December feed update: What did you miss?

FEFAC expects reduction in EU27 industrial compound feed production

The EU feed market is affected by reduced or shifting demand due to changing consumer preferences. EU compound feed production (EU27) for farmed animals in 2023 is estimated at 144.3 million tonnes, reflecting a 2% decrease compared to 2022, according to data forecasts provided by FEFAC, the European Compound Feed Manufacturers’ Federation. The pig feed sector was most severely affected, experiencing a decline of almost 2.5 million tonnes. Poultry compound feed production displayed a more positive trend, with production increasing by 0.9 million tonnes compared to 2022, while cattle feed production experienced a decrease of 0.8 million tonnes. The outlook for compound feed demand in 2024 remains uncertain.

Research programme aims to commercialise UK insect farming

The University of Leeds and Entocycle unveiled a £430,000 research programme dedicated to developing the protocols, codes of practice and Food Safety and Quality standards of the UK insect farming industry. The project, named InSAFE, is funded by Innovate UK and BBSRC as part of the Novel Low Emission Food Production Systems competition and will evaluate the use of non-permissive feedstocks, including pig slurry, chicken manure and sewage sludge, to raise black soldier fly. An insect-rearing demonstrator facility will house the research and is situated at The National Pig Centre on the University of Leeds’ research farm in Yorkshire.

Lallemand announces new president and GM

It has been announced that Dr Mathieu Castex will succeed Yannig Le Treut, DVM, as president and general manager of Lallemand Animal Nutrition as of 1 February 2024. Castex comes to the position after serving as the company’s director of research & development since 2014.

Largest insect farm in Northern Europe opens

The Enorm Biofactory in Hvirring, Denmark, has been inaugurated. On the new 22,000 sqm farm, black soldier fly larvae will be bred and processed into insect protein and insect oil. Overall, an amount of around €70 million was invested in the project. Much of the technology was supplied, including the climate systems, air cleaning and heat recovery equipment, the liquid feeding system, and the crates, was supplied by Better Insect Solutions, a subsidiary of the Big Dutchman group.

Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis reveals high levels of mycotoxins

Through its 2023 European Harvest Analysis, Alltech collected and assessed over 1,100 grain and forage samples from more than 20 countries. The results show an overall higher-risk mycotoxin year in Europe in 2023. Persistent rains close to harvesting led to significant Fusarium-related challenges in wheat and barley crops across northern and western Europe. Barley shows the highest risk of the small grains, with an average of 6 mycotoxins per sample. In general, the mycotoxin challenge in corn is lower in 2023 than in recent years, but there are pockets of higher risk in central and southern Europe. Furthermore, Penicillium risk continues to dominate in forages.

Sustell receives ‘Golden Key Champion’ Award

dsm-firmenich’s Sustell has been honoured with 2 awards at the ‘Golden Key’ ceremony hosted by the China Sustainability Tribune. Sustell emerged as the overall winner from 259 entries from over 100 companies, receiving both the ‘Golden Key – Champion’ and ‘Golden Key – Outstanding’ awards in the Tech4SDG category. The accolades recognise entities making remarkable contributions towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Crespeo boosts dry content for wheat-based liquid feed solution

Crespeo, the feed ingredient specialist of wheat processor Crespel & Deiters Group, has developed a process to increase dry matter content of its liquid wheat extract Crespovit Extract from 22% to 24%. Optimised mechanical water removal and further evaporation results in a more concentrated product, which the company says is more palatable and bioavailable to pigs. Targeted fermentation also increases the lactic acid content, allowing the wheat extract to be preserved naturally without the use of acids or other additives.

Alltech awarded 3 EcoVadis sustainability medals

Alltech has been awarded a silver medal from EcoVadis, putting it in the top 25% of sustainable companies globally. The animal health and nutrition company also earned the EcoVadis platinum medal for its production site in Springfield, Kentucky, US, and Alltech Coppens, which produces industrial feeds for the aquaculture sector, earned gold-medal status, putting it in the top 7% of sustainable companies globally. EcoVadis assesses companies on environmental, social and ethical performance in over 200 purchasing categories and 175 countries.