The agri-food community has the great privilege of nourishing our people, our animals and our land.

It is a significant responsibility — and yet, not a new one.

Society was built on the ingenuity of our planet’s original stewards of the land — farmers, ranchers and growers. Their innovation and grit nourished a growing world and paved the way for advancements in science and technology.

Today, climate change threatens agriculture’s ability to feed the world’s growing population. Fortunately, the world’s best problem solvers are on the case.

We believe agriculture has the greatest potential to positively shape the future of our planet. That’s why Alltech is uniting the agri-food community in Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. It’s not just our mission. It’s our purpose.

Through collaboration and innovation, the agri-food community can create a world where science-based solutions help ensure sustainable food production for the global population. Agriculture has already made huge strides in sustainability. Imagine what is possible when we all work toward the shared goal of creating a world of abundance for future generations.

Together, we can provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.

Demonstrating our commitment

At Alltech, we see opportunities in every challenge. We are dedicated to delivering smarter, more sustainable solutions to advance the health and performance of animals while also lowering their impact on the environment. We are committed to lowering our carbon footprint and helping producers worldwide find and implement solutions to their sustainability challenges.

We hope sharing our commitment to creating a world of abundance — and outlining the steps we’re taking to align our business with that goal — will inspire others to do the same.

The 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report shares our sustainability journey through data and stories from Alltech team members around the world. It demonstrates our commitment to ambitious climate action and advancing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and the Ten Principles of the U.N. Global Compact.

This includes:

• Our 2021 baseline emissions and our roadmap to reduction
• Progress toward key performance indicators
• Our efforts to promote an inclusive work environment where each person feels valued and inspired to do their best
• Our initiatives to nurture a culture of sustainability in the workplace and promote sustainability in our communities
• Our collaborative approach to advancing environmental actions in the industry
• Our belief that agriculture is vital to saving the planet

A closer look

Emissions

We are committed to reducing our GHG emissions as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to limit global warming and combat the most urgent challenges posed by climate change. IPCC has set ambitious targets that require significant transformations across all sectors of the global economy.

The world must reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5°C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Any reduction target between now and 2050 should fall on that straight-line trajectory to net zero.

Setting and pursuing these targets demonstrates our commitment to a world of abundance for future generations.

Our sustainability team worked with colleagues from numerous departments across the company to collect and analyze our data to create an emissions reduction roadmap that will help us meet our GHG goals. We will report our progress toward our GHG goals in our annual sustainability report and to the CDP (formerly called the Carbon Disclosure Project).

Efficiency investments

Alltech invested $4.5 million in efficiency projects in 2022. These projects reduced our emissions by 7,600 metric tons CO₂e per year, which represents 82% of our necessary GHG reduction for 2023. We conducted 11 site-specific energy audits and efficiency improvement plans in 2022, and we completed 47 energy efficiency project feasibility studies.

Numerous global Alltech locations offer electric vehicle charging stations. We have invested in solar energy in Spain and Serdán, México. A third project is planned at Alltech U.K.

There are many opportunities to further reduce our emissions through energy conservation practices, such as upgrading to energy-efficient equipment, process efficiencies and other innovative solutions. We recognize the importance of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and are exploring both on-site and off-site options for solar and wind power.

Sustainable Development Goals

In 2019, Alltech committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. It was a natural step for Alltech because we are passionate about sustainability and making a positive impact on the planet we all share. Our continued commitment to the SDGs strengthens our mission to achieve a brighter future — together — and to inspire others in our industry to do the same.

Alltech identified nine of the U.N.’s 17 SDGs that we feel most closely align with our core business and are therefore actionable by the company:

Alltech has developed specific goals for each of the SDGs that are aligned with our business, and we are implementing a system for measuring and reporting our progress on these SDGs. We expect to discover more opportunities for innovation and improvement as we work to further advance these SDGs.

Agriculture is at the forefront of solutions to nourish and nurture our planet and its people — and we are vital to meeting the world’s climate change goals. By adopting new technologies, improving business practices and embracing innovation, the agriculture industry is working together to harness the power of human ingenuity and the sustainable science of agrifood to create a Planet of Plenty.

Key performance indicators

We developed a set of KPIs to evaluate the sustainability of our business and stay on target to meet our goals. We have evaluated our performance and created future goals in several categories, including environmental performance, labor and human rights, fair business practices, sustainable procurement, social impact, innovation, and product responsibility.

Highlights include:

• 40% of Alltech team members in management positions are women
• 52% of participants in Alltech's Mini-MBA executive management program are women
• 100% of production team members are trained in health and safety
• 70% of office-based team members are engaged in role-related training and development
• 30 countries are served by our climate advisory service, Alltech E-CO2
• We have completed seven produce life-cycle analyses and plan to complete 40 by the end of 2023
• Environmental risk assessments have been conducted on 25% of our manufacturing facilities within the past two years. We plan to complete assessments on all facilities by 2024.

Logistics and supply chain efficiency

Alltech is taking steps toward achieving a more sustainable supply chain, carefully analyzing our logistics procedures to shine light on areas in which improvements can be made, including assessing suppliers, processes and materials used, and finding ways to optimize routes, energy and fuel use.

As part of our ongoing work to make sure we engage with the most sustainable suppliers, we developed the Alltech Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire, which asks about suppliers’ environmental management systems, occupational safety and hygiene, labor and human rights, and eco-certification.

Sustainable packaging

Alltech and our family of companies have implemented packaging changes for several of our nutritional solutions. Our team carefully studies the available options for each product, fully considering the multiple ways a change in packaging could affect the environment and the nutritional integrity of the technologies we offer.

Highlights include:

• All packaging for Alltech Coppens' products is 100% recyclable.
• Ridley Block Operations produces a 100% biodegradable BioBarrel^® container, which saves almost 1 million pounds of plastic each year.
• Ridley Feed Ingredients’ Lifeforce™ horse supplements are packaged in pouches that use post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials.
• Acutia supplements are provided in compostable pouches that can be used to refill either the reusable glass jar included in the complimentary starter kit or the customer’s own storage container. These pouches are shipped in envelopes made of post-consumer waste. In 2022, Acutia supported the removal of 116.3 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere.

More to come

Through strategic collaboration and stewardship, we can transform the future of our planet with sustainable farming and nutrition — and create a world of abundance for future generations.

We will share more stories from our sustainability report in the coming days and weeks.

Stay tuned for a closer look at:

• Our collaboration with organizations and individuals to address some of the most pressing issues facing the agri-food community
• How our nutritional technologies help to create more sustainably produced meat, milk, eggs and seafood and crops grown in a healthy soil
• Our research team's leading-edge solutions that harness the power of science to nourish people and the planet
• How our team members continually look for ways to be more environmentally responsible and make a difference in their communities
• Alltech E-CO₂, the Alltech® Quality System, Alltech® IFM and more

Click here to read the executive summary of the report.

Learn more at alltech.com/sustainability.

Those who work outside during hot and humid weather are familiar with sweat-soaked shirts and sweat rolling from their foreheads. Horses and humans are two of the very few mammals that really rely on sweating to regulate body temperature. Horses have one of the highest sweat rates of all mammals and can lose 1–12 liters of sweat per hour, meaning they can lose about 70% of their metabolic heat from evaporative sweat. Several factors can affect the amount of sweat excreted, including work intensity, temperature, humidity and level of fitness.

The sweat of both humans and horses is composed of water, minerals (sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium), and some proteins. The minerals, also called electrolytes, are influential in the maintenance of fluid balance, osmotic pressure, nerve response, muscle contraction and relaxation. However, although both humans and horses sweat liberally, their sweat glands are not the same, creating different concerns for dehydration and exercise recovery. Humans largely have eccrine sweat glands, while horses predominantly have apocrine sweat glands.

Human eccrine sweat glands retain large quantities of electrolytes, producing what’s called hypotonic sweat, which contains lower concentrations of electrolytes when compared to other bodily fluids. This increases plasma osmolarity, stimulating the thirst response. But equine apocrine sweat glands do not retain large quantities of electrolytes, so horses’ sweat tends to be isotonic or hypertonic, containing the same to higher concentrations of electrolytes compared to other bodily fluids. This isotonic or hypertonic sweat doesn’t increase plasma osmolarity, which in turn doesn’t stimulate the horse’s thirst response. Consequently, equine athletes lose more electrolytes and are at an increased risk for dehydration, heatstroke, muscle fatigue/cramping, and potential cardiac arrhythmia in extreme cases.

Electrolyte supplementation and its role in exercise and recovery

Optimal hydration and electrolyte status sets equine athletes up for improved exercise performance. Research from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover reported improved water and electrolyte metabolism when horses were supplemented one to four hours pre-exercise. This can lead to improved exercise performance in hot weather. 2021 research led by Canadian researchers at the Nutraceutical Alliance reported increased exercise duration and sweat volume, as well as delayed onset of fatigue when three to eight liters of electrolyte water was consumed before the onset of moderate exercise.

Electrolyte supplementation is also beneficial in optimal exercise recovery, helping prepare horses for returned performance — and adequate post-exercise hydration can do more than prevent risk factors from dehydration. Research by the University of Guelph reported that oral administration of electrolyte water after prolonged, moderate-intensity exercise improved the rate of muscle glycogen repletion. These results indicate that post-exercise dehydration may be a contributing factor to slow muscle recovery and slow glycogen repletion.

Providing electrolytes in water during and after exercise will further induce drinking during exercise recovery. The electrolyte solution increases plasma osmolarity and leads horses to consume more water within 60 minutes post-exercise than they do when given regular water. However, nonelectrolyte water should be provided as well, in case a horse doesn’t favor the taste of water with dissolved electrolytes.

Checking for dehydration

Horse owners can check for signs of dehydration in the field. Two common tests include checking skin elasticity and gum coloration.

When evaluating skin elasticity, pinch and pull a small section of skin on the neck above the shoulder. Well-hydrated skin will snap back quickly. Dehydration will show the skin remaining as a ridge or taking longer than two seconds to return.

Long capillary refill time is another sign of dehydration. Hydrated horses should have moist, pink gums. When testing for dehydration, lift the horse’s lip and press the gums, above the teeth, for a couple of seconds. After pressure is released, the pink color should refill the white spot created by your finger. If gums are white in color, or if the spot takes more than two seconds to return to the original pink color, these are signs of dehydration.

Electrolyte supplementation

When to provide electrolyte supplementation is a common question asked by horse owners. Under average conditions, forage, commercial feed, and free-choice salt will cover electrolytes excreted from sweat. Although free-choice salt is recommended and can be beneficial, excessive salt supplementation in feed isn’t a recommended practice. It can cause horses to refuse feed, can lead to gum ulceration, and can increase dehydration post-exercise when horses don’t consume adequate water. Due to these risks, most provide free-choice salt separately from the feed.

As mentioned before, several factors affect the amount of sweat that horses excrete including work intensity, temperature, humidity, and level of fitness. In many commercialized diets, sodium and chloride are not provided at high enough levels to replenish electrolytes lost from excessive sweating. When these factors coincide and excessive sweating occurs, additional electrolyte supplementation is crucial to recovery!

Why McCauley’s® Hydrolyte®?

McCauley’s Hydrolyte encourages water consumption, improving hydration status and maximizing exercise recovery. It doesn’t contain added sugar, which makes it safe for horses with metabolic diseases like Cushing’s disease, equine metabolic syndrome, and chronic laminitis. It has long been said that added sugar improves electrolyte absorption and retention, but this myth has long been debunked in horses. No added sugar in Hydrolyte further ensures a focus on providing quality electrolyte ingredients rather than containing a large fraction of sugar.

Hydrolyte also provides optimal electrolyte supplementation by mimicking the ratio of electrolytes lost in equine sweat. It is balanced with sodium, chloride, calcium and magnesium to replenish minerals lost from excessive sweating due to exercise, stress and environmental conditions. Hydrolyte can also easily be top-dressed on feed and/or dissolved in water for flexible electrolyte supplementation.

Summary

• Horses have one of the highest sweat rates of all mammals and can lose 1–12 liters of sweat per hour.
• Equine sweat glands lose more electrolytes than human sweat glands do, increasing the risk of dehydration.
• Providing electrolyte water can improve equine exercise performance and recovery.
• Ways to check for dehydration include evaluating skin elasticity and gum capillary refill time.
• Providing free-choice salt is industry standard and recommended, but it may not ensure full electrolyte replenishment from excessive sweating.
• McCauley’s Hydrolyte is a great addition to your horse’s exercise program to aid in exercise performance and recovery during hot and humid conditions!

I want to learn more about nutrition for my horses.

(Editor's note: This is the final blog in our three-part series on feed efficiency in pigs.)

Feed represents most of the cost of producing a marketed pig and it can be affected by a variety of factors, including genetics, health and management. One factor that is often overlooked is the manufacturing of the feed. It may seem simple, but there are several areas to consider and various measures available to improve feed efficiency.

Before making the feed

Feed that is designed for best feed efficiency starts with the use of high-quality ingredients. Alternative ingredients are often used to lower feed costs, but they may increase the variation in quality going into the feed. Ingredients should be visually evaluated for damage before using them. A hidden concern is mycotoxins, particularly in corn and distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Corn should be tested for mycotoxins in geographic areas where mycotoxins are known to be present. (Alltech's regional harvest analyses and Mycotoxin Management program are good sources for that information.) If DDGS are used as a feed ingredient, always test them for mycotoxins.

The formulation software should contain correct nutrient values for ingredients and correct nutrient specifications for each phase of production, so that accurate feed formulas can be created. This includes using nutrient values for digestible amino acids, available/digestible phosphorus and net energy. The use of enzymes should be considered as a method to increase digestibility of feedstuffs and improve feed efficiency in swine production.

Making the feed

One of the largest impacts on feed efficiency is the particle size of the grain. Typically, corn is processed to be 500–700 microns in size, with a standard deviation of less than 2.2, to help ensure consistency of particle size. Both roller and hammer mills can achieve this, but roller mills usually provide a more consistent grind with fewer fine particles. Research has shown that for every 100-micron decrease in grain particle size, feed efficiency improves 1.0–1.2% in grow-finish swine. The goal of maximizing feed efficiency with a uniform, finely ground feed must be balanced against the energy cost, feed flowability and increased risk of gastric ulcers.

A mixer efficiency test is a good way to ensure that all ingredients are being mixed correctly to make a uniform final feed. Improperly mixed feed can result in poorer feed intake, growth and feed efficiency.

Pelleting feed will improve feed efficiency if the pellets have good durability. Research has shown that as the percentage of fines increases, the feed conversion improvement decreases, and with 60% fines, there is no benefit of pelleting over mash.

After making the feed

A good quality assurance program, including retained feed samples, will help with evaluation of feed quality as well as providing samples for later analysis if needed. Feeds should be analyzed for at least protein, calcium, phosphorus, salt and one trace mineral on a regular basis to ensure that an accurately formulated and manufactured diet is delivered to the pigs.

A major potential source of decreased feed efficiency is poor feeder management that allows for increased feed wastage. The feed pan should have about 50% coverage with feed to balance easy intake with decreased feed wastage. If pelleted pig diets are used, the variation in percentage of fines can create a situation where more time management is needed in the barn to minimize feed wastage.

A feed budget that accurately prescribes the amount of feed for each phase of production will balance desired feed efficiency with feed cost per pig. Perform a closeout evaluation to compare the actual intake of each diet phase with the projected amount and then adjust as needed to move the pigs to the lower-cost diets.

Feed manufacturing for economical feed efficiency is an important part of an overall pork production plan. The number of factors involved in accurate, high-quality feed being delivered to pigs reminds us that diligence to the details can help improve profitability.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my pig herd.

Providing the proper cattle nutrition through all stages of gestation is vital not only for the cow but for the developing calf.

Building a strong foundation in a cow herd or a heifer development or purebred program starts with genetics — but that foundation can also be affected by management and nutrition. Reproductive failures are often tied to suboptimal nutrition, which can impact not only the individual animal but the well-being of her offspring, too. This phenomenon, which is known as maternal or fetal programming, illustrates how the nutritional and health status of the mother during pregnancy can subsequently impact the health and productivity of her calf.

Fetal programming

Maternal nutrition can impact the fetus and potentially alter its development, not just in utero but later in the calf’s life as well. Compromised nutrition during gestation can result in low calf birthweight, increased pre-weaning mortalities, poor growth rates and even getting cattle bred back in a timely manner.

When it comes to maternal cattle nutrition, the focus has traditionally been on the last trimester of gestation, since this is the time when the fetus grows most rapidly, taxing the cow’s energy and mineral reserves. As a result, many nutritional strategies focus specifically on those 90 or 60 days prior to calving. But what about the impact of maternal nutrition during early and mid-gestation?

A recent publication discussed the importance of proper cattle nutrition throughout all phases of gestation and the impact that nutrition can have beyond conception rates. In another study, during which early-gestation cows were fed either 100% or 55% of their nutrient requirements, no differences were observed in the calves’ bodyweight and gains, but the lung and trachea weights of calves born to nutrient-restricted dams were lower, and those smaller weights could impact how these calves react to respiratory challenges in the future.

Nutrient restrictions mid-gestation have also been shown to impact ovary and luteal tissue size and mass, which can directly affect the heifer’s reproductive efficiency later in life. The nutritional status of the cow during late gestation (e.g., six to nine months into gestation) has also been shown to impact the calf’s muscle fiber formation, which can impact its birthweight, weaning weight and even its carcass weight at harvest.

The reproductive performance of breeding cattle is highly dependent on their nutritional status. Trace minerals are involved in the synthesis of reproductive hormones, the reduction of free radicals and the improvement of the uterine microenvironment for embryonic implantation, as well as fetal growth and development. Considering that, for the most part, reproductive organs develop during early gestation, it is clear how the dam’s nutritional and trace mineral status can impact fetal development and future performance.

Trace mineral supplementation

Forages can vary in terms of their trace mineral concentration. As such, supplemental copper, zinc, manganese and selenium are needed to optimize the cattle herd’s trace mineral status, as meeting their trace mineral requirements is fundamental for achieving optimal immunity, health, reproductive efficiency and growth.

Knowing this, supplemental trace minerals are provided to bridge the gap between the amount available through the forages and the cow’s nutritional requirements. However, the form in which those trace minerals are provided — either inorganic or organic — can impact how the herd will respond to the trace mineral program.

Inorganic versus organic trace minerals

Inorganic trace minerals — including sulfates, oxides, chlorides and hydroxies — are typically inexpensive byproducts of other industrial processes and are often fed in excess to avoid deficiencies. However, due to the lower relative bioavailability of inorganic trace minerals, animals do not necessarily benefit from over-supplementation. Additionally, these high levels of inorganic trace minerals are often associated with mineral-to-mineral antagonisms, a higher degree of vitamin degradation and higher levels of excretion into the environment.

Organic trace minerals, such as Bioplex® and Sel-Plex®, are closer to the form in which trace minerals are found in nature. As a result, organic trace minerals offer better absorption and utilization, which translates to a higher bioavailability and fewer dietary interactions — meaning that minerals offered in an organic form can typically be supplemented at lower levels.

Benefits of Bioplex and Sel-Plex organic trace minerals

The advantages of supplementing with organic trace minerals have been well-documented and include improved ovarian activity, increased conception rates and getting cattle bred back sooner.

These benefits should come as no surprise, given the impact that the trace mineral source can have not only on the trace mineral status of breeding cattle, but on the gene expressions linked to their reproductive performance as well. These effects were illustrated in a nutrigenomics study comparing organic trace minerals provided in the form of Bioplex vs. inorganic sources.

• In the study, researchers evaluated the effect of replacing inorganic trace minerals with organic trace minerals (provided in the form of Bioplex and Sel-Plex) on gene expression levels in replacement heifers.
• The results indicated that the trace mineral source impacted 580 differentially expressed genes related to reproductive performance, all of which play essential roles in early pregnancy, indicating that supplementation of organic trace minerals in the form of Bioplex can potentially benefit reproductive performance through improved regulation of the estrous cycle, shorter calving intervals and improved implantation rates.

The impact of organic trace minerals lives on

So, how do organic trace minerals affect fertility parameters in successive generations?

In a recent beef study, the response of Angus and Brangus cows and their calves to either inorganic or organic (i.e., Bioplex) trace mineral sources was evaluated.

• For cows supplemented with organic trace minerals 90 days pre-calving throughout the heifer developmental period (year one), heifer calves reached puberty nine days earlier and were confirmed pregnant eight days earlier than heifers from the inorganic-supplemented cows.
• The results for year two, where cows were supplemented for the entire year and calves were thus exposed to organic trace mineral supplementation from conception throughout the heifer development period (year two), the heifers from cows supplemented with organic trace minerals reached puberty 41 days earlier and were confirmed pregnant 18 days earlier than heifers from inorganic mineral-supplemented cows.

Clearly, the trace mineral source can directly impact fertility parameters in successive generations — which is also known as the fetal programming effect. Additionally, year-round supplementation through a high-quality trace mineral program can impact both the individual animal and her female offspring’s reproductive efficiency, as measured by her age at puberty, age at calving and lifetime performance.

Optimizing trace mineral status and reproductive efficiency is especially important in purebred herds and operations focusing on embryos. When looking at the follicular dynamics and embryo quality of beef cows, researchers have reported that supplementation with organic trace minerals in the form of Bioplex results not only in the increased diameter of ovulatory follicles but also leads to improved in-vitro maturation and embryo cleavage. This is significant, as early embryo cleavage is a strong biological indicator of embryo potential and is often used as a measure of embryo quality.

Implications

1. Organic trace minerals provided as Bioplex and Sel-Plex can potentially benefit reproductive performance, including via improved regulation of the estrus cycle, shorter calving intervals and improved implantation rates, as well as reproductive efficiency in successive generations.
2. As such, when developing one’s own breeding cattle or acquiring replacement females, the emphasis should not only be on genetics; nutritional predisposition should also be taken into consideration.
3. Given the potential return on investment associated with organic trace minerals (such as those included in Bioplex and Sel-Plex) in terms of the health, reproductive efficiency and gains of the cattle, year-round supplementation is not only economically feasible but could also have a direct impact on the future performance and profitability of the herd.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my beef cattle.

The following blog is a summary of the Ag Future podcast episode at Alltech ONE Dublin with Dr. Fiona Walsh hosted by Tom Martin, with added insights from Dr. Walsh’s presentation at Alltech ONE Dublin. Click below to hear the full audio or listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to the global health of humans, animals and the environment. By 2050, more humans globally will die from issues related to antibiotic resistance than from cancer. Within the same timeframe, there will be an 11% loss in livestock production just from antimicrobial resistance.

At Alltech ONE Dublin, Dr. Fiona Walsh, professor of microbiology at Maynooth University and head of the Antimicrobial Resistance One Health Research Centre, presented ideas on reducing animal disease without increasing antibiotic resistance.

“What we need to really remember is that it’s not only a human health problem. This is a One Health problem,” Dr. Walsh said. “[AMR] is increasing in animal health. It will reduce productivity. It will ensure that we cannot treat infections when we have more antimicrobial resistance.”

“One Health” is a movement toward greater awareness of, and action on, the health aspects of interactions between humans, animals and the environment. AMR is a threat to One Health because it can transfer between animals and soil or between food and humans.

Understanding plasmid-mediated AMR transmission and its impact

Plasmids are mobile pieces of DNA that can move between different bacteria, including bacteria of the same species or different species. They are the primary carriers of AMR genes and the smallest genetic components capable of transferring resistance.

Understanding how plasmids transfer between bacteria is key in identifying ways to prevent resistance transfer. This includes investigating the factors that inhibit transfer and exploring how plasmids move within and between humans and animals, particularly from non-pathogenic to pathogenic bacteria, where they pose a significant threat.

When animals are healthy and don’t require antimicrobials, plasmids present in antimicrobials have no selective advantage. The concern arises when plasmids carrying resistance genes are present in bacteria that are causing infections, necessitating the use of antibiotics. Therefore, health maintenance is crucial, preventing diseases rather than relying on cures.

The importance of reducing reliance on antibiotic agents

According to Dr. Walsh, it is important to focus on practices that can prevent or at least reduce the occurrence of infections on-farm that need antibiotic treatment. Transitioning to farming practices that require minimal or no antibiotics is essential, but it should be done in a way that keeps the animals  healthy in a productive environment.

Dr. Walsh reminded us that farming needs to be economically viable. While organizations advocate for banning antibiotics in animal production, we must consider the broader impact beyond the price of food, as consumers may bear the cost. Maintaining animal health is vital for a successful transition to antibiotic-free production.

Balancing sustainability and profitability

Achieving a balance between sustainability and profitability in agriculture requires considering various impacts and the perspectives of both farmers and consumers. The value that consumers place on antibiotic-free meat, for example, influences their willingness to pay a higher price for such products. However, if consumers fail to recognize the worth of antibiotic-free meat, farmers may face challenges as profits lag behind the higher costs of meeting today’s stricter regulations on antibiotics.

While scientists can contribute by listening to the difficulties faced by industry professionals and offering solutions, achieving sustainability requires collective effort. Multiple organizations and stakeholders must collaborate to develop and implement strategies that address these challenges effectively.

The futures of microbiomes, animal health and AMR prevention

“This is essentially our golden era in terms of microbiomes,” Dr. Walsh said. We already know that a strong, well-balanced microbiome can be a powerful defense system, and as we further our understanding of this vital topic, there will be future opportunities for innovation.

Additionally, advancements in sequencing technologies offer exciting prospects, allowing researchers to visualize individual bacteria within the microbiome without the need for lab cultivation. This breakthrough allows for a comprehensive understanding of each bacterium’s identity and function, offering a clear window into the microbiome’s dynamics and the presence of plasmids and their bacterial hosts. This deeper comprehension of complex interactions is providing abundant data for further exploration.

Finally, Dr. Walsh highlighted how AI and modeling now play a crucial role in understanding interactions between plasmids, bacteria, AMR, and microbiomes. AI enables large-scale analysis, allowing researchers to explore global scenarios such as the removal of antibiotics from chicken production coupled with the influence of climate change. Through AI, we can examine intricate genetic changes and movements within bacteria at a micro level. However, it is important to acknowledge that the reliability of models depends on the quantity and quality of the underlying data, and Dr. Walsh raised the importance of smaller-scale experiments to validate these large-scale models.

Related ONE content

Alltech ONE Dublin focused on collaborative solutions to the challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs.

Explore our other content, including photos and videos, from Alltech ONE Dublin at one.alltech.com/Dublin and the links below.

Opening keynote: Feeding people while preserving the planet

Blog: McDonald’s moves toward net zero: the role of the supply chain

Selenium, like the other trace minerals, is necessary to sustain life and is essential for basic physiological functions in dairy cows. While the daily requirement for trace minerals is small, their importance to dairies has been documented in research. The trace mineral requirements for dairy cows often cannot be met through forage and grain alone. Supplementation in the diet is often needed to bridge the gap between supply and requirement.

Meeting the selenium requirements of dairy cattle

The most recent edition of the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle defines the selenium requirement for all classes of dairy cows as 0.3 ppm (NASEM, 2021). Selenium is perhaps the most regulated trace mineral in regard to supplementation for dairy cattle. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set the maximum supplemental level of selenium at 0.3 ppm. Prior to 2003, the only legal forms of selenium in the U.S. were sodium selenite and sodium selenate. In 2003, the FDA approved selenium yeast for dairy cows as a legal form of organic selenium; this approval was solely based on data submitted on Sel-Plex® (Alltech, Inc). To this day, no other selenium yeast has been reviewed by the FDA. More recently, in 2020, the FDA also approved the category of selenomethionine hydroxy analogue, a chemically synthetic organic selenium. Selenium supplementation guidelines, as well as approved selenium ingredients, can vary greatly between countries. It is always best practice to first check local regulations when making selenium supplementation decisions.

Organic selenium sources

Plants, marine algae, and bacteria can convert inorganic selenium into organic selenoamino acids like selenomethionine. These organic selenium sources are more available to the animal for absorption and utilization. Yeasts, as part of the plant kingdom, have the ability to convert inorganic selenium into selenoamino acids. A recent white paper (Murphy, 2023) compared form, source and function within the product categories generically defined as “organic selenium.” An important conclusion was that effects on animal health and performance must be assessed for each individual organic selenium product.

The major advantage of an organic selenium source such as Sel-Plex is its improved absorption and retention in the body. Selenoamino acids incorporated into body proteins provide a reserve of stored selenium when demand is high, particularly during disease challenge and gestation. Maternal transfer of organic selenium through the placenta and colostrum improves the calf’s ability to survive and thrive. Additionally, organic selenium supports reproductive function, udder health and postpartum health.

Focus on reproduction

Research conducted at the University of Florida (Thatcher et al., 2010) compared supplementing 0.3 ppm selenium from either sodium selenite or Sel-Plex selenium yeast in 574 dairy cows from 25 days before expected calving date through 80 days of lactation. Results of vaginoscopy scores at 5 and 10 days after calving (Table 1) showed differences based on the source of selenium in the diet. Cows fed selenium yeast had 47.1% clear, 43.4% mucopurulent and 9.3% purulent discharge scores, while cows fed sodium selenite had 35% clear, 47.8% mucopurulent and 17.1% purulent discharge scores. In this study, the Sel-Plex diet showed improvements in uterine environment after calving, as the frequency of purulent discharge was reduced while the frequency of clean discharge increased.

Table 1:

Additionally, measurements of immune function may help explain some of the differences reported above. In this instance, the organic selenium yeast improved neutrophil function (innate immunity) at calving in multiparous cows. Neutrophil function was suppressed at calving in primiparous cows but was restored by 7–14 days postpartum with selenium yeast supplementation. The researchers also examined the effects of selenium sources on acquired immunity by measuring the antibody response to an injection of ovalbumin (Figure 1). Antibody concentration was higher in multiparous cows at 21 and 42 days postpartum, while antibody response was not different in primiparous cows.

Figure 1:

Selenium source did not impact first-service pregnancy to artificial insemination. However, second-service pregnancy was improved in the selenium yeast diet (17.1% vs. 11.3%). When looking at results for cows that lost an embryo after first service, second service was 22.7% successful for cows supplemented with selenium yeast compared to just 4.2% successful for cows supplemented with sodium selenite. The authors hypothesized that cows in the Sel-Plex group were better able to reestablish an embryotropic environment at second service following either early or late embryonic losses.

It's in the genes

Other research in cattle reproduction has looked at the effects of selenium source on gene expression. Research at the University of Kentucky compared diets with Sel-Plex to diets only containing sodium selenite as a selenium source. Cows supplemented with selenium yeast had increased transcripts involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and immune response. 887 transcripts were differentially expressed based on source of supplemental selenium. The upregulation of cholesterol pathways has an important role in increasing the luteal phase concentration of progesterone (Crites et al., 2022a). These same researchers (Crites et al., 2022b) looked at other impacts of selenium source on gene expression regarding endometrial function and development of the conceptus. Cows supplemented with selenium yeast had an increased amount of myostatin gene, which increases glucose secretion into the histotroph that can allow for advanced conceptus development. In this experiment, the conceptus was examined on Day 17 of gestation and was found to be significantly longer in cows supplemented with Sel-Plex compared to sodium selenite (25.96 vs. 17.45 cm respectively).

A recent dissertation from the University of Guelph (Mion, 2022) also investigated gene expression among cows receiving Sel-Plex (along with organic sources of other trace minerals) or cows fed sodium selenite (along with inorganic sources of other trace minerals). The author reported that 83 of the differently expressed genes had an expression pattern indicating that the conceptuses from the selenium yeast diet were more advanced in development compared to those from the sodium selenite diet. The gene expression results observed are thought to be required for the coordination of changes in cellular biology that are needed for conceptus elongation, allowing for maternal recognition of pregnancy, implantation and pregnancy survival.

Summary

The saying that “form defines function” is both important and true when it comes to supplementing trace minerals to dairy cows. Research around the world continues to prove the impact of organic selenium sources, such as Sel-Plex selenium yeast, on reproductive performance. However, not all organic sources of selenium can be expected to perform the same. It’s important to evaluate each option on its own merits to select the best selenium supplement for dairies.

I want to learn more about nutrition for my dairy cattle.

The power of agriculture is undeniable.

For most of our existence, humans hunted, gathered and scavenged in the wild to feed their large, nomadic communities. However, the development of agriculture about 12,000 years ago dramatically changed the way humans lived, and it has been widely recognized as a major turning point in our evolution into fully modern humans.

Agriculture allowed our ancestors to establish permanent settlements, nourished the growth of the world’s population and paved the way for advancements in science and technology. It has grown to become the world’s largest industry, employing more than 1 billion people and generating over $1.3 trillion worth of food annually.

Today’s society was built on the ingenuity of our planet’s original stewards of the land — farmers, ranchers and growers. When humans began cultivating crops and raising animals for food, it changed everything. Our nomadic ancestors put down roots, built communities and produced enough food to support them. When their crops failed or their animals didn’t thrive, our agricultural ancestors adapted and tried again. Their innovation — and grit — nourished a growing population and paved the way for advancements in science and technology.

Healthy, sustainable food systems are vital to achieving the world’s development goals and ensuring global economic growth — but climate change threatens these goals. It disrupts every aspect of agriculture and makes it increasingly difficult to ensure that sustainable nutrition is accessible to the growing global population.

Fortunately, the world’s best problem solvers are on the case.

Alltech believes that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively shape the future of our planet, just as it influenced the way humans experienced the world in the past. That’s why we are uniting the agrifood community in Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™ — a world where we can provide proper nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.

To create a sustainable food system, “we must do much more than maintain the status quo,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech president and CEO.  “True sustainability is continuous economic, environmental and social progress. Agriculture is uniquely positioned to support these critical pillars of sustainability.”

We know that it would be impossible to create a world of abundance for future generations without addressing climate change. The demand for action provides a huge opportunity for the agriculture industry, because we have the ability to not only reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but to capture and sequester emissions that have been released by other industries.

The agriculture industry can also improve production efficiency while reducing its GHG emissions with the help of nutritional solutions, new technologies and optimal management practices. On-farm research and data collection can help the agriculture industry better understand the carbon cycle and accurately measure the effects of livestock production, leading to the development of refined strategies for tackling climate change.

RELATED BLOG: Agriculture is vital to meeting the world’s climate change goals 

As a leader in the global agriculture industry, Alltech is committed to prioritizing the efficient production of nutritious food while working to minimize our carbon footprint and helping producers worldwide find and implement solutions to their sustainability challenges.

Through strategic collaboration and stewardship, we can transform the future of our planet with sustainable farming and nutrition.

The 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report documents our environmental and social performance

Alltech is dedicated to delivering smarter, more sustainable solutions to advance the health and performance of animals while also lowering their impact on the environment. We are aligning our business processes with our goal of creating a world of abundance for all.

The 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report provides an in-depth look at the ways we are demonstrating our commitments to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Ten Principles of the U.N. Global Compact, and to Working Together for a Planet of Plenty.

Our report offers a comprehensive look at Alltech’s environmental and social performance, measured key performance indicators, reviewed business procedures, and highlighted the ways we promote sustainability in our workplaces and in our communities. We also spotlighted our collaborative approach to advancing environmental actions in the industry and amplified the power of agriculture and the vital role agri-food plays in nourishing people, animals and the land — now and into the future.

In the coming days and weeks, we will share more stories from our sustainability report and summaries of its findings. Click here to read the executive summary of the report.

The McDonald’s journey in Ireland started 45 years ago, when it opened its first restaurant in 1977 on Grafton Street, Dublin. Today, McDonald’s spends over $2 billion on its supply chain for food and packaging across the UK and Ireland. 23,000 British and Irish farmers are supplying the brand with quality ingredients.

Where and how McDonald’s sources its ingredients is essential to how it addresses climate challenges. Back in 2021, the company launched Plan for Change, its agriculture and sustainability strategy to reach net zero by 2040.

A high-level overview of the company’s pathway to net zero was shared at Alltech ONE Dublin by Nina Prichard, head of sustainable and ethical sourcing for McDonald’s UK and Ireland. She also oversees Plan for Change.

The demand for change

Customer expectations, legislation and the cost of inaction were key drivers for McDonald’s to embark upon the net zero journey.

“As a business, in the long term, we have to be able to look ahead 10, 20 years to see what’s coming down the road to mitigate risk and to assure supply for the four million customers that we serve every day,” Prichard said. “And that’s quite a challenge to think that far ahead and be able to put action into practice today. But it’s something that we have to do, working together in collaboration.”

In the future, McDonald’s plans to continue serving its iconic Big Macs and McNuggets, as long as customers demand them. What needs to change, to address climate challenges, is how the company sources its ingredients. To achieve this, McDonald’s relies on government interventions, financial expertise and, most importantly, collaboration with farmers.

Accelerating net-zero ambitions

McDonald’s has made significant progress in achieving net-zero sustainability over the past decade without compromising customer experience. In fact, customers welcome the changes. While they still want tasty food in convenient packaging, there is an increasing demand for both food and packaging to be sustainably sourced and produced. McDonald’s carries out a lot of research to listen to their customers’ needs, then make corresponding changes in their menus and restaurants. Through this research, the company has identified three major areas of customer expectations: quality food, environmental improvement, and positive impact in communities.

Recently, McDonald’s eliminated 1,000 metric tonnes of plastic in their supply chain by substituting paper straws and paper-based cutlery for plastic. The company also now turns all of its used cooking oil into biodiesel for its delivery fleet. In addition, this year McDonald’s launched its second Net Zero Carbon location, where both building construction and restaurant operations meet the net-zero standard.

With the scale of a big brand, McDonald’s restaurants are also a place to educate people, especially the climate-conscious Gen Z, about sustainability across the supply chain and how McDonald’s is meeting that challenge.

Leveraging the power of the supply chain

When it comes to beef, McDonald’s has been scrutinized by the public, NGOs, stakeholders and media around issues of performance and sustainability.

“Beef is always a hot topic,” Prichard said. “How we source it, where we source it from, how it’s produced, the animal feed that goes into it, and also our future ambition around this particular category, given the data that’s out there from an emissions perspective.”

A turning point for McDonald’s in terms of measuring agriculture performance and sustainability came in 2017. The company started working with E-CO₂, an accredited service that helps measure and improve environmental performance, to show British and Irish farmers how they could reduce their carbon footprint. Understanding the data means farmers can manage what they measure.

Through the program, McDonald’s saw a 23% reduction in its carbon footprint and £23,000 worth of savings, on average, for supplier farms.

“That was just a metric we captured to demonstrate that sustainability, moving in the right direction, doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to add cost to the system,” Prichard said.

McDonald’s has also invested in research on regenerative farming with farmers near Oxford, who have been transitioning entirely to regenerative farming practices over the past four years. Through this research, McDonald’s assessed farm profitability when farmers have to potentially destock to transition into other types of grassland management. The company could then start to educate and share practical knowledge with farmers to help them move toward sustainability without sacrificing profitability. This involves not just beef production but also land use and carbon sequestration.

This process is one of McDonald’s focus areas as the company continues to support farmers by demystifying environmental initiatives and mitigating some of the negative narrative around agriculture’s impact on the planet.

Change a little, change a lot

There are complexities in the way people look at sustainability. Prichard is confident that McDonald’s, through its strong brand and marketing prowess, can continue to simplify the subject for consumers and farmers alike.

“It’s so important to us that we work together to showcase what we can do and to collaborate,” Prichard said.

Through its continuing focus on improving sustainability across the supply chain, combined with its dedication, global reach and influence, McDonald’s is creating real change and inspiring other companies to do the same.

Related ONE content

Alltech ONE Dublin focused on collaborative solutions to the challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs.

Explore our other content, including photos and videos, from Alltech ONE Dublin at one.alltech.com/Dublin.

Agriculture is at the heart of many important conversations in 2023. And whether the issue at hand is environmental concerns, the production of enough nutritious food for the global population or one of many other contentious topics, agricultural producers are often seen as anti-heroes — when, in reality, the agriculture industry has the greatest potential to make a positive impact on the world.

Proof of this positive impact was on display during the opening keynote addresses at Alltech ONE Dublin, the second stop on the Alltech ONE World Tour. Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, opened the conference with an assertion that the widespread image of agriculture as a villain makes it more important than ever to tell the story of how animal and food production benefits our planet.

“Bad news is out there, and it does get the eyeballs,” he said. “That’s why I think it's critical for every business to be dedicating resources to communicating. And to me, that's the headline: ‘We need our animals. We capture more carbon with them than we would without them.’”

Lyons was joined onstage by Dr. Vaughn Holder, ruminant research director at Alltech, and Nikki Putnam Badding, director of human nutrition initiatives at Alltech and managing director of Acutia, who both illustrated how agriculture plays a vital role in both protecting the environment and ensuring the health of all people.

“We have two of the most important jobs in the world: We have to nourish our population and we have to preserve our planet for future generations,” Lyons said. “The challenge to all of us is to come up with the solutions that are going to help us."

“This is about ideas,” he continued. “It's about inspiration — and, I think, taking some risks, because we all know what the challenges are. And we need to think about them in a different way.”

Cattle: The secret weapon to sequestering carbon

Climate change is widespread and will only continue to intensify, placing a great strain on the world’s resources. Agricultural production is often cited as a significant factor in climate change — but in reality, as Holder outlined in his address at Alltech ONE Dublin, agriculture is one of the only industries with the ability to not only reduce its own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but to capture and sequester emissions released by other industries.

“We exist at the interface between the world's biggest carbon-capture and machinery industry, and that's agriculture,” he said.

Alltech has been studying the agriculture industry’s ability to sequester carbon through a research alliance based on the 10,000-acre Buck Island Ranch in Lake Placid, Florida. During their research at Buck Island, the Alltech team has seen first-hand that cattle can help sequester carbon through grazing — which counters the popular argument that eliminating cattle production will also reduce emissions.

“We have more than enough capacity to put this carbon away,” Holder said. “So, this is what we're focusing on as a research group, is trying to understand this entire carbon cycle so that we can design interventions and identify levers that can allow us to use this cycle to ameliorate not only the methane side of carbon cycle but the big elephant in the room, which is CO2.”

As Holder referenced, much of the general conversation about agricultural — and, specifically, livestock — production focuses on the issue of methane, but the data has borne out that carbon dioxide is a much more dangerous foe.

“Carbon dioxide is the problem,” Holder said. “And if we don't figure out a way to suck carbon dioxide out of the environment, no matter what we do to methane, it's not going to make a difference."

“I think methane is important; don't get me wrong,” he added. “But we have to look at it in a little bit of a different framing. Fossil fuels are one-way highway.”

To explain this concept further, Holder argued that the methane produced by cows is fundamentally different from carbon dioxide, which accumulates in the atmosphere. “It stays where it was; it goes nowhere,” he said. Methane, on the other hand, can be mitigated and cycled out much more quickly.

“Methane has some pretty cool characteristics that allows it to be somewhat of an opportunity for us, rather than a threat to the industry,” he said.

To start with, contrary to popular belief, methane isn’t just produced by cows; it’s produced by “things that ferment,” Holder explained, including the feeds eaten by cattle herds. “And whether that's in a cow’s rumen or whether that's in the field, you're still going to be getting methane out of that.”

So, what would happen to these feeds and their byproducts if cattle production was eliminated? The consequences would be dire, Holder warned.

“Eighty-six percent of global livestock feed currently goes through livestock,” he said. “And that does two things for us: It allows us to actually get some of that food back to our food systems, but it also prevents that feed from fermenting out in the field and causing their own source of greenhouse gases. And if you put it into compost, which is what a lot of people would have you do, five times the amount of greenhouse gases will come off of those byproducts.”

This is the kind of fact that Holder wishes made headlines, as it is somewhat counterintuitive to what the average person might believe.

“When we are making recommendations on changing our food systems to save the environment, we've got to be thinking about these types of things,” he said. “The systemic effects of what we are doing are probably much more important than the direct interventions that we are trying to make in the first place.”

Holder has seen first-hand the positive impact of agriculture on the planet — and he hopes the rest of the world can see it, too, so that ag producers can get back to their original mission.

“We have a massive role play in climate change, and I don't think there's another industry that has a similar position,” Holder said. “But we can't lose sight of what our primary purpose is, and that's feeding people, sustaining the world. That's the most important component, in my opinion, of sustainability. We have to keep food production primary when we are thinking about changing these systems.”

Producing nutritious food for all

In her opening remarks, Putnam Badding directly echoed Holder’s comments about the broader definition of sustainability — but also took them a step further by expanding on the notion of what it really means to maintain a healthy populace.

“Sustainability doesn't begin and end with environmental impact,” she argued. “We must look after the long-term health of the planet and the people who share it. But providing enough food is not enough. We must change the dialogue from providing enough food to providing enough nutrition.”

One in ten people in the world are undernourished, and one in four are considered malnourished — equaling over 2 billion people worldwide. As Putnam Badding explained, malnutrition comes in many forms, including “undernutrition,” or a lack of calories, protein and micronutrients. As a result, the ag industry must start focusing on more than simply producing enough food for the world; we must also ensure that we are providing the most nutrient-dense food possible. And, as Putnam Badding explained, the journey to producing truly nutritious food begins right under our feet.

“Nutrition, for humans, starts in the soil,” she said. “More nutrient-dense soil produces higher yields of more nutrient-dense crops. The more nutrient-dense the soil is — through use of regenerative agricultural practices or micronutrient-enriched fertilizers — we can actually produce more nutrient-dense and greater yields of crops.”

Putnam Badding was quick to assure the attendees at Alltech ONE Dublin that she was not downplaying the role of animals in nourishing the planet, as animals provide humans with nutrition that we would not be able to access otherwise.

“Animals are the original up-cyclers,” she said. “They take that biomass that Dr. Holder mentioned is unsuitable for human consumption — we can't eat that; we can't pull nutrients from it — and they create packages of highly bioavailable protein and micronutrient-dense pieces of delicious food for us to consume. And often, they're using land that is not suitable for intensive food production.”

Although animal-derived products and plant-based foods are sometimes pitted against each other, Putnam Badding sees both as critical in the effort to nourish the world.

“This is not a ‘plants versus animals’ discussion. The end goal is nutrition for all, and to truly achieve that, we will rely on both plants and animals,” she said. “Animals provide us with essential nutrients that plants do not, and vice versa. Nutrition security requires all food sources. As we work together to nourish 10 billion people and beyond, we must remember that soil, plants, and animal, environmental and human health are all deeply interrelated.”

Considering the vital role of animal and crop production in helping the global population thrive, Putnam Badding posited that it’s time to give agriculture its due — and for the rest of the world to see it in a new light.

“Our purpose is more than farming. It's more than food production. It's more than environmental sustainability,” she explained. “It's sustaining healthy people and a healthy planet for generations to come. By placing nutritional quality at the heart of agricultural practices, we can truly achieve zero hunger and good health and well-being for all.”

As Putnam Badding, Holder and Lyons all made clear, agriculture does not deserve the bad rap it sometimes receives.

“We see this industry as having the greatest potential to positively shape the future of our planet,” Lyons said.

But it won’t be easy, as all three speakers acknowledged. There are many hurdles ahead — but then again, there always have been for farmers and the agriculture industry. We will be able to cross them together if we see them as a chance to change the world for the better.

“We've got to make sure we embrace the opportunities that are in front of us. Because it is a huge responsibility, but it also is a tremendous, tremendous opportunity,” Lyons said. “This is a time that calls on us to do much more. But isn't that an exciting thing to be a part of?

“Agriculture can really transform things in ways that other industries cannot,” he continued. “Ag truly is at this interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future. And that's tremendously inspiring.”

The time has come for biotechnology to address the challenges of 21st-century agriculture. After decades of research, the scientific community around the world can now confirm the enormous potential that could be realized by fostering soil health and promoting beneficial relationships between microorganisms and plants to achieve higher and better yields. Alltech Crop Science (ACS) takes this idea a step further with precision fermentation.

Soil biotechnology harnesses beneficial microorganisms to produce healthier and more sustainable food. As such, it has the potential to be one of the most beneficial tools for a new model of agriculture, allowing us to balance food security with environmental respect.

"There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world,” the famed author Victor Hugo once said, “and that is an idea whose time has come." Agustín Murillo, sales manager for Alltech Crop Science (ACS) in Iberia, drew on this quote and the idea behind it in his presentation at the annual Congreso Microbioma, or the Microbiome Congress, an international event that brought together more than 1,000 attendees from 32 countries in 2023 — including researchers, scientists, engineers, producers and biotechnology industry representatives — to discuss the present and future use of microorganisms in agriculture.

For scientists from around the world and pioneering companies like Alltech, this “idea whose time has come” is the result of decades of research on the concept of fostering soil health and promoting beneficial symbiotic relationships between microorganisms and plants to achieve higher and better yields. That research has established a comprehensive understanding of the soil microbiome — and, more specifically, the important roles that soil microorganisms play in nutrient cycling, disease suppression, symbiotic relationships, soil structure and bioremediation. These many functions highlight the major significance of soil microorganisms for sustainable agriculture and the optimization of crop productivity.

Over its 40-plus-year history, Alltech has conducted numerous studies and gained practical experience that now bolster its fermentation expertise, making it one of the most innovative and expert authorities on soil health and microbial diversity in the world. As a result, Alltech strives to develop products that foster more drought- or saline soil-resistant crops — as well as microorganism-based products that contribute to nitrogen fixation in the soil or phosphorus and potassium solubilization. These microorganisms are strong crop allies, optimizing nutrient absorption and utilization and promoting stronger and healthier plant growth.

Taking it a step further

Alltech’s pioneering research is now progressing with a new concept: precision fermentation.

The concept of precision fermentation refers to the cultivation and use of microorganisms (such as bacteria or fungi) through advanced biotechnological techniques to produce specific agricultural products. It involves designing and engineering beneficial microorganisms under a controlled fermentation process.

Precision fermentation offers several advantages over traditional agricultural methods. For example, it allows for the more efficient and sustainable production of high-value organic compounds, such as proteins, enzymes and other biochemicals.

“It's not just about multiplying beneficial microorganisms,” Murillo said in his presentation at Microbioma, “but also about promoting the generation of hormones, enzymes or secondary metabolisms that we know will benefit and improve crops when used in the field.”

A targeted fermentation process also allows producers to control different variables, such as temperature, time and heat source, enabling the microorganism to produce enzymes, for example, which are well-known to be essential in all plant nutrition cycles.

“We can, through precise fermentation, provide farmers around the globe with beneficial live microorganisms or microbial compounds that deliver both immediate and longer-lasting effects,” Murillo added.

Precision fermentation has the potential to revolutionize agriculture and the food industry by providing more sustainable and efficient methods for producing a wide range of agricultural products, thereby reducing the environmental impact of traditional farming while also addressing food security challenges and contributing to the development of a resource-efficient and sustainable food system. It could also transform the microorganism production process, enabling the development of biotechnological solutions that enhance crop nutrition, disease control, plant growth promotion, soil health and overall sustainability. All of these benefits would allow the agriculture industry to become more efficient, environmentally friendly and resilient to changing environmental conditions.

How the microbiome responds to microorganisms

The microbiome’s response to microorganisms is highly dynamic and can vary depending on numerous factors, including the characteristics of the introduced microorganisms, the specific environment and the existing microbial composition. Understanding these responses is crucial for comprehending the dynamics of microbiomes and their implications in numerous fields, including human health, agriculture and environmental sustainability.

When a new microorganism is inoculated into the soil, one of the most important next steps is to examine the enzymatic activity as a response of the overall soil microbiome to that inoculation. Monitoring and managing enzymatic activities is an objective indicator of microbiological activity.

Soil enzymatic activity can support more optimal soil fertility, improved nutrient cycling, enhanced disease suppression and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. With this in mind, gaining a better understanding of this concept is crucial for being able to adequately assess soil health, nutrient availability and overall crop productivity.

Selecting the right microbes: A headhunting process

As illustrated above, the rigorous and precise multiplication of beneficial microorganisms is crucial when it comes to taking care of the health of our soils.

However, the selection of these microorganisms is just as important. This crucial preliminary work could be compared to headhunting, argued Pedro Palazón, CEO of Ideagro, the Research&Development arm of Alltech Crop Science, in his presentation at Microbioma.

“You first define what you need and what you are looking for through a selection process where you search for the candidate, interview them to assess their qualities and how they can contribute to your team, and finally incorporate and develop them,” he explained.

The microorganism selection process emphasizes the importance of conducting targeted selection to obtain a new microorganism with specific capabilities and understanding its mode of action and potential effects. The entire process is conducted through lab- and fieldwork, all of which aims to obtain objective, quantifiable and replicable results — along with indicators of the microorganism’s mode of action. The selection process must be precise and requires time and investment "to obtain a stable, effective and guaranteed product for use,” Palazón said.

The interpretation of the results of this work is essential, and Ideagro achieves this through its own algorithm, which analyzes more than 12,000 samples from different crops, soil types and climatic seasons.

“We observe microorganisms for their effects as biofertilizers, biostimulants, bioprotectors, bioremediators, or how they enhance the nutraceutical properties of food,” Palazón explained.

Having already been engaged in the study of this topic for years, Alltech Crop Science and its family of companies, including Ideagro, is leveraging its fermentation expertise to meticulously select and multiply microorganisms. Undertaking this work has equipped the company with a comprehensive knowledge of the wide range of microorganisms that exist, laying the foundation for collaboration with producers to foster a more sustainable and productive future for agriculture.