethanol industry. We are excited about the prospects in working with our business partners to provide unique and quantifiable benefits to the ethanol industry.”

Elanco and Concordia partner in enzyme development

The Honorable Ed Holder, Canadian Minister of State (Science and Technology), has announced a three-year project collaboration between Elanco Animal Health and Concordia University to develop new enzyme combinations for Canadian pork and poultry producers. The goal of the project is to create commercial enzyme products for pork and poultry feed that significantly improve feed conversion, thus improving producer profit margins.
The project will be funded by Elanco, the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et des Exportations du Québec through Genome Quebec and the government of Canada through Genome Canada.
“Today, up to 25% of the components in pork and poultry feed remain unused because the animals lack the enzymes required for digestion,” said Allan Boonstra, director of Elanco Animal Health. “Feed costs make up about 70% of the cost of producing pork and poultry, so this project has the potential to generate significant value for producers.”
Dr. Adrian Tsang from Concordia and Dr. Paul Matzat from Elanco will lead the project. The work will involve screening proprietary enzymes for digestibility of common ingredients found in Canadian pork and poultry feed. Commercial products suited for the Canadian feed market are expected to result in significant improvements in feed conversion.
“Upon successful completion, this project is expected to provide benefits in the form of lower production costs, increased global competitiveness for swine and poultry producers, and more competitively priced meat and eggs,” said Marc Lepage, CEO of Genome Quebec. “In terms of feed production, we can also expect reduced land use and increased use of Canadian grains such as canola.”
Dr. Pierre Meulien, President and CEO of Genome Canada, added, "This project is one of several academic-industry partnership projects receiving funding under Genome Canada's new Genomic Applications Partnership Program, which was designed to facilitate industry engagement in Canadian R&D. Companies such as Elanco are seizing the opportunity to leverage Canada's strong genomics science and technology capacity for the benefit of their business and the Canadian economy."
The project complements Elanco’s mission to help the global food chain deliver a safe, affordable and sufficient food supply. Boonstra continued, “We believe innovation in sustainable food production is one of the most important mechanisms to feeding a growing global population. Elanco anticipates this project will lead to expanded research and development in Quebec and throughout Canada.” 

Hostazym X's registration is renewed and extended

The EU registration of Huvepharma’s NSP enzyme Hostazym® X (Reg number 4a1614) has been renewed and extended to fattening pigs and minor poultry species.
After thoroughly evaluating all data available on efficacy and safety, the European Committee has concluded Hostazym X is an effective and safe NSP enzyme for use in all feeds for pigs and poultry.
With this action, the EU committee confirms that Hostazym X improves the FCR and growth when applied in feeds for weaned piglets and fattening pigs, for broilers, turkeys, layers and minor poultry species. Hostazym X improves the digestibility of raw materials and has a positive effect on litter quality. Having a better digestibility of nutrients in feed, Hostazym X reduces the cost-price of feed and the related cost per kg of growth. One of the most stable and robust enzymes, Hostazym X has a shelf-life of 24 months.
Hostazym X is a unique NSP enzyme, as it is produced via Surface Fermentation. It contains a unique and natural combination of enzyme activities dedicated towards degrading NSP’s present in common used feedstuffs. In addition to being used in standard feeds, the non-GMO enzyme is allowed in organic certified feeds.

Multi-carbohydrase technology launches feed enzymes into the future

A breakthrough innovation in enzyme technology is breathing new life into the ability of swine and poultry operations to get the most “bang for bite” possible from feed rations. Multi-carbohydrase technology – now widely available in the latest Superzyme feed enzyme series from Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. (CBS Inc.) –  is designed to deliver higher nutritional extraction from a wide range of animal feeds including corn, soybean meal, wheat, barley, oats, canola meal, flax, peas and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).
Particularly effective with young animals, swine trial data results show 11 percent improvement in average daily gain and 15 percent improvement in feed conversion ratio for newly weaned pigs (multi-carbohydrase vs. untreated control). Poultry trial data results show 2.7 percent improvement in body weight gain and 3.2 percent improvement in feed conversion ratio (multi-carbohydrase vs. untreated control, using corn-soy diets).
This adds value to feed, reduces potential waste and presents a new way to gain a competitive advantage and enhanced profitability, says Dr. Bodgan Slominski, head of a long-standing research program in Western Canada that investigates the potential of novel feed ingredients.
“Multi-carbohydrase technology represents the leading-edge of our science-based knowledge on the most effective use of feed enzymes,” says Slominski. “It leverages what we have learned from many years of research to offer a much more comprehensive and sophisticated option than traditional approaches.”
CBS Inc. has funded and partnered in pioneering research on multi-carbohydrase technology to drive this concept forward. This has included numerous key studies directed by Slominski as part of his program at the University of Manitoba, recognized as one of the leading programs of its kind in the world. This research received the Synergy Award for Innovation from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada as well as the National Research Council Award for Innovation in Industrial Research.
This base of science is providing the foundation for a new wave of multi-carbohydrase technology products, led by Superzyme – “the original multi-carbohydrase.”  A flexible platform for use with a variety of swine and poultry diet formulations, Superzyme is becoming widely available for 2015 through expanded distribution in the U.S., Canada and more broadly internationally, say Rob Patterson, Director of Technical Services with CBS
“The multi-carbohydrase technology embedded in Superzyme is different from other ‘NSP’ enzymes and ‘enzyme cocktails,’" says Patterson. “This technology utilizes multiple unique enzyme strains that express multiple activities, as opposed to blending single-source enzymes together. Theses enzyme activities are painstakingly identified, researched and developed to ensure they complement one another seamlessly and deliver a high level of individual and synergistic benefits."
A new website, www.superzyme.info, offers a valuable resource for industry to learn about the multi-carbohydrase approach.

Global feed enzymes market to reach $1,371M by 2020

A new report "Feed Enzymes Market by Type (Phytase, Protease, and Non-starch Polysaccharides (Xylanase, beta-glucanase, Cellulase, Mannanase & Pectinase), by Livestock (Swine, Poultry, Ruminants, and Aquatic Animals) & by Region - Global Trends & Forecast to 2020" is available from MarketsandMarkets.
The global market for feed enzymes was valued at $899.19 million in 2014 and is projected to reach $1,371.03 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 7.3 percent from 2015 to 2020. The market is segmented and market values are forecasted on the basis of major regions, such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). The key countries are covered and their market sizes have been forecasted for each region. Further, the market is segmented and market values are forecasted on the basis of applications.
Feed enzymes have become an essential part of the globally increasing milk and meat industry. Increasing population trends support the milk and meat market globally, thereby leading to a growth in the demand for feed enzymes. Feed enzymes are gaining importance as it leads to better feed conversion by the animal, improved feed quality, and represent an active contribution to animal welfare.
The high-growth potential in emerging markets and untapped regions provides new growth opportunities for market players. The growth of this market is driven by growing customer attention towards superior quality feed grades, which should be balanced and nutritive.
The global market for feed enzymes was valued at $899.19 million in 2014 and is projected to reach $1,371.03 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 7.3 percent from 2015 to 2020. Europe dominated the global market in 2014. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market in the near future owing to the growing milk and meat consumption in the region.
According to the 2012 statistical data of livestock, production in China and India is steadily growing which is resulting in increased demand for feed enzymes for pork and poultry industries. This increase in demand for meat protein has triggered the meat production in the Asia-Pacific region, where uptake of feed enzymes has increased and is expected to show healthy growth. Apart from improving the nutritional value of feed, these feed enzymes are gaining importance for their role in feed cost reduction and meat quality improvement.
In the global scenario, the U.S. is among the top-three producers of feed enzymes. As animal husbandry is developing in the North American region, attention towards favorable feeding patterns for livestock is leading the demand for feed enzymes. The major livestock segments in this region are pork and poultry. The increasing demand for the poultry segment led to a rise in the demand for feed grade supplements, resulting in an increase in the demand for feed enzymes.
Royal DSM NV is a major player leading the business of feed enzymes in this market. The American Feed Industry Association governs the market for feed enzymes in this region. The demand for better and more efficient feed additives, such as enzymes, is expected to increase not only as alternatives to feed antibiotics but also to manage input costs in livestock production. The development of new feed enzymes and direct feed microbial products with customized usage capabilities will act as an opportunity for feed enzymes market players.

Dr. Mike Bedford makes presentation on critical factors affecting feed enzyme efficacy

Dr. Mike Bedford, AB Vista’s Research Director, will make a presentation of the critical factors influencing feed enzyme efficacy in poultry diets, during the first full day of the 40th Annual Convention of the National Association of Poultry Science Specialists of Mexico (ANECA*).
Covering the two main classes of feed enzyme – non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)-degrading enzymes and phytases – both individually and when used in combination, Dr. Bedford’s talk will highlight the complex interactions that take place between enzymes, their respective target substrates and the gut environment.
“The U.S. $1 billion feed enzyme market is dominated by NSP-degrading enzymes and phytases,” Dr. Bedford states. “The main reason for their use is economic benefit, yet the efficacy with which this is achieved depends on a wide range of complex interactions that take place within the bird.
“Such interactions are even more complex when using two different classes of enzyme in combination. A detailed understanding of how each affects performance is therefore critical if return on investment made in feed enzymes is to be maximized.”
The latest research has also highlighted the importance of how enzymes within each class can indirectly change gut microflora.
* Asociación Nacional De Especialistas En Ciencias Avícolas De México

New report on Chinese feed enzyme industry available

A new report, “Research and Forecast of the Chinese Feed Enzyme Industry, 2014-2018,” is available from Research and Markets.
Feed enzymes were introduced to China's feed industry in 1980s. After entering into the 21st Century, as China's fermentation technology of enzymes improved, the production cost has dropped and, as a result, China's enzyme enterprises have developed rapidly and self-dependent brands have been established. Those brands not only take up most share of the domestic market, but are well acknowledged in international market, so the export volume has improved year by year.
The output of China's feed enzymes was 142,000 tons in 2013, up 20.9% over 2012, with total output value reaching CNY2.5 billion (US$4 million). As for the segment market, the output of compound enzyme was 74,900 tons, and that of phytase was 66,900 tons in 2013, up 21.8% and 20.1% over 2012 respectively.
Though the industrial penetration rate is still less than 43%, the future development space is adequate. As the domestic feed sales volume grows and the penetration rate improves, the demand of feed enzyme will surely increase.


Reasons for growth
According to the report, the reasons accounted for the broader development space in China's feed enzyme industry are as follows:


• The stable development of the feed industry has driven the expansion of feed enzyme industry
• Under the background of the constantly improvement of feed industrial scalization, the scientific breeding performed by the large-scale feed enterprises will improve the utilization of feed enzymes
• The improved product utility brought about by continuously innovation and technological improvement of feed enzyme products and the dropping cost of products brought about by the scalization will all promote wider application of feed enzyme
• Under the background of the constantly emphasis on food safety and advocacy of environmental protection, feed enzyme industry will continuously acquire national policy support and promote feed industry to advance forward
The total output of China's feed enzyme industry is estimated to reach 167,200 tons with output value of CNY2.9 billion in the end of 2014. By 2018, the total output will reach 272,000 tons with output value of CNY4.7 billion, and the annual growth rate will be 12.9% and 134% respectively.

Report: Feed enzymes market to reach $1,280.1 million by 2019

The feed enzymes market is estimated to reach about $1,280.1 million by 2019, according to a new report from ReportsnReports.
In 2014, Europe was the largest feed enzymes market. The rest of the world market for feed enzymes is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of around 8.8% from 2014 to 2019. The Asia-Pacific market is estimated to have the second-highest CAGR of 7.6% from 2014 to 2019. Feed enzymes are obtained through natural sources and have become the most important part of the livestock's feed. They are increasingly used in markets where the consumption of feed is increasing. The invention of high- and rich-quality feed enzymes is an opportunity for the key players to innovate and bring changes in their current product portfolio.
The feed enzymes market is driven by the consumption habits of the consumers, marketing strategies of the companies, an increase in demand for high feed enzymes, consumer awareness, and the developing economies. The key market players adopt collaborations, agreements, acquisitions, and expansions as their preferred strategy to sustain the competition in the market. The different technologies used to manufacture feed enzymes have further driven the market. The report provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the feed enzymes market. The report includes the market dynamics, trends, competitive strategies preferred by the key market players, the driving factors that boosted the feed enzymes market, and the restraints of the market.
To maintain a competitive edge in the feed enzymes market, the key players invest heavily in the development of new innovative products. The key players of the market were observed to prefer acquisitions, new product developments, collaborations, and expansions as strategies to garner a larger share in the market. Companies like Lesaffre Group, BASF SE, ABF PLC, Alltech Inc., Adisseo France S.A.S., Advanced Enzymes Technologies, CHR. Hansen Holding A/S, Danisco A/S, and Novozymes A/S are profiled in this research.

Inspire forum highlights complex nature of plant NSPs

The inaugural Inspire: Non-starch Polysaccharide (NSP) Forum got underway March 31 with 80 delegates from 23 countries hearing presentations aimed at generating a deeper understanding of the complex structures of plant NSPs and the factors that influence their nutritional impact. It was the first of three sessions across the three days of the Inspire forum looking, respectively, at aspects of the NSP substrate, the impact of fibre on animal nutrition and feed enzyme solutions to improve efficacy and sustainability.
Chairing this first session, AB Vista Research Director Mike Bedford highlighted the importance of understanding how NSPs were synthesised and structured when the target was to achieve effective and targeted breakdown using exogenous enzymes.
The process by which cellulose is synthesised was outlined by Dr. Staffan Persson of the Max Planck Institute. This was followed by a review of the arabinoxylan structure of cereal grains using a fluorescently-labelled inactivated xylanase by Joran Verspeet of KU Leuven, a technique which also highlighted clear evidence of specificity between different xylanases and different arabionoxylan structures.
Stan Cauvain of Baketran then discussed the experience of the breadmaking industry in using xylanases to overcome the water retaining ability of grain NSPs to maintain bread quality. It was problem that had grown considerably as demand for high fibre wholemeal bread increased during the past 30 years.
Cauvain stated: "The problem is that we have very little idea of why xylanase works in breadmaking. We know how to control the results, but we don't know exactly what is happening in terms of the interaction between the enzyme and grain quality."
Cauvain also highlighted the enormous challenge faced by his industry due to the variability in fibre content between flour batches, between flour types and between growing seasons. The inability to reliably predict response to xylanase addition - or the effect of the xylanase inhibitors known to be present in some grains - meant a heavy reliance on extensive and regular trial and error screening, a situation with considerable parallels in the feed industry.
The session closed with a presentation by Per Aman of the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, who discussed the challenges faced when trying to analyse plant fibre.
"None of the methodologies currently used produce exactly the same substrate conditions as found in the animal gut," he stated. "In terms of the characteristics important to animal nutrition, the molecular structure of the fibre component can be hugely important, as can agronomic conditions.
"For example, the branching on the xylose backbone of arabinoxylan molecules dictates the extent of viscosity effects, as well as how and where xylanases can act to break down those long-chain molecules. Differences between growing sites can also exceed varietal differences, and a detailed knowledge of these factors is essential when looking to understand xylanase activity."

AB Vista: Global feed enzyme market is $1B

According to recent analysis carried out by AB Vista, the global market for non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) and protease enzymes is considerably larger than previously recognized, at around US$550 million, and even larger than the US$450 million phytase market. Overall market penetration of NSP enzymes has increased markedly over the last few years, and is now estimated at around 57% of global monogastric feed.
"There has clearly been a lot of growth in NSP enzyme use in the last five years, particularly in the typically corn-soya diets of the Americas," states Richard Cooper, AB Vista's managing director. "Increasing numbers of swine and poultry producers are now taking advantage of the performance and financial gains available from NSP enzymes."
The AB Vista NSP analysis used data from the 500 largest global users of feed enzymes across 33 countries to reveal key trends within the NSP enzyme market. Compared to the phytase sector, the NSP market has a far greater number of suppliers and products - more than 30 brands - and is also more reliant on relatively mature products. Eight of the top 10 products have been on sale for more than 15 years.
"The concern is that large numbers are missing out on the improved gains available from the latest generation NSP enzyme products," Cooper said. "It is a situation perpetuated by many, who are apparently still making buying decisions based on cost per tonne rather than financial returns."
Xylanase continues to be the most important NSP enzyme, and is generally regarded as having the most supporting evidence. Xylanase-based products account for nine of the top ten NSP enzyme products, with five of those being single xylanase products.
"The science supporting the use of so-called multi-enzyme products is still not clear, and the market reflects this in its confidence in xylanase as the primary NSP enzyme," Cooper said.

New report on industrial enzymes market available

A new report is available from Markets and Markets. "Industrial Enzymes Market by Types (Carbohydrase, Protease, Lipase), Applications (Food & Beverages, Cleaning Agents, Bio-Fuel, Animal Feed) & Geography - Global Trends & Forecasts to 2018," defines and segments the global industrial enzymes market with analysis and forecasting of the global value for industrial enzymes.
The report also identifies driving and restraining factors for the global industrial enzymes market with analysis of trends, opportunities, burning issues, winning imperatives, and challenges. The market is segmented and the value is forecasted on the basis of major regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world.
Industrial enzymes are specific catalysts that are utilized to accelerate a chemical reaction as well as to catalyze the chemical reaction that does not occur naturally. A few of these enzymes even improve the yield of process by optimizing output from the same raw material by 8% to 10%. Due to these novel features, the demand for industrial enzymes has catapulted to new heights from industrial manufacturers that are involved in constant research and development, to optimize their production and minimize resource costs.
The industrial enzymes available are carbohydrases, proteases, lipases, polymerases, etc., which are further sub categorized into a large number of enzymes extensively used in various industries. Carbohydrases form the major class of enzymes that catalyzes the breakdown of carbohydrates into simple sugar. They also account for the largest market share in the food and beverage, detergent and textile industry. Other sub-types of types of carbohydrases include amylase, cellulose, lactase, and pectinase.
According to the report, the global industrial enzymes market was fairly immune to the recent turmoil in the global economy and grew moderately in the past decade. The demand for industrial enzymes in matured economies such as the U.S., Western Europe, Japan, and Canada was relatively stable during the recent times, while the developing economies of Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, along with Africa, and the Middle East regions emerged as the fastest growing markets for industrial enzymes.

Inspire Forum to feature experts in NSP enzymes

The inaugural Inspire: International Non-Starch Polysaccharide (NSP) Forum addressing the development and use of NSP enzymes in animal nutrition is set to take place between March 31 and April 2 in Pitlochry, Scotland. The Inspire Forum will bring together leading academic and industry experts in NSP enzymes.
Sponsored by AB Vista, a leading global supplier of micro-ingredients to the animal feed industry, the Inspire Forum 2014 offers three days of sessions featuring technical presentations and discussion workshops.
The format of the meeting will be interactive, with intervals that will allow time to summarize key messages and encourage open discussions.
Session 1 - The substrate story

• Introduction - Richard Cooper, AB Vista, UK
• Cellulose synthesis in higher plants - Dr. Staffan Persson, Max Planck Institute, Germany
• Cereal cell wall structure from a botanical perspective; microscopy - Dr. Joran Verspreet, KU Leuven, Belgium
• Fiber and xylanases in baking - Stan Cauvain, BakeTran, UK
• New understandings in measurements of fiber relevant to human health - Dr. Per Aman, Swedish University of Agricultural Science
Session 2 - The fiber debate

• The role of soluble and insoluble fiber as an ANF; Viscosity and caging effect with main focus on broilers - Prof. Hank Classen, Saskatoon, Canada
• What does the fiber fraction mean for swine? - Prof. John Patience, Iowa State University
• What are the unique benefits of fiber cross species? - Dr. Knud Erik Bach Knudsen, Aarhus Universitat, Denmark
• Impact of fiber on the gut microbiota and performance - Dr. Juha Apajalahti, Alimetrics, Finland
• Feed, fiber and enzymes modify necrotic enteritis - Prof. Ed Moran, Auburn University
Session 3 - Examining enzyme solutions

• Historical commercial drivers of enzyme use - Dr. Hadden Graham, AB Vista, UK
  Variation in enzyme characteristics and efficacy in xylanases - Dr. Kim Langfelder, AB Enzymes, Germany
• The role of soluble and insoluble fiber as an ANF - Prof. Mingan Choct, University of New England, Australia
• Oligosacchardies produced with the use of enzymes … What are their benefits to health? - Dr. Christophe Courtin, KU Leuven, Belgium
• Influence of fermentation on gut hormones and consequences - the PYY story? - Dr. Nell Masey O'Neill, AB Vista, UK
• Efficacy of feed enzymes - Consistency and dose - Dr. Usama Aftab, AB Vista, UK
• Efficacy of feed enzymes - Hens and breeders - Prof Sanna Steenfeldt, Aarhus Universitat, Denmark
• Efficacy of enzymes and interaction with cereal quality - Dr. Maria Francesch, IRTA, Spain
• Efficacy of enzymes, interaction with others, protease, phytase - Dr. Mike Bedford, AB Vista, UK
• Next generation solutions - Richard Cooper, AB Vista, UK

Biocatalysts achieves kosher certification

Responding to customer demand, Biocatalysts has recently achieved a kosher certificate which will allow the enzyme specialists to manufacture kosher enzymes without the need to have a rabbi present.
Biocatalysts have a long standing relationship with Manchester Beth Din, who has been providing rabbis for nearly 30 years to oversee the production of kosher enzymes. To comply with kashrut (Jewish dietary law), kosher foods may only contain kosher ingredients which have been processed using kosher methods. The rabbi being present at Biocatalysts ensures that this is the case and labels the enzyme kosher. However, following the growth of the company and the expanding market for kosher ingredients, the attainment of kosher accreditation for the manufacturing facility was the next step.
The superb systems in place in both the quality and operations departments at Biocatalysts made this achievable in a relatively short time period. The benefit to customers is considerable. Instead of having to order kosher products well in advance, these products are now routinely produced against forecast without the need for on-site supervision by the Rabbi. There has also been a reduction in the amount of administration of certificates as customers now receive an annual document thereby improving the service delivered.
This accreditation also includes Biocatalysts' new enzyme production plant which means that all products produced, whether for individual customers or general market supply have the option to be kosher, halal and vegetarian, offering an extra level of competitive advantage.
Caroline West, marketing and customer services manager at Biocatalysts commented, "Biocatalysts is now considered as experienced and knowledgeable in the aspect of religious accreditation and we are delighted to share this knowledge with our customers, guaranteeing problem free product compliance. Over 50 percent of our standard products can be produced halal. Along with this growth in the number of materials covered has come a greater level of scrutiny and audits which we have passed with flying colors."
The benefits of religious accreditation are clear to see, taking Biocatalysts closer to becoming the world's leading speciality enzyme manufacturer. It is a classic example of Biocatalysts understanding the needs of their customers and implementing challenging systems to make life easier for them.

Latest enzyme developments showcased at Provet/AB Vista seminar

The Swiss town of Lyssach was host to a seminar on 17th September highlighting the latest developments in monogastric feed additives and technical services.
Organised by Provet, the distributor for AB Vista feed ingredients in Switzerland, the seminar was attended by 25 delegates representing all of the major feed producing companies in the country
"This was a fantastic opportunity to hear about the very latest thinking that's driving development within the feed enzyme sector", stated Provet's Vice Director, Dr Markus Moser. "The advances AB Vista is making in terms of both phytase and xylanase efficacy and application are set to benefit the local and global market.
AB Vista speakers included Dr Carrie Walk, Dr Imke Kuhn, Dr Petra Philips and Rolf Speelman. The presentations, which were given in German and English, provided both a local perspective and an international view of the innovative products and technical services being offered to the Swiss market by AB Vista through Provet. Talks explored innovative concepts for phytase and xylanase application, phytase enzyme characteristics and supporting technical services
Rolf Speelman, AB Vista's Business Manager for Switzerland, added "Based on a portfolio of differentiated and class-leading products supported by unique services, AB Vista, partnered with Provet, continues to strive to provide the very best levels of customer support and maximize customers return on investment"

Thermostability matters when choosing a xylanase feed enzyme

According to AB Vista's EMEA Technical Director, Dr. Rob ten Doeschate, xylanase thermostability and the ability to accurately confirm activity in manufactured feed is just as important as it is for phytases. The degree of thermostability, and methodology used to achieve this, also has a dramatic impact on xylanase dose variation and efficacy in the target species.
"For too long, feed manufacturers, end users and nutritionists have accepted that it's simply not possible to accurately monitor xylanase recovery," he states. "But thanks to the introduction of Econase XT, which offers an ease of assay not previously seen in the xylanase market, it's finally possible to focus on the important issue of thermostability and the impact it has on efficacy.
"Thermostable xylanases capable of withstanding high temperature feed conditioning and pelleting make it possible to avoid the expense and large coefficient of variation (CV) -- typically 10-20% -- associated with post-pelleting liquid application. They also provide certainty that the product will survive the manufacturing process and be active in the target species, offering greater peace of mind for the nutritionist and end user."
An intrinsically thermostable xylanase such as Econase XT, which can be applied directly into the batch mixer, either as a powder or diluted liquid, can achieve a CV as low as 5% in both pellets and mash. The ease of assay means that demonstrated recovery rates of 90-110% under commercial conditions can easily be monitored on-site.
"Compared to the use of coating technologies to improve xylanase thermostability, which increase manufacturing costs and potentially compromise efficacy, an intrinsically thermostable xylanase is much more cost-effective," Dr. ten Doeschate continues. "Numerous production trials have also shown Econase XT to be capable of both significantly improved animal performance and a greater overall return on investment compared to previous generation products."

BASF acquires biotech company Verenium

Verenium Corporation, an industrial biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of high-performance enzymes, has entered into a definitive merger agreement with BASF Corporation, a chemicals company, under which BASF will commence a cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Verenium's common stock. The agreement has been unanimously approved by both Verenium's and BASF's boards of directors.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, holders of outstanding shares of Verenium's common stock will receive $4.00 per share, representing a 56 percent premium to the volume weighted average closing price of Verenium's common stock in the six months prior to announcement of the transaction. Each of the directors and officers of Verenium has entered into tender and support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to tender all of their shares.
 The offer is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Enzyme research grant to focus on piglet digestion, metabolism

Using enzymes to break down compounds in plant-based feedstuffs that impair digestion and metabolism in nursery pigs is being funded by a $100,000 Collaborative Funding Grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. This grant was awarded to BioResource International Inc. (BRI) to help harness the natural power of enzymes to develop sustainable solutions that help feed the world.
NCBiotech's Collaborative funding grant program supports university-company partnerships that advance a company's technology to the marketplace. BRI is collaborating with North Carolina State University professor Dr. Sung Woo Kim, who will lead a project that will provide a feeding strategy to increase the use of plant-based feedstuffs in nursery pig diets and reduce the use of animal-based feedstuffs. This will lead to a reduction in feed cost and meat safety concerns in pig farming.
"We are very grateful for the support from the Collaborative Funding Grant. We hope that information derived from research supported by this grant will ultimately help address some of the specific needs and concerns of pig farmers in North Carolina and around the world," said Giles Shih, BRI CEO. "We are excited about the opportunity for enzymes to provide pig farmers with an economically and environmentally sustainable solution to raise their hogs."

New research tests enzyme additives in poultry feed to improve digestibility

In Dr. Jason Lee’s study on the effects of feed with various combinations of enzyme additives and available phosphorus, 500 male chicks were individually weighed at seven and 14 days. Lee also analyzed the chicken litter the chicks produced for residual phosphorus.

Dr. Jason Lee compares the enzyme additives he's testing in chicken broiler feed to the probiotics now commonly added to human food, such as yogurt. Like probiotics, the enzymes he's testing improve digestibility of the food the chicken eats, acting within the gut, said Lee, who is a poultry scientist with Texas A&M AgriLife Research at College Station.
"And like probiotics, the enzymes naturally occur in nature," he said.
The analogy is imperfect, he said, as the probiotics added to yogurt and other foods to aid digestion are live bacteria, while enzymes are not alive at all, but merely simple proteins.
Improving digestibility of poultry rations is important for commercial producers for two reasons, Lee said.
The first reason is improved digestibility means improved feed efficiency - less feed is required for each pound of weight gain.
Digestibility of soybean meal by poultry is already high, 80 to 85 percent, according to Lee.
"But we want to make that much higher," he said.
According to the National Chicken Council, in 2010, U.S. companies produced nearly 9 billion chickens for meat consumption, most of which were broilers, with a small percentage from breeding stock and spent hen egg-layer flocks. This equates to more than 5 billion pounds of meat, most of which was consumed domestically.
"The poultry industry is very competitive," he said. "With feeds sources such as soybean meal and corn going up every year, only a small percentage of increase in efficiency can mean big savings to the industry."
The second reason why improving feed efficiency is important is an environmental one, Lee said.
About 9 billion birds produce large amounts of manure, which when mixed with spilled feed, feathers and bedding material, is called "chicken litter."
Chicken litter is primarily used as fertilizer, but because nitrogen is less concentrated than chemical fertilizers, transportation costs usually limit its use to nearby farms. And the nitrogen in chicken litter can be lost quickly, according to Lee.
Nitrate runoff is usually not a problem with chicken litter fertilizer as it is with manure from other confined animal operations. But phosphorus can be, he said.
"Phosphorus is an essential nutrient required for proper bone development and for efficient poultry production," Lee said. "The failure to meet a bird's requirement of phosphorus can lead to many bird-health problems, including reduced bird performance, increased leg disorders and increased bird mortality."
To avoid these bird health problems, companies used to include a "a safety margin" of phosphorus when formulating feeds, Lee said. The over-supplemented could lead to the excess ended up in the chicken litter used as fertilizer. Crops can only use so much phosphorus in a given time, and this excess ending up in the water table through run-off.
Environmental concerns, as well as rising costs of inorganic phosphate sources have motivated producers "to consider alternative strategies to reduce the total phosphorous concentrations in broiler diets," Lee said.
The main strategy utilized to decrease the levels of phosphorus required in broiler diets is the use of enzymes that utilize the phosphorus in plant sources, such as corn and soybean, according to Lee.
A form of phosphorus called phytate can account for as much as 70 percent of the total phosphorus found in plants, he said. However, poultry do not have the ability to digest phytate. But ruminant animals, such as beef cattle, have bacteria in their rumens that naturally produce an enzyme called phytase that allows them to convert the phytate into organic phosphorus.
Phytase can be relatively cheaply and easily produced and added to poultry feed, but that solves only one aspect of the problem.
"Another anti-nutritive factor found in cereal grains used in broiler diets include the presence of non-starch polysaccharides - NSP, which are fibrous material found in plant cell walls," Lee said. "Chickens lack the digestive capacity of ruminant animals and the presence of NSP in the diet increases intestinal viscosity resulting in decreased digestibility of the diet."
Fortunately, according to Lee, another enzyme, carbohydrase, can help increase digestibility of high fiber broiler diets. Both enzymes need be added at low rates, typically from 0.25 to 1 pound per ton of feed.
But a question remained: Which strains of the two enzymes were best combinations for chicken health and feed conversion efficiency?
To determine this, Lee has been conducting studies comparing how multiple levels of phytase affects the bio-availability of phytate with and without non-starch polysaccharides. The feed tested was a combination of corn and soybean meal with added vitamins and micronutrients - a standard poultry ration.
The relationship between the effects of the two enzymes turned out to be more complicated than expected. Non-starch polysaccharides increased the bioavailability of phosphorus but at only one of the three levels of phytase concentrations tested.
The results of his study will give commercial poultry producers information they need to fine-tune feed mixture to reduce phosphorus runoff from chicken litter without endangering flock health, Lee said.