A total of 40 organizations, including 6 scientific and 34 company partners from 5 countries, are taking a farm-to-fork approach to addressing food safety and food security issues, in the form of the new K1 Center for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFoQSI) in Austria. The goal of the four-year, sixteen million euro project is to make feed and food production better, safer and more sustainable, and to drive further innovation through basic and applied research. ”FFoQSI would create a unique hallmark of food chain integration in Europe for countries—particularly where small and medium size food supply chains are essential.”
Evonik is to expand its portfolio in Asia with the probiotic Ecobiol®. It will be launched at VIV Asia in Bangkok. Ecobiol® is designed for the use in aquaculture and poultry production. Ecobiol® helps to maintain the natural gut balance and has a positive effect on the gut microbiome that has been scientifically proven (in-vitro- and in in-vivo).
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.
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.
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.