Amersfoort, The Netherlands – Jan. 12, 2023 – Today, Nutreco and BiomEdit announce a ground-breaking, long-term strategic research and commercial partnership to bring livestock producers innovative and truly novel feed additives developed through microbiome technology. The partnership aligns Nutreco Exploration (NutEx) with animal health’s most advanced microbiome biotech company, BiomEdit.
The collaboration covers the discovery, development and commercialization of Biome-actives developed using BiomEdit’s advanced microbiome science and bioinformatics platform. These novel feed additives address the health and sustainability challenges of today’s animal producers, for aquaculture, poultry, swine and cattle.
“Saying that microbiome science has created a buzz in the last decade is an understatement. However, practical applications of this scientific progress remain scarce,” explains Nutreco’s Chief Science Officer David Bravo. “Our first NutEx strategic program will focus on these Biome-actives. We share so much with BiomEdit’s teams… that it was only logical to engage in this major strategic partnership.”
Aaron Schacht, Chief Executive Officer of BiomEdit, commented, “Microbiome science has the potential to address the complex health challenges and unmet needs our customers and their livestock face today. By leveraging BiomEdit’s advanced microbiome discovery platform and bench of deep experts together with Nutreco’s expertise and commercial deployment capabilities, we will launch novel feed additive products that address some of the most important problems in animal health, sustainability and food security.”
“To help transform our industry and feed the growing global population, we are moving beyond just nutrition, supporting farmers in operating in a more sustainable way,” says Nutreco Chief Executive Officer Fulco van Lede. “The partnership with BiomEdit fits perfectly into this longer-term strategy… Today’s announcement will benefit all of Nutreco’s businesses: Skretting (aquaculture feed), and Trouw Nutrition (livestock feed) including, in particular, our feed additives brand, Selko.”
BiomEdit, established in April 2022 in a carve out from Elanco Animal Health (NYSE: ELAN), is a venture-backed start up focused on the discovery and development of animal health products that leverage microbiome science. This is its first commercial partnership since it began with contributions of assets and technology from Elanco and Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) and a successful $40M Series A funding round with Ferment, Viking Global Investors, and Anterra Capital.
