As 2025 draws to a close, businesses across the animal nutrition sector are already looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, developing strategies to meet the evolving needs of the feed and livestock industries of tomorrow.
Expana sat down with Fidelis Fru, SVP and Head of Global Business Development at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition and Health (ANH), to gain his perspective on where the sector is heading not only in 2026 but in the next 10 years.
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For Fru, the future lies in a world where every feeding decision is guided by insight. Where data, biology and technology work in harmony to deliver healthier animals, more efficient production and an improved environmental footprint. In Fru’s view, the industry can be reshaped by AI-driven precision nutrition, microbiome intelligence, and the convergence of animal health and nutrition. |
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Photo Credit: Billion Photos/Shutterstock.comFrom addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to reimagining feed as a proactive tool for resilience and wellbeing, he argues that today’s innovations in animal nutrition are building a smarter, more sustainable future for livestock production.
“By 2035, I envision an animal nutrition sector that is data-driven, precision-focused and purpose-led, where every nutritional decision is guided by insight, sustainability, and measurable impact,” Fru said. “The boundaries between nutrition, health and technology will have dissolved, enabling producers to optimize animal well-being, productivity and environmental outcomes in real time.”
According to Fru, trends driving change over the next decade include precision nutrition, which allows feeding strategies to be tailored to individual animal needs using real-time data. Meanwhile, digitalization and AI are enabling smarter, more responsive production systems.
“There is the rise of alternative proteins, which will influence feed ingredient sourcing and sustainability priorities across the industry. Finally, a deeper understanding of the gut microbiome and how to influence it to increase productivity and health, will drive us closer to our vision of precision animal farming,” he commented. “Together, these forces are redefining efficiency and resilience in animal production.”
Looking back at some of the most pressing challenges the sector is facing, Fru highlighted several interconnected ones, from raw material volatility and regulatory complexity to sustainability pressures and shifting consumer expectations.
Fru added: “With World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week held from November 18-24, it’s a good time to highlight how AMR remains one of the most ongoing and urgent priorities. As antibiotics lose efficacy over time, the livestock sector holds one of the most powerful levers for change. By advancing gut health, precision nutrition, and more bio-secured livestock systems, we can reduce the need for antibiotics while improving animal welfare, productivity and long-term sustainability.”
As the industry evolves, Fru sees one of the most transformative shifts emerging at the interface of animal health and nutrition. The two domains, traditionally treated as separate disciplines, are increasingly merging into an integrated approach to animal resilience and performance.
“The line between animal health and nutrition is increasingly blurring, and this is one of the fundamental shifts we are embracing at dsm-firmenich ANH,” Fru said. “In today’s systems, feed no longer simply supplies nutrients for growth, it is progressively acting as a strategic vehicle for enhancing immunity, gut health, disease prevention and overall animal resilience.”
“This integrated mindset is reflected in dsm-firmenich’s innovation pipeline,” he said. Fru highlighted several products that demonstrate how nutrition can actively support animal health in ways that once belonged to the realm of veterinary intervention. “This includes Mycofix safeguarding animals from mycotoxin exposure, AccuGut™ C.1 reducing reliance on chemical coccidiostats and ionophores, and Hy-D®, reinforcing bone strength, immunity and productivity. It’s about developing feed solutions that support not just growth but robustness, health and future readiness,” Fru added.
Alongside the convergence of nutrition and health, Fru identified artificial intelligence as a defining force that will reshape the next decade of animal production.
“AI has the power to transform decision-making across the animal nutrition ecosystem,” he said. “By enabling predictive modelling of animal health and performance, AI allows farmers and nutritionists to act proactively rather than reactively.”
According to Fru, AI’s influence is particularly visible in feed formulation.
“By analyzing data on feed ingredient quality and composition, feed intake, nutrient utilization, growth, health and behavior, AI enables dynamic formulation - adjusting diets in real time to match the animal’s actual needs and conditions,” he explained. “Through our Precision Services, these insights translate into evidence-based recommendations that improve efficiency while reducing waste.”
This integration of data, health and nutrition creates what Fru calls a “closed loop of continuous improvement,” where each component strengthens the others.
Looking ahead to 2035, Fru expects the sector to be defined by systems that are intelligent, interconnected, and insight driven.
“The boundaries between nutrition, health and technology will have dissolved,” he said. “Producers will be able to optimize animal well-being, productivity and environmental outcomes in real time. It’s a future where every nutritional decision is guided by insight, sustainability and measurable impact.”
Whether through precision nutrition, microbiome intelligence, AI-driven decision-making or health-embedded feed solutions, dsm-firmenich believes the next decade will reshape animal production into a smarter, more efficient and more resilient ecosystem.
“Today’s innovations are laying the foundation for a future in which we produce more sustainably, protect animal welfare, and support a global food system that is resilient and future-ready,” he said.
