In today’s agricultural landscape, sustainability and animal welfare have become critical concerns for producers and consumers alike. Meeting these demands requires innovative solutions, especially in Europe where synthetic additives for non-medical purposes are now banned. With strong botanical expertise, Natac has developed products that promote animal well-being, support sustainable farming practices, and offer a potential alternative to synthetic additives.
In this article, Maxime Vallot, Global Feed Division Manager at Natac, delves into the company's foundation of botanical expertise and the journey into the feed additive space in 2021. Vallot discusses Natac’s circular economy strategy, proprietary raw ingredient quality safeguarding process, and new sustainability initiatives. Natac believe that together, these efforts are reshaping animal nutrition, providing the industry with environmentally friendly and effective alternatives that align with a greener future.
[Feedinfo] What distinguishes Natac's approach to animal nutrition from others in the industry? What steps is Natac taking to ensure that its solutions align with the company’s sustainable agriculture mission?
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[Maxime Vallot] We are a botanical ingredients manufacturer, known for our high-quality products. With 14 years of experience in product innovation, and the aim of meeting evolving client needs, our exponential growth naturally led us into the feed industry back in 2021. This decision was driven by a strategic recognition of the synergies between our botanical expertise and the rising demand for high-quality feed ingredients. |
Maxime Vallot, Feed Division Manager, Natac |
The feed industry is experiencing an increased demand for safe, natural, and effective ingredients, particularly among additive manufacturers and pre-mix clients who prioritise traceability and quick delivery. Thats why we want to be our clients’ Trusted Partner, offering assurance in supply reliability, quality, and product safety.
Our FAMI-QS-certified facility in Hervas has a production capacity of 3000 tons of raw materials, enabling us to meet rising demand with rapid delivery times and comprehensive traceability. Through our circular bioeconomy strategies, we aim to recover resources and transform biomasses into botanical extracts while reducing the general carbon footprint. In 2023 alone, we processed over 1000 tons of olive leaves, tripling our utilisation of olive resources. In addition to our circular economy-based business model, we have developed a proprietary process called HABOID to trace the quality of all our raw materials at the source. This enables us to ensure that only these guaranteed pure raw materials proceed to production.
The combination of our established expertise, high production standards, and rigorous certification allows us to meet and exceed industry expectations while keeping sustainability at the forefront.
[Feedinfo] How does Natac's research on olive triterpenes aim to address challenges producers are facing with ruminants?
[Maxime Vallot] There are growing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming. Methane in particular because of its substantial environmental impact. The ban on the use of antibiotics, including ionophores like monensin, in Europe for non-medical purposes has prompted the search for natural alternatives to improve rumen fermentation efficiency and reduce methane emissions.
Triterpenes are natural compounds extracted from the olive leaf, and the use of triterpenes could help the livestock industry become more sustainable, as they could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Natac, along with other expert teams, participated in an innovative in vitro study to analyse the potential of olive (Olea europaea L.) triterpenes in modulating ruminal fermentation.
[Feedinfo] Could you share key insights from the in vitro study on the potential of olive triterpenes, especially regarding the effect of oleanolic acid on gas production and methane emissions?
[Maxime Vallot] In an in vitro study on olive triterpenes researchers tested oleanolic acid (OA) in its most bioavailable form (Cangiano et al., 2022). The results showed that adding OA had positive effects in both forage-based and high-concentration diets, suggesting it could be easily incorporated into various livestock feeding strategies. Notably, in forage-based diets, the highest dose of bioavailable oleanolic acid achieved a 20% reduction in methane production compared to the control group.
The results also showed a linear reduction in the acetate: propionate (A:P) ratio with a 9.5% decrease compared to the control group when the fibre-rich substrate was used. The decrease in the ratio of acetate to propionate indicates a shift in ruminal fermentation towards higher propionate production, which in turn could have a positive impact on the reduction of methane production. This result suggested that the improved form of OA could have the potential to alter volatile fatty acid (VFA) dynamics in the rumen, improving the efficiency of energy utilisation and reducing greenhouse gases such as methane.
This shift is important because more propionate and less acetate can mean lower methane production—which benefits the environment. It also means that animals lose less energy during digestion, helping them use their food more efficiently. This increased efficiency can lead to better productivity and potential cost savings over time.
[Feedinfo] Beyond methane reduction, what other benefits do triterpenes offer for rumen health and livestock productivity?
[Maxime Vallot] Triterpenes have well-documented antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, so they could have beneficial effects on rumen fermentation without compromising livestock productivity. In other studies, and more on an intestinal level, triterpenes were shown to have immunoregulating and anti-inflammatory properties, therefore benefitting ruminants' general health, productivity and performance.
We have already seen this initiative take off in an in vivo study where ruminants were supplemented with olive triterpenes and their intestinal integrity was significantly reinforced. Gut integrity was enhanced, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant functions were provided, and gut microbiome improving effects took place.
The documented properties of these natural alternatives may enhance animal welfare. Integrating natural alternatives into both well-being and sustainability, could achieve cleaner production and more efficient use of resources. Healthier animals are often more productive, yielding higher outputs while generating fewer greenhouse gases, such as methane. Consequently, this approach supports environmental protection and reduces the overall ecological impact.
[Feedinfo] How do your products compare to synthetic alternatives in terms of cost, effectiveness, and environmental benefits?
[Maxime Vallot] Our aim is to offer the highest quality phytogenic ingredients, which our clients can formulate and offer as a natural alternative.
Since we are a manufacturer of natural solutions, we address key challenges associated with synthetic additives, digestive disruptions, antibiotic resistance, and environmental impact. We provide ingredients that support strategies to reduce antibiotics and polluting emissions. In return, this promotes sustainable livestock production practices, improves animal welfare, and makes advances towards a more environmentally friendly agricultural sector.
[Feedinfo] Are there any ongoing or planned research initiatives at Natac to further explore the benefits of triterpenes in different animal nutrition scenarios?
[Maxime Vallot] Natac is currently leading a flagship project called SustaiNext, sourcing 46 ingredients of botanical origin, including olive triterpenes. Among these, 13 are totally new in the market and 12 are newly produced in Europe for the industry.
As it is, the manufacturing site has total orientation for the full use of raw materials and natural resources, and it’s working towards the valorisation of agro-industrial by-products that used to be discarded and treated as waste, the use of renewable energy, and emission reduction to approach Net Zero. This sustainable approach is driven by DYANA, an intelligent, dynamic extraction concept that integrates the entire supply chain—from raw material sourcing to end-users. DYANA maximizes the value of feedstock by enabling cascading valorization, optimizing each batch based on the initial raw material composition, and supporting zero waste and zero emissions goals.
