From viral pandemics to endemic diseases, animal health remains a critical concern for livestock producers, directly affecting productivity, welfare and profitability. Preventing illness before it occurs is the ideal approach, which is why the field of animal resilience is vital to support animals against these threats.
Adisseo is redefining its strategy to meet these growing challenges in animal health in a holistic manner. Through integrating nutrition and health, the organization aims to ensure animals can better adapt to stressful conditions and disease threats, to contribute to a more sustainable and secure global food system.
Feedinfo spoke with Adisseo’s Bruno Michienzi, Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing and Sebastian Marten, Executive Director of SBU Specialties, to learn more about the direction of the business and what solutions they have developed to improve the resilience of animals.
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[Feedinfo] Why is it important for Adisseo as a nutrition business to focus on addressing animal health issues? [Bruno Michienzi] Adisseo's mission is to feed the planet in a high-quality, affordable, safe, and sustainable way. We are dedicated to ensuring that animal feed not only meets the nutritional needs of animals but also helps them adapt to stressfull conditions, disease challenges, and evolving husbandry practices. Our approach goes beyond traditional boundaries, combining our expertise in both nutrition and health. |
Bruno Michienzi, Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing |
We firmly believe that incorporating both these strategies is essential for achieving better animal performance and welfare, as well as improving sustainability across the industry. We have traditionally focused heavily on the nutritional side of science, but we are increasingly expanding and investing in the health space as well.
We embrace the One Health approach, recognizing that animal resilience directly impacts human health. By addressing animal health challenges, we are also contributing to the well-being of people, creating a healthier and more sustainable future for all. This mission aligns with the concerns of our customers, and we understand that our success is only achieved through theirs. Together, we work to ensure the success and sustainability of their operations.
[Feedinfo] What do you believe are the biggest animal health challenges that the industry should be prioritising?
[Bruno Michienzi] One of the biggest challenges our industry faces is the threat of animal pandemics and zoonotic diseases. It is essential that we develop the capacity to effectively combat these diseases within current animal production systems.
We must also focus on reducing our reliance on antibiotics and zinc oxide. This reduction is vital not only for preventing antibiotic resistance but also for supporting animals in managing viral diseases and infections. By embracing alternative health strategies, such as enhancing immunity through nutrition, we can build more resilient animals and ensure the sustainable production of animal protein, ultimately leading to a healthier future for all.
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[Feedinfo] Tell us about Adisseo’s capabilities in the field of animal health? [Sebastian Marten] Adisseo has spent many years researching and investing in animal health. We have a strong Research & Innovation team dedicated to this topic, with international exposure and a high expertise covering three pillars of animal resilience: gut integrity, immunity and microbiota modulations.Our commitment to animal health is further demonstrated by our active contributions to veterinary and health-related journals, where we regularly publish our findings to share knowledge and drive innovation, ultimately delivering new insights for our customers. |
Sebastian Marten, Executive Director of SBU Specialties |
We are also more and more present at animal health conferences, to contribute to advancements in this field.
In 2023-24, we actively participated in eight, including the renowned American Association of Avian Pathologists and the European Symposium of Porcine Health Management.
[Feedinfo] You mentioned animal resilience is a key focus for Adisseo – can you explain why this is a priority for your organisation?
[Bruno Michienzi] Focusing on animal resilience allows us to secure performance: ensuring productivity by assuring healthier animals with better growth rates and feed efficiency. This approach also supports sustainability by reducing resource use and environmental impact. By offering holistic solutions that address multiple challenges, we meet the current needs of animal producers while anticipating future demands in the industry.
In addition to these efforts to enhance animal resilience, we are proudly supporting research that benefits the entire industry through Adisseo’s Research Grant. Currently, there are two key projects looking at animal health: one focuses on the effects of arginine and branched-chain amino acid supplementation in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria spp. The other focuses on the role of gut microbiota on animal resilience to viral pulmonary infections.
We are also committed to keeping our customers informed of the latest advancements in this field. To achieve this, we regularly host scientific and technical events focused on animal health and engage directly with our key customers through on-site visits to meet with their scientific and veterinary teams.
[Feedinfo] What can you as a nutrition provider, offer to improve the resilience of animals?
[Sebastian Marten] Adisseo possesses in-depth expertise across various species, including poultry, swine, ruminants, and aqua, covering both nutrition and health. Our approach to providing effective solutions is rooted in research-based, species-specific knowledge. For example, in ruminants, we hold a unique market position due to our expertise in amino acid balancing and its critical role in both nutrition and health.
Animal Resilience stands as its own distinct category at Adisseo, alongside Feed Digestibility, Feed Integrity & Quality, and Product Quality & Value. It is a key component of our offerings and reflects our willingness to further develop our expertise in this field.
When addressing animal resilience, health solutions such as probiotics, butyric-based products, glycerides, or antioxidants often come to mind—areas where Adisseo offers exceptional scientific expertise with Alterion®, Adimix and FRA® Glycerides, Selisseo®. However, our research indicates that feed safety is equally crucial, as contaminated feed (particularly with mycotoxins), can heighten vulnerability to bacterial infections. To tackle this, we complement our health solutions with robust mycotoxin management, including effective deactivators like Unike Plus and comprehensive services through our all-in-one digital platform, Mycoman.
[Feedinfo] Can you tell us about the Secure Performance program? What is it and how does it support poultry and swine production?
[Bruno Michienzi] The Secure Performance program is the result of collaborative efforts with Adisseo's product and species experts, designed to offer our customers a comprehensive solution to boost animal resilience. We wish to assist our customers in reducing the need for drugs and therapies by enhancing animal resilience through targeted nutritional solutions and a holistic approach.
Focusing on species-specific solutions allows us to deliver relevant and effective answers to market needs, and Adisseo is dedicated to this approach. We are committed to understanding the unique requirements of each species, rigorously testing our solutions and providing our customers with the most suitable options.
[Sebastian Marten] In poultry, for instance, we provide targeted strategies to curb the growth of major bacterial pathogens like E. coli, Enterococcus cecorum, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella. Our solutions include Alterion® to build a resilient gut microbiome, Adimix Precision to strengthen intestinal barrier integrity, or FRA® C12 to limit the development of pathogens.
Beyond bacterial diseases, a recent Adisseo trial demonstrated that broilers vaccinated with an attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and supplemented with FRA C12 (glycerides of lauric acid) showed remarkable health improvements. Our swine program is designed to provide innovative solutions in response to the fluctuating challenges in livestock farming, such as emerging pathogens (e.g., E. coli, Streptococcus suis), and the increasing difficulty of managing these issues due to stricter restrictions on antibiotic use. For example, Adisseo offers Adimix Precision, FRA glycerides and Selisseo® to improve intestinal health of piglets and limit the deleterious effects of bacterial infections. These solutions offer the possibility to maintain performance under challenging conditions.
[Bruno Michienzi] What also sets this program apart is our worldwide network of experts, who guide customers through the complexities of implementing a holistic approach. Our Adisseo experts work closely with customers to deeply understand their unique challenges and needs, allowing us to deliver tailored solutions that effectively enhance resilience in both poultry and swine production. This personalized support, combined with our extensive portfolio, ensures we address a broad spectrum of customer needs and contribute to the overall success of their operations. That is because at Adisseo in science we trust and through science we feed the planet in a high-quality, safe and sustainable way.
[Feedinfo] What are the next projects for Adisseo in this area?
[Bruno Michienzi] Adisseo is committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation in animal health and resilience. Exciting innovations are on the horizon, so stay tuned! Our focus will be on taking animal resilience to the next level by developing new, cutting-edge solutions.
These initiatives will build on our current expertise in gut integrity, immune modulation, and microbiota management, ensuring we continue to lead the industry in delivering sustainable and effective solutions for animal health.
Published in association with Adisseo
