[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – Variable weather has once again dominated crop quality and mycotoxin contamination patterns in Europe, with a distinct split between northern and southern regions. The Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed over 1,100 grain and forage samples from more than 20 different countries, and the results show an overall higher-risk mycotoxin year in Europe in 2023. While Europe enjoyed a reprieve this growing season from the extreme drought conditions of the past 2–3 years, rains that fell close to harvest in northern and western Europe caused delays in harvesting that created ideal conditions for mould and mycotoxin development.

Mycotoxins are produced by certain species of moulds and are a concern for livestock producers as they can influence feed quality and subsequent animal health and performance. The Alltech European Harvest Analysis, a decade-long initiative, is a comprehensive step in understanding the complexities of new-crop quality, mycotoxin prevalence and the threat that mycotoxins pose to animals and producers. To determine the most accurate representation of mycotoxin risk across Europe, Alltech has again collaborated with SGS, a global leader in mycotoxin testing and certification. Their expert testing, along with testing by the independently accredited Alltech 37+® laboratory in Ireland, which can detect up to 54 individual mycotoxins, has captured a highly accurate and robust set of new-crop mycotoxin data across 20 countries in Europe.  

‘’In contrast to recent years, it is excessive rain rather than drought that has been the primary driver of mycotoxin risk in Europe,” said Dr. Radka Borutova, European technical support manager with the Alltech Mycotoxin Management team. “The delayed harvest in northern and western regions has created particular problems in small grains and forages across this region, while further south, corn crops have fared much better than last year, although, as we always try to highlight, low risk does not mean no risk.’’

Key insights from the Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis include:

• Persistent rains close to harvesting have led to significant Fusarium-related challenges in wheat and barley crops across northern and western Europe.

• Barley shows the highest risk of the small grains, with an average of six mycotoxins per sample.

• In general, the mycotoxin challenge in corn is lower in 2023 than in recent years. However, there are still pockets of higher risk in central and southern Europe.

• The Penicillium risk continues to dominate in forages. In particular, grass silage in the UK and Ireland is heavily contaminated and presents an ongoing management challenge for dairy producers there.

Corn

Aflatoxin challenges arising from drought-stricken corn have dominated the mycotoxin picture in Europe in recent years, so growers were thankful not to suffer the same fate in 2023. However, it was still not a perfect growing season.

More than 700 new-crop corn samples were analysed this year, and results showed aflatoxins were detected in almost 70% of samples from central and southern Europe, with average levels of 6 ppb. However, most of the risk in corn is coming from Fusarium mycotoxins such as zearalenone, deoxynivalenol (DON) and T2-HT2 toxins. Ochratoxin was more prevalent this year than in 2022, with average levels detected of 28 ppb. The overall corn risk is deemed low to moderate when Alltech’s REQ metric is applied.

Wheat and barley

New-crop samples of wheat and barley typically originated in countries across northern and western Europe. Conditions in this region deteriorated badly around mid-June, and from then onwards, unsettled weather caused havoc with harvest dates, resulting in crops standing much longer in the field than they usually would. The combination of wet and humid conditions with a delayed harvest resulted in the ideal conditions for Fusarium moulds to thrive.

This has directly manifested in elevated levels of mycotoxins in these small grains, with barley posing particular problems. Although specific reasons are unidentified, barley is much higher risk than wheat, and contains almost double the number of mycotoxins per sample.

Penicillium mycotoxins are not something we would typically associate with small grains at harvest time, but they have been more commonly detected this year, possibly due to the extremely challenging field conditions. Emerging mycotoxins are the most common groups detected across both ingredients, but the most risk is coming from type B trichothecenes. In barley, average levels of this group were at 922 ppb, with an extraordinary maximum of almost 29,000 ppb detected in one Finnish sample.

Forages

Although the Penicillium challenge has been the dominant talking point with forages over the past few years, it is worth comparing the mycotoxin profiles and primary risk drivers in corn silage and grass silage.

As with most ingredients, emerging mycotoxins are most prominent. However, in corn silage, type B trichothecenes are present in over 95% of samples, with average levels of 1,561 ppb, amplifying the risk. In comparison, grass silage is facing the greatest risk from Penicillium mycotoxins, with average levels of 338 ppb and an occurrence above 62%. Dr. Borutova has noted that when both of these ingredients are included in a total mixed ration (TMR) diet, this can create an even greater risk for dairy or beef animals.

The late harvest in northern and western Europe amplified the challenge in straw that was lying on the ground for a prolonged length of time. The 60 straw samples submitted to the lab this year were, as in recent years, heavily contaminated with emerging mycotoxins and type B trichothecenes. Average levels of type B trichothecenes were almost 1,500 ppb. This is something for livestock producers to be aware of wherever straw is being used either as bedding or as a feed material.

The Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis demonstrates that mycotoxins are an ongoing, dynamic issue that livestock producers need to manage. Although testing directly post harvest provides an overview of regional contamination patterns, what happens before the animal receives the feed — including storage conditions post harvest and feeding practices on-farm — can influence what the animal will actually be ingesting in terms of mycotoxins. To best manage this ongoing challenge, producers should consider a routine testing program that can uncover the specific risks. With this information, informed choices can be made on what mitigation strategies are necessary to support the health and performance of the animals. 

To access the complete report, as well as a series of videos that provide further species-specific insights, visit Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis. For more information about Alltech Mycotoxin Management solutions, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] — Alltech, a leading global animal health and nutrition company, has been awarded a silver medal from EcoVadis — putting it in the top 25% of sustainable companies globally. The EcoVadis silver medal testifies to Alltech’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty^TM and its commitment to prioritizing the efficient production of nutritious food while minimizing environmental impact, implementing environmentally and economically sustainable solutions, promoting fair labor practices and fostering ethical business conduct. 

Alltech has also earned the EcoVadis platinum medal for its production site in Springfield, Kentucky, USA, which puts it in the top 1% of the over 200,000 businesses assessed by EcoVadis. Alltech Coppens, which produces industrial feeds for the aquaculture sector, earned gold-medal status, putting it in the top 7% of sustainable companies globally.

“We are delighted to have received multiple EcoVadis medals, as an external endorsement of Alltech’s ongoing commitment to the journey that is sustainability,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech.

EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Backed by a powerful technology platform and a global team of domain experts, EcoVadis assesses companies on environmental, social and ethical performance in over 200 purchasing categories and 175 countries.

“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,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “These awards from EcoVadis recognize the actions we are taking to align our business with our Planet of Plenty purpose — working together to provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.”

Earlier this year, Alltech released its 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align the business with its commitments to the United Nations Global Compact, the U.N. Ten Principles and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote an inclusive work environment and highlights its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

For more information, visit Alltech.com.

New research reaffirms Alltech’s long-standing findings that holistic control of resistant pathogens is key to combating AMR

In the century since antibiotics were invented, they have saved millions of lives. In recent years, though, these miracle medicines — along with antivirals and antifungals — have been rendered increasingly ineffective as microorganisms have evolved to resist them. This phenomenon is known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

To a certain extent, AMR happens naturally as microorganisms evolve. However, the speed and seriousness of the resistance seen in recent decades has made it clear that the process is being dangerously accelerated, likely due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics among both humans and animals. In particular, decades of widespread antibiotic use in livestock production — not only to prevent health problems but to promote faster growth — has given harmful pathogens plenty of opportunities to develop resistance.

Because of AMR, infections once readily treatable are becoming persistent and even life-threatening. In 2019, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States, nearly 5 million human deaths worldwide were associated with bacterial AMR, of which 1.3 million were directly attributable to it. AMR is also causing serious damage in the global agri-food sector, with economic losses and drops in livestock production resulting in growing poverty, hunger and malnutrition. 

Antibiotic removal not a “reset button”

When the dire implications of rising AMR first became evident, many scientists recommended the obvious solution: the reduction or elimination of antibiotics whenever possible.

But was this the only solution, or even the best solution?

Some researchers, including those at Alltech, decided to dig deeper.

First, they had to understand the extent of the problem. In an early study on the subject, in 1986, a University of Kentucky team — led by Dr. Karl Dawson, who later spent over 20 years as a research leader at Alltech and now serves as the company’s scientific advisor — studied multiple swine herds and found that antibiotic-resistant microflora that had developed from the use of antibiotics prior to 1972 were present in all of them. While the levels of AMR corresponded somewhat with the levels of antibiotic use in each herd, Dr. Dawson’s team found that some resistant microorganisms were present even in a herd where antibiotics had never been used at all. They also observed that resistance values stayed elevated even after antibiotics were discontinued in the herds. These findings were valuable in assessing the extent of the problem and the spread of AMR.

More recent research, by Dr. Richard Murphy’s team at the Alltech European Bioscience Centre, has expanded on these findings, confirming that while antibiotic reduction or discontinuation can be valuable in preventing future resistance, it does not reverse resistance that has already occurred. Most of the resistant microorganisms studied by Dr. Murphy’s team — including the pathogens of highest concern for human health, such as E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter — simply did not become sensitive to antibiotics again, even after those antibiotics had been reduced or eliminated for some time.

The science was clear: The removal of antibiotics is not an automatic “reset button” for resistant bacteria.

Support grows for new strategies

As research continues worldwide, the tide is turning toward this point of view, with solutions being developed that approach the problem holistically.

Most recently, a team at the University of Oxford in the U.K. has released findings that align with Alltech’s. An Oct. 6 article by Phys.org quotes Professor Tim Walsh, director of biology at the Ineos Oxford Institute and co-author of the paper: “Simply put, it is not enough to reduce antibiotic consumption in order to effectively combat antibiotic resistance. We need urgent and innovative approaches to combat antibiotic resistance, and strategies to protect our last-resort antibiotics for when we need them most.”

Dr. Murphy expects more researchers to publish studies with similar conclusions over the next 12 to 18 months. Slowly, the world is coming around to a better understanding of the limits of antibiotic reduction and elimination in addressing the AMR challenge.

Enhancing gut health through microbial diversity

But if removing antibiotics won’t work to gain back the ground we’ve lost to AMR, what will? And how can the agri-food community find ways to support animal health without antibiotic intervention?

Over more than four decades at the forefront of agricultural science, Alltech has built a wide and effective range of nutritional solutions by harnessing the power of yeast fermentation. In exploring whether this approach can be applied to the problem of AMR, Alltech researchers have successfully demonstrated the potential of using mannan-rich fraction (MRF), isolated from cell walls of Saccharomyces yeast, in controlling pathogens, including their resistant forms.

MRF stands out for its ability to enhance gut health by increasing microbial diversity. This diversity is crucial because it helps the gut self-regulate, making it more resilient when pathogens are encountered. As a result, pathogens are less likely to colonize the gastrointestinal tract and cause harm. Additionally, MRF influences the metabolism of pathogens such as E. coli, leading to an increase in those pathogens’ sensitivity to antibiotics.

In essence, it turns out that MRF works in three complementary ways:

• making antibiotics less necessary
• boosting their efficiency when they are needed
• decreasing the prevalence of resistant bacteria

But MRF, however effective, is only one tool in the toolbox of a widely effective, resilient answer to the AMR issue. Others include expertly crafted feed enzymes, functional nutrients, probiotics, organic minerals, and other yeast cell wall derivatives, such as mannan oligosaccharides (MOS).

Putting these solutions into practice

Equally important to the efficiency of these solutions is how and when they are administered. The Alltech path to antibiotic-free production begins with its innovative Seed, Feed, Weed program, which:

• Seeds the animal’s gut with probiotic bacteria, enhancing the body’s natural ability to fight off pathogens such as Salmonella or Campylobacter before they can cause problems
• Feeds the helpful bacteria with a safe organic acid that reduces pH within the gut, making it still less favorable for the growth of pathogens
• Weeds out harmful bacteria through the administration of yeast MRF prebiotics, even after those bacteria are well established in the gut

“If you can expand the richness and the diversity of the gut microflora, that enables the GI tract to self-police,” Dr. Murphy says. “You tend to get greater resistance to pathogen colonization of the GI tract.” 

Once a thriving, healthy microbiome has been established, the animal has a foundation for health that includes optimized nutritional uptake and a stronger immune system. These qualities fill the needs for growth and disease control that antibiotics used to fill, but in a more natural and sustainable way.

The power of a holistic approach

The critical takeaway is that addressing AMR requires a multifaceted approach. As Dr. Murphy says, there is no “silver bullet.” While reducing unnecessary antibiotic use is an essential step, pathogen-control strategies must extend beyond mere antibiotic restrictions to encompass measures that target both the pathogens and their resistant variants.

By adopting innovative solutions like MRF and focusing on truly holistic pathogen control, the world can take substantial steps toward reducing the prevalence of resistant bacteria and safeguarding public health on a global scale.

Related content

Planet of Plenty™ fact page — Reducing antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance

Podcast — Antimicrobial Resistance: What You Need to Know

Blog — Reducing disease without increased antimicrobial resistance

Blog — FAO raises awareness to deadly consequences of antimicrobial resistance

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

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.”

[BUDAPEST, Hungary] – Central Europe's agriculture producers will play a major role in addressing climate and food-supply challenges around the world. The region's agri-food leaders discussed collaborative solutions and strategies for success today in Budapest, Hungary, at the first stop of the Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), launching a series of international events that bring the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world. Discussions explored collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs.

The ONE Budapest keynote presentation from Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, welcomed delegates to Budapest and challenged them to think about what comes next for the agri-food industry. 

“In times of uncertainty, it is crucial for businesses like ours to adapt and innovate,” Lyons said. “The Alltech ONE Conference is no exception. While our annual symposium has had its roots in Kentucky, USA, for four decades, we felt it was important to adapt and engage with our customers on their home ground. Thus, it is only fitting that we launch the Alltech ONE World Tour in Budapest, Hungary, which is at the center of both change and opportunity.”

ONE Budapest attendees heard from industry experts on various topics, including insights from the dairy industry, data for profitable and sustainable agriculture, and mycotoxin management, and they were also able to attend focus track sessions on dairy, pigs and poultry. Robert Walker, European growth officer at Alltech, moderated a panel discussion featuring the species focus track speakers, who discussed how to remain profitable amid uncertainty and how the learnings from the day’s sessions can be applied to individual operations.

“By sharing data and insights, we empower advisors to solve agri-food-system challenges and drive the transfer of value, from the consumer to the processor to the farmer,” said Walker.

The final session of the day featured a discussion between Tara McCarthy, global vice president for ESG at Alltech, and Lyons on the path forward toward a sustainable future.

“As an industry, we have the responsibility to frame the role of agri-food in the context of the four Cs of climate, conflict, cost and consumer,” McCarthy said. “We will need to use our insights (from data), our skills and our scale to achieve impact, but most importantly, we will need to adapt and partner across the value chain.”

“The theme of our ONE Budapest stop — ‘Thriving Through Turbulence: Rising to the Challenges of Climate, Conflict, Consumers and Costs in Agriculture’ — perfectly encapsulates the unique hurdles we encounter in this region,” Lyons said. “With increasing geopolitical tensions and rising input costs, producers will need to make well-informed decisions to enhance their efficiency and adapt to the modern challenges faced by many in this area.”

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with stops in Dublin, Ireland, on June 19–20 and Calgary, Canada, on July 3–4, then on to the U.S., Asia, South America and the Middle East. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

-Ends-

Download photos from Alltech ONE Budapest: https://creative.alltech.com/share/928F2EF2-13C5-4658-9FE6874BE0837D80/

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – As a global leader in animal nutrition, Alltech is proud to partner with companies that share its commitment to Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. Today, Alltech announced it has acquired a majority interest in Agolin. Founded in 2006 in Switzerland, Agolin has developed and produced plant-based nutrition solutions that improve herd performance, profitability and sustainability, according to a 2020 meta-analysis* in the journal Animals.

Agolin’s high-quality essential oil blends are scientifically proven to optimize feed intake and performance, including improved milk and meat production*. Furthermore, Agolin^® Ruminant was the first feed additive certified by The Carbon Trust for methane reduction in ruminants (2018). Today, organizations such as Verra and Gold Standard are including it in their major international climate protection projects.

“Agolin’s essential oil blends are a complement to Alltech’s proven nutritional technologies, such as Yea-Sacc^® and Optigen^®,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech’s president and CEO. “Governments, consumer brands and retailers are making important commitments to reduce their environmental impact. These commitments rely upon farmers and ranchers, and we are dedicated to supporting them with the best available nutritional technologies to achieve more milk and meat while reducing their environmental footprint.”

The alliance between Alltech and Agolin will empower farmers and ranchers to reach their sustainability goals while also supporting the performance and profitability of the cattle in their herds and supply chains. The synergistic use of Alltech and Agolin nutritional technologies leads to benefits such as improved animal welfare, greater feed efficiency and conversion, enhanced milk and meat production, increased profitability, and a reduced environmental footprint, including a boost in nitrogen efficiency. The partners will also be exploring opportunities to develop new technologies that bring together the best of Alltech’s proven nutrition and Agolin’s essential oil blends. Agolin has a presence in Europe, Asia and North America. Alltech’s majority interest in the company will expand the availability of Agolin to additional markets.

"We at Agolin are delighted with this strategic alliance to grow synergistically through the added technical expertise and global reach of Alltech,” said Kurt Schaller, managing director of Agolin SA. “This represents a new era for our business, and we look forward to breaking new ground in our industry.”

Agolin focuses on research and development to produce and market innovative feed additives based on plant active ingredients, which are effective and easy to use. Its essential oil blends are backed by a strong quality management system (FAMI-QS), which ensures safety and guarantees traceability.

For more information, visit alltech.com/agolin and agolin.com.

Alltech released its 2023 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook today, highlighting global feed production survey data. Despite significant macroeconomic challenges that affected the entire supply chain, global feed production remained steady in 2022 at 1.266 billion metric tons (BMT) in 2022, a decrease of less than one-half of one percent (0.42%) from 2021’s estimates. The annual survey, now in its 12^th year, includes data from 142 countries and more than 28,000 feed mills.

Europe bore the brunt of the impact, including significant disease challenges, severe weather and the impacts of the invasion of Ukraine. The global COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on the agri-food sector, contributing to supply chain challenges and accelerating the adoption of new technology and environmental sustainability practices.

The top 10 feed-producing countries over the past year were China (260.739 million metric tons [MMT]), the U.S. (240.403 MMT), Brazil (81.948 MMT), India (43.360 MMT), Mexico (40.138 MMT), Russia (34.147 MMT), Spain (31.234 MMT), Vietnam (26.720 MMT), Argentina (25.736 MMT) and Germany (24.396 MMT). Together, the top 10 countries produced 64% of the world’s feed production, and half of the world’s global feed consumption is concentrated in four countries: China, the U.S., Brazil and India. Vietnam experienced a great recovery in terms of its feed tonnage in 2022, entering the top 10 ahead of Argentina and Germany and crowding out Turkey, which reported reduced feed tonnage. Russia overtook Spain, where there was a significant reduction in feed production.

Key observations from the survey:

• Feed production increased in several regions, including Latin America (1.6%), North America (0.88%) and Oceania (0.32%), while Europe decreased by 4.67%, Africa by 3.86% and the Asia-Pacific region also dropped 0.51%.
   
• Globally, increases in feed tonnage were reported in the aquaculture, broiler, layer and pet food sectors, while decreases were reported in the beef, dairy and pig sectors.
   
• Although it experienced a narrow reduction in feed production, China remains the largest feed-producing country in the world, followed by the United States and Brazil.

Notable species results:

• The poultry sector experienced increases in both layer and broiler feed production.
  • Avian influenza, other diseases and the high costs of raw materials affected the layer sector in many markets, especially in Asia, Europe and Africa. On the other hand, growth in the sector was boosted due to bigger challenges in other sectors that led to increased demand for eggs. Overall, layer-sector feed production increased by 0.31%.
     
• • While the overall tonnage in the broiler sector increased by 1.27%, there were significant differences from country to country. Overall, feed production growth in the broiler sector was reported mainly from the Middle East, North America and Latin America.
     
• Pig feed production was down globally in 2022 by almost 3%. ASF and high feed prices depressed pig production in many countries. However, in Vietnam, China, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico, better pork prices and other market conditions led to growth in the sector.
   
• Dairy feed tonnage decreased by 1.32%, mainly due to the high cost of feed combined with low milk prices, which caused farmers to reduce their numbers of cows and/or rely more on non-commercial feed sources. Some exceptions included Ireland, where drought caused farmers to rely more on commercial feeds, and New Zealand, where milk prices were higher.
   
• Beef feed production decreased slightly by 0.34% globally. The downward trend continued in Europe, but increases were seen in almost all other regions. In Australia, the reduction in feed tonnage was a result of plentiful grass and not a reflection of any changes in the demand for beef.
   
• The aquaculture sector experienced a total global feed production growth of 2.7%. The Top 5 aquaculture feed countries are China, Vietnam, India, Norway and Indonesia. Significant increases were reported in China, Brazil, Ecuador, the Philippines and the U.S. Aquaculture feed production was one of a few sectors that saw growth in Europe.
   
• Pet feed production had the highest increase among the sectors, with a global average 7.25% rise in production. This significant increase is largely due to the rise in pet ownership amid the COVID-19 pandemic. North America and Europe continue to be the top pet feed-producing regions.

Notable regional results:

• North America reported an increase of 0.88% (2.272 MMT) and the U.S. remained the second-largest feed-producing country globally, behind China. Growth was reported in the broiler, beef and pet food sectors.
   
• Latin America experienced growth of 1.6% (3.006 MMT), and Brazil remained the leader in feed production for the region and ranked third overall globally. Most of the growth was reported by Mexico, Brazil and Chile.
   
• Europe saw the largest decrease in feed production of 4.67% (-12.882 MMT) in its feed production due to issues that include the invasion in Ukraine and the spread of animal diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF) and avian Influenza (AI).
   
• Asia-Pacific remained flat as decreases reported in China, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia were offset by increases in Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia and South Korea. The region is home to several of the top 10 feed-producing countries, including China, India and Vietnam.
   
• Africa experienced a decrease of 3.86% in feed tonnage (-1.718 MMT), mainly because of reductions reported in Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Nigeria. South Africa, on the other hand, saw an increase of more than 2%, and Namibia also reported higher feed tonnage in 2022
   
• The Middle East region is up significantly at 24.7% (6.301 MMT), as a result of more accurate reporting and efforts by the Saudi Arabian government to increase broiler production as part of its Vision 2030 plan.
   
• Oceania was flat, with a small reduction reported by Australia that was offset by a slight increase reported by New Zealand.

Alltech works together with feed mills and industry and government entities around the world to compile data and insights to provide an assessment of feed production each year. Compound feed production and prices were collected by Alltech’s global sales team and in partnership with local feed associations in the last quarter of 2022. These figures are estimates and are intended to serve as an information resource for industry stakeholders.

To access more data and insights from the 2023 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook, including an interactive global map, visit alltech.com/agri-food-outlook.

Strengthening its commitment to Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™, Alltech Crop Science has acquired Ideagro, based in Murcia, Spain. This partnership joins two leading platforms to accelerate soil and crop research, and to enhance biological and other microorganism-based offerings to Alltech Crop Science customers throughout the world.

“We are excited to announce that Ideagro has joined the Alltech Crop Science global team, providing us with a partner who shares our vision and significantly scaling our research capabilities,” said Andy Thomas, CEO of Alltech Crop Science. "This is the strengthening of a longstanding partnership. We have worked closely with the Ideagro team since their founding 11 years ago.”

Ideagro is a leader in agri-food research and development with a team of more than 20 scientists. It is committed to improving the productivity and profitability of agricultural systems. Its expertise in developing beneficial organisms for soil aids the growth of crops, reduces the impact of chemical inputs and helps plants to resist biotic and abiotic stress. Ideagro’s analytical capabilities, with special emphasis on in-vitro research, phytopathology, soil dynamics and microorganisms, further enable growers to identify microorganisms and quantify enzymatic activity in the soil.

“We are facing a great growth opportunity for Ideagro because we are going to have better means and more technological capacity to develop our research, which will now have a global projection,” said Pedro Palazón, CEO of Ideagro. “We will no longer only study the soils of the Iberian Peninsula, but we will work with soils from all over the world to achieve more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.”

Ideagro has state-of-the-art laboratories and experimental research stations and fields for carrying out trials in Spain. To date, the company has researched more than 90 different crops and performed more than 10,000 physicochemical and biological analyses. This has led to the development of new agricultural strategies based on microorganisms.

Ideagro’s three laboratories are fully equipped with the latest technologies to focus on nutraceuticals, phytopathology, research and development and molecular biology. Its services include:

• Precise diagnoses, identification and semi-quantification of more than 290 microorganisms at the species level in different crops. Through the development of multispecific detection kits, it can simultaneously detect up to 40 pathogenic microorganisms in a single sample, with results in 24-48 hours.
• Molecular identification of microorganisms as well as genetic characterization of specific strains and determination of pathotypes of a pathogen.
• Analysis of nematodes.
• Design of specific probes for specific microorganisms. As a result, Ideagro is able to detect specific microorganisms in soil, water, plant material and biostimulants.
• Mycotoxin analyses. With more than 15,000 analyses carried out to date, Ideagro can identify and quantify the risks of aflatoxin B1, fumonisins, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol trichothecenes and T2 toxin. It provides monthly data on mycotoxin contamination in animal feed and in the main crops of the Spanish and European markets.

Ideagro is accredited by MAPAMA (EOR 82/13) and has ISO 9001:2015 certification. In June 2021, it was named a Reference Regional Laboratory by GLOSOLAN, the Global Soil Laboratory division of the FAO.

“The combination of the Ideagro expertise with the reach and scale of Alltech will allow us to extend world-leading understanding of the interface between soil, crop, animal and human health to the global market,” said Andy Thomas, CEO of Alltech Crop Science. “The potential implications of these insights cannot be understated as we endeavor to improve the vitality of our global food system, from the ground up.”

For more information about Alltech Crop Science, visit alltech.com/crop-science.

Alltech is proud to continue to partner in the Women in Food & Agriculture (WFA) Mentorship Program. Applications are now open for new mentors of any gender and for female mentees from across the global food and agriculture sector. Now in its third year, the free-to-join program matches applicants based on their preferences, which can include gender of mentor, areas of expertise, language and industry sector, and offers opportunities for women in food and agriculture to develop meaningful industry connections.

“Over the past few years, all of us have come to more deeply value the power of human connection,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “A commitment to the growth and development of another person unleashes energy, inspires ideas and empowers both individuals to have a greater impact. We view our involvement in the Women in Food & Agriculture mentorship program as an investment not only in the lives of women but in the future of agriculture as the industry most integral to the nourishment and vitality of our planet.”

Findings from the annual WFA survey and ongoing feedback from all levels of the food and agriculture sector consistently suggest that a hurdle to greater success for women in the global agri-food industry is a lack of mentorship opportunities. To tackle this issue, WFA launched its Mentorship Program. In partnership with Alltech in 2022, the initiative grew with 320 industry representatives matched across two cohorts. Now in 2023, the program will be open for applicants year-round with two matching sessions taking place to help even more women in food and agriculture progress their careers. The initiative has supported a variety of people around the world from CEOs of agribusinesses to small-scale farmers, from academics to ag-tech professionals, with sector representatives paired with mentors that complement their professional objectives.

“We are very pleased to again have Alltech supporting the 2023 WFA Mentorship Program,” said Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, global chair of WFA. “Mentorship is vital in supporting women across food and agriculture in developing their careers, we’ve had very positive feedback from both mentors and mentees. Many of our mentors joined the initiative as a selfless act of support for equality in our sector, but realized they got as much out of the experience as the mentees. This is such an exciting opportunity to learn about yourself, develop your skills and support an important initiative that is working to improve diversity, equality and inclusion in the food and agriculture industry.”

For those interested in taking part in the 2023 Mentorship Program, WFA is looking for mentors of any gender who have at least one year of experience in the food and ag sector. During matching, WFA will ensure all mentors have more work experience than mentees, so this should not be a barrier to mentors applying. Potential mentees should be women working in the food and ag industry who would benefit from help, guidance and support from a senior sector representative.

Alltech believes that inclusion cultivates creativity, drives innovation and is essential to the company’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty^TM. In 2019, Alltech selected Gender Equality as one of the nine United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to which the company committed to advancing.

Applications are open now for the Women in Food & Agriculture (WFA) Mentorship Program, supported by Alltech. For more information and to apply to be a mentor or mentee, visit https://wfa-initiative.com/mentorship-program/.