NEWS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2024 9 Ittinsect secures €600,000 in funding for sustainable protein production Ittinsect secured over €600,000 in non-dilutive funding from Invitalia, Italy’s Development Agency. This funding will facilitate the construction of a pilot plant capable of producing 2,300 metric tons of sustainable proteins annually. This marks a key step toward the biotech company's goal of scaling up to an industrial-scale production of proteins derived from 100% circular economy processes by 2025. This initiative highlights the importance of scaling up sustainable aquafeed for safeguarding our oceans, according to the company. Ittinsect will deploy €602,500 to build a section of its inaugural production facility. The facility will prove both the technical and economic advantages of Ittinsect's products at scale, laying the groundwork for the company's first industrial plant. This scale-up will also bolster the recruitment of specialized personnel and the pursuit of new patents, solidifying Ittinsect's position as the preeminent innovator in the market. Ittinsect’s CEO, Alessandro Romano, underscored the significance of national support from Italy’s National Development Agency, stating, "We are honored to secure this funding, building upon the trust already received from the Lazio Region during the project's pre-seed phase. The backing from Invitalia confirms the regional interest has transcended into a national one. Our goal is now to extend public support to an international level." Read more>> Cargill launches new non-invasive NIR technology REVEAL™ Layers Cargill launched REVEAL™ Layers, a first-of-its-kind, non-invasive NIR technology to monitor the body condition of poultry. This patent-pending breakthrough technology empowers producers to optimize laying persistency and egg production. Using Cargill’s innovative, non-invasive Near-InfraRed (NIR) technology, producers and nutritionists have immediate access to body composition assessments of their hens. This allows them to make real-time decisions regarding diets to support their flocks’ long-term production and performance. It is believed that overdeveloped fat pads in laying hens are problematic for long-term egg production and optimal liver function. Cargill’s REVEAL™ Layers uses NIR light technology to measure the bird’s fat pads. The results are then uploaded and analysed, providing producers and nutritionists with actionable data which can be used to adapt the diet to achieve the optimal layer body composition. Not only could this trim feed costs, but it can also maximize egg production and boost profitability, setting a new standard in supporting the long-term performance of laying hens. “REVEAL™ Layers is part of Cargill’s holistic approach to monitor body fat and egg production, supporting the producer and nutritionist to make educated decisions regarding the diet. As we navigate the challenges of feeding a growing global population, these insights pave the way for more sustainable and efficient poultry production,” explains Lieske van Eck, Senior Scientist at Cargill. Read more>>
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