Nutriad participated in the yearly aquaculture seminar organized by its Vietnamese distribution partner Tan Sao. This year’s seminar was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event addressed challenges for farmers on health and nutrition. Alexander Van Halteren, Business Development Manager Aquaculture Nutrition, presented a talk on Functional Feed Additives Improving Disease Resistance and Growth Performances in Shrimp. Ho Gim Chong, Commercial & Technical manager Aquaculture, South-East Asia, shared farm trial results on managing White Feces Syndrome of Shrimp in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Geelen Counterflow has won the 2017 Breeam Award for Office New Construction. The new office generates 50% more energy from its solar panels than the building needs for ventilation, heating, cooling, light and computing. However, the main reason for the high BREEAM score is the fact that the entire office is built out of massive timber, without adhesives. “We hope that this office will serve as an example to other construction projects. Energy-neutral construction in massive timber is just one of the ways in which we can make a small contribution to keeping our planet healthy for future generations.”

Unibio opened its first commercial production facilities in Kalundborg, Denmark, in November 2016. The new U-Loop® fermentation plant was officially opened by H.R.H. Prince Joachim of Denmark. The facilities in Kalundborg produce a highly concentrated and sustainable protein, UniProtein®, to be used as a direct supplement in animal feed compounds. A second full-size commercial plant is expected to be completed and producing UniProtein® by H2 2017

1140 agribusiness professionals from across the globe provided their views on the use of phytogenic feed additives (PFAs, or botanicals) as part of the 2017 Biomin Phytogenic Feed Additives Survey. According to Biomin projections, the PFA market could surpass US$1 billion by 2023. Digestibility enhancement ranked as the number one reason that the livestock industry uses phytogenic feed additives. The antimicrobial effects of phytogenics ranked second overall—while they constituted the top motivation for respondents in the Western hemisphere.

Lallemand Animal Nutrition confirms is taking part in the 4th edition of Aquatic Asia 2017. As a growing player in Asian aquaculture, proposing microbial-based solutions for fish and shrimp nutrition and bioremediation products, Lallemand Animal Nutrition is a natural partner for this event dedicated to Biosecurity, Feed and Recirculation Aquaculture, in a context where disease represents the biggest game changer in the aquaculture industry.

Omega Protein has become the newest industry partner at the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCeMFiS). In joining SCeMFiS, Omega Protein partners with an organization that shares its commitment to sustainable fishery management. It includes private and publicly traded companies, trade organizations, non-profits and government agencies. “Since SCeMFiS’ inception, Omega Protein has had respect for the organization and has continued to be impressed by the quality of the research being conducted. The objective of SCeMFiS is to develop research proposals to address scientific uncertainty in order to develop best management practices. We felt that there was no better group with which to partner than SCeMFiS, and we are excited to join.”

AB Agri, the agricultural division of international food and ingredients retail group Associated British Foods, is launching a new business specifically focused on servicing the Asia market. ISN, which will bring together the technical capabilities and specialist nutrition expertise from across the division, will offer Asian feed manufacturers and livestock and aquatic producers practical and effective feed solutions precisely tailored to the challenges these customers face. ISN is unique in the way that it works; its complete independence and integrity ensures that only the best solution is presented to the customer, whether that is from the ISN portfolio or other global resources.\"

Heliae and Syndel announced on Tuesday the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement to supply the aquaculture market with Nymega™, a new DHA precision formulation ingredient for feed formulators. “Nymega’s simple profile allows formulators to target specific DHA content, providing key benefits across fish species and at multiple growth stages – at a price that is affordable. Heliae is proud to partner with Syndel on this product launch."

A total of 183 startups from 38 countries applied to be a part of The Pearse Lyons Accelerator, a late-stage, agri-tech accelerator run by Alltech and Dogpatch Labs. The accelerator will commence with 10 startups that have been chosen to take part in a mentorship program for agri-business innovators with a proven technology that is ready for market. eFishery from Indonesia is the only aquaculture-related participant, with their fish feeder that automatically senses the appetite of fish and adjusts the amount of feed accordingly.

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing segment in the feed industry. According to the 2017 Alltech Global Feed Survey, the aquaculture industry experienced a 12 percent increase in feed production in 2016 to 39.9 million metric tons. This growth presents a new set of challenges that Alltech is committed to addressing.

Biomin has published a new white paper on how feed additives support the aquaculture industry in the face of shifting consumer trends, market competition, regulation and environmental factors. “By 2020, the overall quantity of fishmeal used in aquafeeds is projected to fall to levels last seen two decades ago. The number of sustainable certifications issued for aquaculture has risen from basically zero in 2004 to more than 1100 last year. At the same time, the use of chemicals and medicines has come under greater scrutiny from consumers, particularly for export to Western markets.”

Bühler has released its performance figures for 2016. Order intake in 2016 was up 3% to CHF 2.54 billion, compared to a decline of 4% in 2015. Turnover rose by 2% to CHF 2.45 billion, and profitability remained stable at 7.1% (EBIT margin). R&D investments were significantly increased. “For a company based in Switzerland, 2016 marked a real proof point considering the Euro/Swiss franc shift a year ago. In this context, we can be satisfied with these results.”

Evonik has announced that it is investing in the Chinese Hosen Capital Fund III. “Our strategic involvement in the Hosen Capital Fund III gives us access to partnerships with innovative technology start-ups in the Chinese agriculture and nutrition industry, resulting in essential impulses for further business development." While the amount of the investment is being kept confidential, Evonik has confirmed its plans to invest a total of €100 million in promising start-ups with innovative technologies and in leading specialized venture capital funds as part of its venture capital activities.

AquaBioTech Group has been named a National Champion for Malta in the European Business Awards, a competition designed to celebrate business excellence and best practices in the European business community. The Awards, now in their 10th year, are supported by business leaders, academics and political representatives from across Europe. This year over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries were engaged in the competition. \"AquaBioTech Group are central to the success of Europe’s strong business community, and have shown the core principles we look for of innovation, ethics and success.”

Results from a recent feed trial indicate that Ynsect's TMP™ (Tenebrio molitor defatted protein meal) has immune-stimulant properties in juvenile white leg shrimp. A challenge test was performed with a frequent pathogen in aquaculture (Vibrio parahemolyticus), responsible for the well-known Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS). After 10 days, the survival rate reached 90% in the diet with 50% FM replacement by TMP™ compared to 56.7% in the control diet.

AgriProtein has been added to the 2017 Global Cleantech 100 list in recognition of its contribution to recycling waste and helping repair the environment. AgriProtein produces insect meal for animal feed by rearing black soldier fly larvae on organic waste that would otherwise go to landfill. The Global Cleantech 100 is a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make significant market impact within a five to 10 year timeframe.

USSEC met with CJ Philippines, Inc. to present the USSEC Southeast Asia (SEA) and Philippines ‘Soy in Aquaculture’ program, and to discuss the Philippine Aquaculture Industry. USSEC discussed ongoing programs in feedmill and nutrition, where aquafeed nutritionists are guided in optimizing U.S. soybean meal in aquafeed formulation and other U.S. Soy products in a least cost formulation. CJ Philippines Inc. is planning to revive their aquafeeds production and be present in the aquaculture feed industry.

Together with its staff and retirees, the KSE management celebrated the opening of its newest assembly hall. Director Adriaan Smulders explained how the new work environment is a stimulation for the cooperation between the different departments, while employees explained how the new hall will result in higher quality products, shorter delivery times, energy neutral production, and an increased production capacity. In addition to the current production facilities, the company already started producing in the new assembly hall at the end of 2016. On May 20, KSE will open its doors to the public.

Norel Mexico held an event last month to inaugurate the expansion of their production plant and offices in Querétaro, Mexico. "This expansion of the factory and offices is thanks to the effort and unconditional support of our top management from Spain, having placed all their trust in our Mexico facility and always honoring the motto: 'We do not recognize limits' at Norel.”

Format Solutions, the company formed by the merger of Cargill, Feed Management Systems and Format International, has released new versions of two of its software product lines.