June 30, 2006

 

Afgri launches protein-enriched vegetable protein feed 

 

 

South African agri services business Afgri Limited has started the first phase of its planned global roll-out of a new animal feed ingredient developed from a patented bypass protein technology.

 

The bypass protein-enriched vegetable protein ingredients were developed by Afgri's Center for Scientific Technology, Scinetic, which recently signed an agreement with Dutch company Schouten Products for large scale production at the latter's plant.

 

From this plant, the product would be first distributed throughout Germany and Benelux nations with Asia and the Middle East next in line.

 

Scinetic managing director Dr Hinner Koster said the company is commissioning the plant, adding that the first test runs have been successfully completed and commercial operations would kick off soon.

 

As Schouten Products has the largest soya bean toasting plant for animal feed products in Europe, Afgri's feed can be manufactured without incurring further infrastructure costs.

 

Schouten's distribution channel throughout Europe, especially in Germany and the Benelux countries, was the major reason Scinetic embarked on the partnership.

 

Conversely, Schouten partnered AFGRI for its technology, and were prepared to upgrade their existing plant.

 

In addition, Nutreco, one of the largest animal feed suppliers in the world, with feed technology agreements world wide, through subsidiary Trouw International will also act as a non-exclusive major global distributor for the Schouten-manufactured products.

 

Afgri already manufactures the bypass protein products in South Africa for local distribution by Afgri Animal Feeds.

 

Scinetic technology development director, Dr Conrad Coetzer, initially developed and patented the technology during a three-year development process and refined it to improve the nutrient content and cost-effectiveness of the manufacturing process.

 

The technology was later commercialised by Afgri Animal Feeds.

 

The technology results in an increase in the rumen bypass protein ratio (a combination of a chemical and mechanical process) of more cost-effective and beneficial vegetable protein sources ( soya bean, sunflower, cotton, canola) by up to 250 percent, the company claimed.

 

Current processes bringing on increased bypass protein inevitably damage a larger portion of the protein, besides coming at a higher cost.

 

The fact that less damage is done to the protein (amino acids) by the new technology means that more of the nutrients remain available in the lower digestive tract for the animal to produce more milk and meat.

 

At the same time, the technology involves a completely natural process, laying worries about mad cow and the effects of additives to rest, Koster said.

 

The technology has global potential, and the commissioning of the Dutch plant is the first of several license agreements that Scinetic has planned, Koster said, adding that announcements can be expected in the UK and USA later this year.