NEWS 14 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2026 De Heus Animal Nutrition officially opened a stateof-the-art animal feed production facility in Athi River, Machakos County, marking a major milestone in its long-term commitment to Kenya’s agricultural sector and regional development. The new plant has an annual production capacity of 240,000 metric tons and represents a total investment of KES 3 billion (USD 23 million). Construction of the facility was completed successfully through strong collaboration with the local workforce, supported by technical expertise from De Heus business units across Africa. The company stated that the transfer of specialised skills to the Kenyan team enables the consistent production of high-quality animal feed for poultry, pig, and cattle farmers. De Heus continues to demonstrate its commitment to growth across Africa, marked by the recent commissioning of a new aquafeed factory in Uganda, the start-up of a second livestock feed factory in the Ivory Coast, and plans for further expansion across East Africa. The Athi River factory underscores De Heus’s strategy to support the agricultural sector through innovation, job creation, and regional collaboration. "This investment demonstrates our confidence in the Kenyan economy and the agricultural sector's potential. This factory opening signals a new era for our farmers, providing access to high-quality feed and technologies that will drive food security and economic growth,” said Co de Heus, Chairman of the Board of De Heus Animal Nutrition. Read more>> SPAROS announced the launch of WINCod, a next-generation microdiet specifically developed for Atlantic cod larvae. Emerging from the EarlyCOD project, WINCod tackles key challenges in cod hatcheries—high mortality, skeletal deformities, and inconsistent juvenile quality. Designed for early co-feeding protocols, WINCod pairs seamlessly with Planktonic AS’s cryoplankton (frozen live plankton), delivering a synergistic nutritional strategy that supports larvae during the critical first feeding and weaning phases. Extensive trials demonstrate that WINCod significantly improves larval robustness, while reducing skeletal anomalies and promoting healthier organ development. The result is higher-quality juveniles, giving hatcheries greater predictability and control over production outcomes. According to SPAROS, by strengthening larvae early on, WINCod also reduces dependence on traditional live feeds, helping simplify hatchery operations. Its formulation is the result of years of targeted R&D combined with industrial-scale validation, ensuring both biological performance and practical implementation. WINCod is available in 150, 300, and 500 µm pellet sizes, allowing precise matching to larval developmental stages. Early adopters in Norway have already reported measurable improvements in hatchery performance. The product is ready for immediate deployment in commercial hatcheries, with SPAROS providing technical support for implementation and protocol optimisation. Read more>> De Heus expands East African operations with Kenya feed mill WINCod microdiet targets cod hatchery challenges
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