Format Solutions, the company formed by the merger of Cargill, Feed Management Systems and Format International, has released new versions of two of its software product lines.

Digestibility enhancement ranks as the number one reason that the livestock industry uses phytogenic feed additives (PFAs), according to a recent survey by Biomin of more than one thousand agribusiness professionals.

Nutriad participated in the Agrilivestock trade show that took place from December 7 - 9 in Yangon, Myanmar. Together with their local partner, the company highlighted its feed additive solutions for aquaculture and livestock. “Combining our in depth technical knowledge with the local network of our distributor, Multi Aquaculture and Livestock Trading, we are able to provide added value services to the local producers."

The Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) is seeking commercial partners to test new feed technology developed and evaluated by research partners Battelle and Kentucky State University. The technology completely removes non-digestible carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) without compromising the amino acid composition, making it easier for fish to digest. Initial testing has shown that EnzoMeal™, an improved soybean meal, outperforms 100% fishmeal diets. “Ohio soybean farmers are excited to be able to meet an important need for aquaculture farmers. This technology shows tremendous promise.”

VIDEO: See how U.S. soybean farmers are helping Chinese fish farmers to revolutionize aquaculture in China, the world’s largest fish farming country.

Adifo Software is hosting a 30-minute webinar on December 15th to introduce BESTMIX Feed formulation 3.31, the latest update of the BESTMIX Feed formulation software. Topics covered include compound modelling, extensions on mix functionality, rehydration for label composition, and more.

Cargill, Incorporated and Calysta, Inc., along with several third-party institutions, plan to invest in the creation of the world’s largest gas fermentation facility in Memphis, Tenn. to produce Calysta’s FeedKind® protein, a family of sustainable, traceable nutritional ingredients for fish, livestock and pets. “The venture’s building of a state-of-the-art fermentation facility on the existing Cargill Memphis site reaffirms our commitment to the community and state and our pledge to strategically invest in aquaculture as an ever increasingly important source of protein.”

Evonik Industries AG of Germany and METabolic EXplorer (METEX) of France have agreed that Evonik will acquire a technology package from METEX to strengthen its biotechnology platform for amino acids. The total consideration for the transfer of this technology, including a two-year transfer service agreement, amounts to 45 million euros. “The acquisition of this technology will expand our technological leadership for amino acids produced both chemically and by fermentation.”

Trouw Nutrition has launched a global validation program to demonstrate the effectiveness of its nutritional solutions in different geographies and market places. The initial focus of the program is on feed additives, animal health supporting products and young animal feed. “We develop new products, models and service tools at our global research centres. But a proof of concept is important. Application knowledge taking into account local conditions, such as climate and farming practices, is a critical success factor of many innovations we develop.”

Evonik has announced plans to acquire intends a large technology package from the French company METabolic EXplorer (METEX) and has submitted a binding offer on October 27th. The bid is subject to approval by Evonik committees. METEX, which is headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand (France), has succeeded in developing a fermentation process for manufacturing methionine. The binding Evonik offer includes the takeover of METEX’s entire methionine technology as well as patents, essential bacteria strains, and the inoLaTM brand.

Calysta recently named Tomas Belloso, Ph.D., to the new position of Vice President, Regulatory Affairs. “He is an important addition to our management team as Calysta moves toward commercial production of FeedKind® protein, a new fish and animal feed ingredient targeted at replacing fishmeal.” Dr. Belloso previously served as Regulatory Compliance Manager at the Feed Division of Wilbur-Ellis.

TASA was presented with the IFFO Leadership and Innovation award by IFFO President Mike Copeland at the 56th Annual Conference\'s Gala Dinner. This is the second year that IFFO has held the awards, selected by the IFFO Management Board. The award had previously been split into two categories with TASA submitting substantial applications for both. TASA’s strong focus on R&D won the Board’s approval for the Leadership part of the award. For the innovation part of the award, TASA won for their SUMAQ project Businesswomen of Huanta.

After the successful integration of Format International, Cargill has re-named its feed and food software business to Format Solutions. Format Solutions specializes in the design, authoring and marketing of recipe optimization, ingredient allocation, operational efficiency and food and feed formulation solutions for the animal feed, aqua feed, pet food, human food, premix and other industries.

Evonik Industries\' plans to build a second world-scale plant for the production of the amino acid DL-methionine in Singapore are fully on schedule. The company recently marked the official start of construction with a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony. The complex will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 metric tons and is expected to become operational in 2019, with investment costs of more than half a billion euros. The new production complex will increase Evonik’s annual capacity of MetAMINO® to a total of approximately 300,000 metric tons in Asia, and to approximately 730,000 metric tons worldwide.

Diamond V® has announced the hiring of JC Filippi, who has joined as Managing Director -- Asia, based in the company\'s Asia Office in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to joining Diamond V, Mr. Filippi was Managing Director for Cargill Premix Nutrition -- Southeast Asia. “JC’s experience, leadership, and extensive network in the Asian animal agriculture industry will be valuable as we continue to grow our Asian business.”

Dryer and cooler manufacturer Geelen Counterflow has received the five star “Outstanding” BREEAM certificate for its new sustainable office building in Haelen, The Netherlands. The office was measured and evaluated during the first year after its completion and achieved a record score of 99,94%, which makes it the highest scoring building out of over 500.000 certified buildings worldwide. The building for 50 office employees generates 50% more solar energy than it needs for heating, air conditioning, lighting and computers. The extra energy is used in the factory for laser cutting of stainless steel and recharging of electric forklift trucks. Where possible, the building materials are “Cradle to Cradle” certified, which means that they do no harm to the environment and that they can be re-used at the end of their lifetime.

Leiber GmbH has appointed Dr. Pradeep Padmaja Jayaprasad as Regional Sales Coordinator Asia Pacific (APAC) of their animal nutrition unit. Before joining Leiber GmbH, he focused specifically on research such as disease management, genetic manipulation and ornamental fisheries, at several universities and faculties in various nations including Thailand, Malaysia and India.

Nutriad has appointed Dr. Jorge Enrique Cruz as Technical/Commercial Manager. Dr. Cruz will be responsible for sales and technical support to Nutriad’s commercial and distributor network in Mexico & Central America. With a track record of in field support as an independent consultant, as well as a technical manager in the feed additives industry, Dr. Cruz is well positioned to support customers in the region.

Calysta’s FeedKind® protein, a new fish and animal feed ingredient, has been named as the Most Disruptive Innovation at the Bridge2Food Protein Awards. “We felt that we needed to award an innovation which is truly disruptive both from a technological point of view and also one that identifies alternative sources of protein to meet the protein demands of a growing population.”

A-Systems will launch its new formulation software Allix3 at EuroTier. This easy-to-use software offers multiple upgrades to the diet formulation model. Allix3 enables new non-linear optimization models and considers the raw materials flows in feed manufacturers in order to optimize purchases, among other features.