Animal feed sector in search of regional raw materials

When everything is running smoothly, it is not natural to want to change course. The Dutch feed sector now makes the best chunks in the world, but continuing on the same path is not automatically the right choice. Feed Design Lab and Bio Treat Center are joining forces to make the animal feed sector ready for the future.

Roomed raw materials

The production of animal feed pellets now uses raw materials, which will increasingly go to human food due to increasing prosperity and the growing world population. Alternative solutions are needed, especially for animal protein. Now the sector mainly imports the protein-rich soy from South America, but a regional alternative would reduce dependence and also be more sustainable.

Feed Design Lab

To find the alternative raw materials, research and knowledge are needed. A producer alone cannot make such an innovation leap. The Feed Design Lab in Wanssum, North Limburg, helps the sector and stimulates cooperation. Experiments with new raw materials and techniques are free. More than one hundred renowned feed producers and other companies in the chain at home and abroad are partners of the Feed Design Lab.

Bio Treat Center

Cooperation is the key. But the Feed Design Lab also needs help from outside. The Bio Treat Center supports innovation by providing insight into the bigger picture. Not only finding alternative raw materials is important, but also making the chain fit. Think about things like the supply of raw materials and the large scale of deliveries.

Circulation agriculture

The animal feed sector is successful and stable, but changes are inevitable. Here, too, collaboration is at the forefront of circular agriculture. Trudy van Megen, director of the Feed Design Lab sums it up nicely, "Together with the BTC we are working on developing new, locally grown residual streams so that even the best kibble makers create business with feed from nearby."