November 22, 2019

INRA and Phileo sign new partnership agreement on animal nutrition and health

INRA and Phileo by Lesaffre have signed a partnership agreement in the field of animal nutrition and health. This partnership strengthens existing collaboration of 15 years and will optimise many projects around a shared goal: the inclusion of agricultural and food systems in a sustainable and economically viable development.

Initially focused on demonstrating the beneficial effects of probiotics on the production performance of a number of species (ruminants, swine, poultry), the collaboration between the two partners has evolved progressively towards more in-depth studies. These have involved the use of increasingly sophisticated tools in the field of metagenomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics applied to immunology and microbiology, areas for which INRA has provided its expertise, particularly through several CIFRE theses.

Some examples among the topics studied: The impact of probiotics on rumen physiology; an innovative thermodynamic approach; The benefits derived from yeast-based products in relation to colibacillosis-related inflammation in piglets; In ruminants, the effects on the immune system of beta-glucans; The ability of dry yeasts to resist pelletisation processes; In the aquaculture sector: the potential of yeast extracts in the substitution of fishmeal for carnivorous species, via a metabolomic approach (within the framework of the NINAQUA project).

In recent years, the fruit of the collaboration with INRA has contributed to the development of innovative Phileo solutions and helped to advance health through nutrition. In addition, Phileo participated in the France Génomique METACHICK project which established a catalogue of the intestinal metagenome in poultry.

The latest agreement will develop their collaborations to enrich their mutual understanding of common challenges, foster innovation, and strengthen their national and international networks, skills and ability to meet future challenges.

More information on the NINEQUA Single Interministerial Fund Project can be found at https://www.poleaquimer.com/projects/108-ninaqua.html and the France Génomique METACHICK project at https://www.france-genomique.org/projet/metachick/