October 5,  2020

Nutreco announces winners of Feed & Food Tech Challenge 2020

Nutreco has announced in late-September the winners of this year's Nutreco Feed & Food Tech Challenge (NFTC2020).

First held in 2017, the event acknowledges the best breakthrough innovations in livestock farming, aquaculture and, for the first time this year, alternative food proteins.

In this competition, 15 finalists were selected from over 110 submissions by startups from across the globe.

On September 22, the top three finalists eniferBio, Poultrix and Bond Pet Foods pitched again to the NFTC2020 jury, this time in a hope to win the top spot in the competition. The jury of the event consisted of Nutreco and external experts, including Aqua-Spark's Mike Velings, Mathieu Castex of Lallemand Animal Nutrition and David Welch of The Good Food Institute. The winner wins a validation trial worth €50,000 (US$58,650) and the second place winner will receive €10,000 (US$11,731) and third place will receive €5,000 (US$5,866).​

The winner of the NFTC2020 is eniferBio.  This startup from Finland works to create a better future using fewer natural resources by revolutionising an existing single cell protein technology to produce raw materials for aquaculture. In second place is Poultrix from Israel, which provides a digital solution to help poultry integrators manage its farming operations in a more efficient, sustainable and responsible way.  Coming in at third place is Bond Pet Foods. The startup's breakthrough innovation was applying an innovative marketing and technology approach towards pet food.

Alex Obach, a NFTC2020 juror and Skretting's head of R&D said: "I'd like to congratulate eniferBio on their exciting technology solution and on winning the NFTC2020. Their innovation addresses raw material sustainability, one of the key challenges the aquaculture industry is facing. I look forward to working with them to validate their technology and explore further collaboration."

Nutreco's director of venturing and NFTC2020 head juror Joost Matthijssen said: "We were impressed by the standard of breakthrough innovations throughout this competition. As the 15 finalists put their best foot forward during the pitch sessions to the jury and Nutreco colleagues around the world, we have added an audience award for the NFTC2020 Best Pitch. This award for the startup that gave the best pitch in terms of message delivery, presentation style and engagement was decided by Nutreco employees based."

Fumi Ingredients is the winner of the audience award for the NFTC2020 Best Pitch and wins a €5,000 prize.

The next edition of the Nutreco Feed & Food Tech Challenge will take place in 2022.

- Nutreco