One of the global leaders in animal nutrition, Nutreco has opened the world’s first cell feed production facility in the Netherlands. Reportedly, the first commercial batch of 50 kilograms of cell feed was produced at the facility, with plans to produce several 100 kilograms per week.
Nutreco has publicised that it has completed construction on the world’s first dedicated food-grade powder production facility for cell feed in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, and brought it up to commercial operation. According to Nutreco’s statement, this facility produces the first cell feed product developed specifically for the cell-cultured meat industry.
This development is one way in which Nutreco is working towards its purpose of Feeding the Future, the company pointed out. To feed the global population in 2050, we need to produce more food than we do today – a momentous challenge for the industry and the world.
In a statement, Nutreco emphasized: “In addition to our passion for the aquaculture, animal nutrition and companion animal industries, and our expertise in helping our customers increase their productivity and reduce their environmental footprints, we are committed to playing a key role in the development of new solutions and have taken the next step on our innovation journey with this new facility. This new food-certified production facility is a first for the industry and a first for Nutreco.”
The team at the facility has successfully produced the first commercial batch of 50 kilograms of cell feed, with plans to produce several 100 kilograms per week, further growing in pace with the cellular agriculture industry. While this is a small portion of the total nine billion kilograms of products Nutreco produces each year, the company added that there is great potential to scale further at attractive margins and contribute to the growth of this fledgling industry.
“The cell-cultured protein industry is in its development stage and one of its biggest challenges is how to feed protein cells cost-efficiently, sustainably and at scale. We see potential for this industry to be one solution to the challenge of feeding the rising global population and are committed to helping the industry grow by becoming a supplier and a solutions provider,” expressed Susanne Wiegel, Head of Alternative Protein Program.
“We must continue to drive productivity and reduce the environmental footprints in the animal protein value chain, and produce protein from more and more varied sources – animals as well as alternative sources of protein such as plant-based protein, meat or seafood developed from animal cells and protein produced through fermentation. Our investments and innovation in the cell-cultured protein industry are just one way we’re tackling the challenge,” pointed out David Blakemore, CEO of Nutreco.
