NEWS 94 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 The rapid rise of GLP-1 inhibitors such as Ozempic and Wegovy is transforming global eating habits and forcing the animal feed and additives sector to rethink long-standing strategies. Originally developed to manage diabetes, these drugs suppress appetite and reduce calorie intake by up to 20%— roughly 800 kcal per day—and are now reshaping consumer protein preferences. With 15.5 million U.S. adults already using GLP-1 medications and adoption projected to reach 9% by 2030, the global GLP-1 market is forecast to surge from $47 billion today to nearly $500 billion by 2032. Aidan Connolly, the President of AgriTech Capital LLC, states that the first impacts have been on ‘junk’ foods but snacks and other players are adapting, releasing products that are based on less fat, fewer ingredients and less further processing. For the feed industry, this shift heralds a new era where health-driven diets are dictating demand across the protein chain. Consumers on GLP-1 drugs move away from high-fat meat cuts, high fat snack foods, opting instead for leaner proteins, particularly those from poultry and fish. This change challenges traditional feed formulations designed to maximize weight gain and fat deposition. To adapt, Connolly says that feed producers will need to focus on optimizing lean growth, prioritizing protein efficiency and muscle development over caloric loading. For feed additive manufacturers, the opportunity lies in innovation. Read more>> Weight loss drugs prompt changes in animal feed strategies Photo: Freepik Feed costs are exceptionally high in the broiler chicken industry, prompting farmers and researchers alike to find ways to reduce expenses without compromising bird health. An animal science graduate from South Africa’s North-West University (NWU), Dr. Makiwa Simeon Mthana came up with a potential solution that uses mushroom biotechnology to enhance the nutritional utility of soyabean replacements. For his PhD research, Dr. Mthana evaluated “smart strategies” such as the use of oyster mushroom spent substrate (OMSS) to enhance the nutritional utility of marula seed (kernel) cake (MSC) and mucuna seed meal (MSM) as soyabean replacements in broiler chicken production. OMSS is a waste by-product of mushroom production. He was supervised by Dr. MN Mthiyane from the animal science subject group, who has published numerous research articles on MSC and MSM in internationally recognised, peer-reviewed scientific journals, and serves as the sub-editor of the Applied Sciences journal. Owing to the birds’ high meat yields over short production cycles, broiler chicken production is seen as strategically important as a protein-rich food to nourish the rapidly growing human population in South Africa and globally in a relatively environmentally friendlier way. Read more>> Mushroom biotechnology can enhance broiler feedstuffs Photo: Freepik
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