January 25, 2014

 

BASF's NSP enzyme Natugrain^® TS approved by European Commission for fattening pigs

 

BASF's Natugrain^® TS enzyme product, which improves feed conversion in poultry and swine, was recently approved by the European Commission for the use of fattening pigs.

 

This approval completes the regulatory status of Natugrain TS; all relevant animal species (pigs and poultry) are now covered.

 

Natugrain TS is a thermostable combination of the NSP enzymes endo-1,4-beta-xylanase and endo-1,4-beta-glucanase. It counteracts the anti-nutritive effects of the pentosans and beta-glucans contained in common feeds. Natugrain TS can be used at very economic dose rates and is a cost-efficient solution for farmers to improve feeding efficiency.

 

Feed enzymes are an important growth field for BASF's Animal Nutrition business unit. In May 2013, BASF signed an R&D collaboration agreement with Direvo Industrial Biotechnology GmbH to develop feed enzymes for animal nutrition. Moreover, since October 2013, Verenium Corporation, a specialised enzyme biotechnology company, is part of BASF's global R&D platform, thereby further strengthening its innovation pipeline.

 

Recently, BASF's Animal Nutrition global business unit launched its new campaign, themed "We create chemistry". The campaign, which refers to BASF's corporate "We create chemistry" strategy, shows how the company addresses future challenges in livestock feeding: with efficient solutions for balanced growth.

 

Quality, sustainability and partnerships are BASF's key ingredients for achieving efficiency gains for its customers. BASF's Natugrain^® TS enzyme product is one such example.

 

Dr Alexandra Brand, who heads BASF's global Animal Nutrition business unit, said, "Simply producing more and more will not work. Therefore we need to produce more from less: with innovative and efficient feed solutions and the pursuit of balanced growth."

 

The newly launched campaign emphasises how BASF Animal Nutrition will address these future challenges: By offering solutions that set highest quality standards and that contribute to a sustainable future - always listening to and working closely together with its customers.

 

BASF, which produces vitamins, carotenoids, enzymes, organic acids, and specialties for all types of feed, is valued for its feed additives, helping to safeguard animal welfare and contributing to safer feed and food production. It furthermore centers its activities in close partnerships with customers and livestock producers around sustainable practices - BASF's organic acids, for example, help to avoid feed spoilage and waste.

 

With SET - applied sustainabilityTM, which is BASF's customer-specific sustainability programme, the company collaboratively and systematically identifies optimisation potential for environmental, economic and social improvement at all steps in feed and food production.

 

"'We create chemistry' means that we diligently develop efficient products," Dr. Alexandra Brand said. "For livestock producers who love best quality, good partnerships and a sustainable future."