CORPORATE NEWS
'15 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE'
BioMar expands R&D capabilities in hatchery feed sector
BioMar has opened a state-of-the-art marine fish larval trial unit in its Aquaculture Technology Centre Hirtshals facility in Denmark that not only allows for larval rearing but also the production of live feed.
BioMar is this year celebrating 15 years of excellence in hatchery feeds as it continues to invest in business growth in new geographical markets and new species. It recently streamlined its product portfolio and adopted new innovations and functional raw materials in its LARVIVA hatchery range to maximise health and performance.
The new research facilities will enable BioMar to continue to drive breakthrough innovation in the hatchery feed segment.
The opening of the new hatchery research and development facilities is the second of a three-phased strategic plan for the segment. BioMar announced last year heavy investment in the area including the establishment of a business unit in Nersac, France, headed by Chris Dinneweth and the expansion of the fry feed production line in Brande, Denmark, expected later in 2019.
Ole Christensen, VP of EMEA at BioMar said, "We see significant growth potential in the hatchery feed segment. Our new research facilities will help us continue to evolve our larval feed range while allowing us to respond faster to market and customer needs".
The ATC Hirtshals now houses 24 RAS larval rearing trial units ranging from 50 to100 litres all operating under strict controlled conditions. The new system allows for fine-tuning protocols for larval rearing as well as the production of live feed including Rotifers and Artemia.
"The launch of the hatchery trial facility at our ATC Hirtshals is a significant boost to the BioMar hatchery business unit which will allow us to undertake in-house marine fish larvae feed trials. We look forward to developing and bringing to the market new and exciting innovations in hatchery feeds", said Christensen.
A GATHERING OF FRIENDS, PARTNERS
Nutriad hosts traditional herring party in Utrecht
Animal and aqua feed additives producer Nutriad again hosted a traditional herring party at the VIV in Utrecht, Netherlands, attended by a large group of industry professionals and academics.
Every year in June, at the start of summer, a Dutch tradition creates networking opportunities across the country. Attending a herring party is as much about meeting interesting people as it is about eating herring. The Dutch have been eating raw herring for hundreds of years, and at the VIV Nutriad invited business partners, colleagues and friends to share this tradition.
"Our guests at the VIV in Utrecht have come to expect a herring party from us. At the end of another long day at the show they like to join friends and partners from the industry at our booth. This is the moment where we focus on personal stories and relationships that create the foundation for sustainable business relations," said Nutriad CEO Erik Visser.
NATUPHOS® E
BASF and BIOMIN introduce new phytase in Vietnam feed industry
BASF, the first company to market a phytase for feed almost 30 years ago, has once again set a new standard in phytase technology with Natuphos® E. As a new generation phytase that helps aquaculture, pigs and poultry better utilise phosphorous and other key nutrients, Natuphos E ensures more productive and sustainable output for the animal feed industry and local farmers.
BASF will launch the product in Vietnam, and BIOMIN Vietnam will be responsible for the distribution in the country.
"BIOMIN is honored and excited to bring Natuphos E to the Vietnamese market with BASF. This cooperation has been built on a strong relationship and trust that we developed over time. Innovation and quality are our focus and we look forward to building our partnership and further developing the business footprint of both BIOMIN and BASF in the region," said Marc Guinnement, managing director, BIOMIN Asia Pacific.
Stephen Crisp, regional sales head, BASF Animal Nutrition Asia Pacific, said, "Through our partnership with BIOMIN, feed manufacturers and farmers will benefit from considerable cost savings through a more efficient diet. Natuphos E releases phosphorus, amino acids and energy which can be utilized by the animal. This makes Natuphos E the most efficient choice available in the market".
The majority of phosphorous in grains and oilseeds is bound to phytic acid, an anti-nutritive factor found in feed. Phytate-bound phosphorous cannot be absorbed well by animals and is therefore excreted and lost as a potential nutrient. As a result, manufacturers need to supplement the feed with either inorganic phosphates or very effective phytases to make sure the animals are supplied adequately with the required amounts of the essential phosphorous.
Natuphos E also releases other valuable nutrients, making animals generally more efficient at digesting their feed. This leads to less excretion of undigested phosphate, which, as a result, helps reduce water pollution.
In addition to Natuphos E, BIOMIN Vietnam will also be responsible for the distribution of Natugrain® TS, a feed enzyme containing highly purified NSP-degrading enzymes, in the Vietnamese market.
The two companies officially announced the partnership as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of BIOMIN Vietnam.
Manufactured by BASF in Germany, Natuphos E delivers superior pelleting and premix stability in challenging environments and feed-production processes, in addition to a long-term shelf life stability. To date, the new phytase has been launched in some 10 countries in Asia-Pacific and recently in the European Union market.
IMPROVING INDUSTRY THRU PROACTIVE APPROACH
Phileo and Thần Vương present action plan to Vietnam shrimp producers
A recent seminar in Ben Tre and Bac Lieu Province by the Thần Vương Group and Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care tackled the Vietnamese shrimp market, which is facing low market prices and is suffering from losses in production due to diseases.
The seminar suggested that improving the industry situation can only be achieved by a proactive approach enhancing shrimp health to better resist pathogen infection and by stimulating and maintaining a strong function of shrimp immunity.
Yoann Perrault, Vietnam sales manager set the scene, introducing Lesaffre and Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care which, with 165 years of experience, can offer its clients unparalleled expertise in every form of yeast manufacturing and processing.
In her presentation, Tanuttha Suyawanish, Asia-Pacific aquaculture technical and marketing manager, focused on the importance of gut health in shrimp production and how Phileo can help shrimp producers in maintaining gut integrity. How the application of Actisaf® Sc47 improves white feces disease was discussed in detail.
Tanuttha also explained how supporting natural defenses and reducing pathogen pressure with Safmannan® improves overall cost efficiency. Trial results with Safmannan®, premium yeast fraction rich in mannan-oligosaccharides and ß-glucans, showed the enhancement of immunity and reduction of pathogen pressure during AHPND/EMS infection in shrimp.
Thần Vương Group concluded the seminar with local field results and practical examples of the use of Phileo yeast solutions under Vietnamese conditions in shrimp farms.
€1.535 BILLION IN CASH
ADM announces proposed acquisition of Neovia
Archer Daniels Midland Company announced early July that it has agreed to terms granting exclusivity in discussions to purchase Neovia, a global provider of value-added animal nutrition solutions headquartered in Saint-Nolff, Britanny, France. The 100% cash deal has an approximate enterprise value of €1.535 billion, subject to customary adjustments.
"The acquisition of global leader Neovia would represent a transformative step for our animal nutrition business, and a major strategic investment in France," said ADM Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano. "At ADM, everything starts with the farmer, and we are eager to deepen our relationships with French farmers and French agriculture as we bring together the resources, technologies and expertise of two great companies".
Founded in France in 1954, Neovia manufactures and sells a wide range of nutrition solutions for the feed industry, operating in business lines including aquaculture and complete feed, among others. The company, which is currently majority owned by leading French agricultural cooperative group InVivo, has about 8,200 employees. It has extensive innovation capabilities, with 11 R&D centers in six countries. With 72 production facilities and a presence in 25 countries, it had global sales of €1.7 billion in 2017. With very limited presence in the United States and more than 75% of its sales coming from outside Western Europe, the company's footprint complements ADM's.
Over the last four years, ADM has undertaken the most extensive portfolio transformation in its 115-year history, moving closer to end customers by adding capabilities in specialty and value-added products and services.
In its animal nutrition business, ADM has added premix and aquaculture capabilities in Asia; built new, modern facilities in North America; and moved into pet treats in 2017. Earlier this year, ADM combined its human and animal nutrition businesses into a single business unit that offers complete nutrition solutions.
Under French law, the signing of an acquisition agreement is contingent upon informing and consulting with relevant employee representative bodies. Subject to that process and regulatory approvals, the acquisition is expected to close by the fourth quarter.
SKRETTING 360+
Skretting Ecuador teams up with shrimp farmers to deliver maximum profit
Skretting Ecuador has launched Skretting 360+, a concept proven to significantly boost farm profitability.
Skretting 360+ is a complete package of precision-based innovative tools, incorporating precision nutrition, farm management practices and proactive technical support, all delivered via the already successful Skretting AquaSim app.
Skretting 360+ provides a complete overview of the business, with full control of the total cycle. The development process began 20 years ago, when Skretting generated growth models for salmon and other fish species—the original AquaSim. Over the past five years, Skretting has been developing the concept for shrimp based on research, experimentation and validation.
Skretting 360+ allows the farmer to hold the whole farm in their hand. It has the capability to benchmark the performance of each cycle and manage feed and harvest predictions customised to every pond. The collection of essential real-time data enables teams to take proactive and preventative action to help customers get the maximum value from their farm in a sustainable and cost effective way.
"We can't do this without the commitment from our customers," says Carlos Miranda, managing director of Skretting Latin America. "The future is in our hands and the opportunity is now."
CO-FOUNDER OF SEA PACT
Guy Dean leads 2018 Seafood Champion Awards winners
One of this year's four winners of the Seafood Champion Awards handed out by SeaWeb has, for almost 30 years, dedicated himself to the industry and the seafood sustainability cause.
Chosen to receive the Seafood Champion Award for Leadership, Guy Dean, vice president and chief sustainability officer of Albion Farms and Fisheries, has served in a variety of roles all along the seafood supply chain, from farmer, harvester and fisher, to processor and distributor.
He represents the seafood industry on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Multi-Stakeholder Committee and is also the co-founder of Sea Pact, a group of seafood companies committed to improving the social, economic and environmental performance of the global seafood supply chain.
"Guy not only understands what needs to happen, he is able to get his company to back his ideas, and that is truly inspiring", said awards judge Richard Boot, president of FishChoice.
"Guy has gone over and above his job to be a champion and leader in sustainable seafood. He is a driving force behind issues such as plastics and transparency, and is a thought leader in the space", he added.
Other awardees
Three other awardees, selected from a pool of 17 finalists, were chosen for the categories of innovation, vision and advocacy. All four awardees were accorded their due recognition during the SeaWeb Seafood Summit held in Barcelona, Spain, on June 18-22.
The Seafood Champion Award for Innovation went to Pelagic Data Systems (PDS) for its creation of the Ultra-Light System, a vessel-tracking technology suite that is completely solar-powered, affordable and compatible with boats of all sizes. An autonomous data collection device no larger than a smartphone, the Ultra-Light System records vessel location and transmits over a secured cellular network. Since its inception in 2014, PDS has launched programmes in over 15 countries.
The Seafood Champion Award for Vision went to Open Blue for its decade-long effort to revolutionise the mariculture industry by moving it into the open ocean, far removed from sensitive near shore ecosystems.
The company's native cobia fish are cultivated 12 kilometers off the coast of Panama in proprietary SeaStations, which are fully submerged at depths of up to 100 feet. Vertically integrated from egg to plate, Open Blue cobia became the world's first ASC-certified cobia operation in January. Additionally, it is the world's first company capable of offering four-star Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP)-certified cobia.
Open Blue "is progressive, forward facing and daring," said New Zealand fisherman and awards judge Karl Warr. "Open Blue has had the vision to grow fish from the outset in a way that addresses all of the environmental considerations. They have not grown as quickly as they might have if they disregarded these issues, but they had the vision to do it for the sake of open ocean aquaculture."
The Seafood Champion Award for Advocacy in 2018 was given to Patima Tungpuchayakul of Thailand, who founded the Labour Rights Promotion Network Foundation. Tungpuchayakul, who has been an activist for more than two decades, has been integral in spreading awareness about chronic human rights violations and has worked to improve the lives of migrant workers and the laws governing their employment.
She rescued 3,000 trafficked workers stranded on remote islands in Indonesian waters by the Thai fishing industry between August 2014 and October 2016, leaving lasting positive change for the seafood industry and far beyond it.
"Patima's work is not always visible to the industry, but she has done an amazing job at uncovering labor atrocities, and freeing workers that have been enslaved," noted awards judge Dick Jones, CEO of Ocean Outcomes. "She does this work with no concern for her own safety, often putting herself in harm's way. She is a true advocate for positive change."
SEAWEB PHOTO
