The importance of gut health has been gaining recognition, yet one hardly associates the topic with animals. How can Novus' products improve animal nutrition, and can they reduce the use of antibiotics in the industry?
The ever-growing global demand for food can only be met if all the players in the food system participate with solutions. With technological advances that support gut health and the immune system, we are changing how animals are raised. Humans and animals share the same basic biological principles, so we know a strong immune system leads to better health in both species.
Since the early stage of our business, Novus' primary technology was built around amino acids and understanding the importance of gut health and nutrition absorption in the lifecycle of animals. Our products are leveraging the positive impact of methionine, organic trace minerals, enzymes, organic acids and essential oils, and how they support animal health and development. Our core focus is intelligent nutrition, a concept that combines experienced people, insightful perspectives, and smarter solutions to support our customers with their production goals.
While there can be animal health problems that require the use of antibiotics, a sound nutrition basis can reduce the impact of or help to mitigate a good deal of them.
You are talking about addressing a global problem - what is your current global footprint and to what extent can you reach animals across the world?
Our headquarters is outside of Saint Louis, Missouri, and we have a team of +450 employees across 22 countries. Our products are developed in a couple of primary facilities, and we have warehouses and terminals strategically positioned around the world so we can take the shortest logistics routes to serve our customers in more than 85 countries. We work directly with the people who raise and prepare feed for agriculture animals, but we are also in touch with food companies to gather insights on the specific requests of consumers. Our client base is comprised of small and large farms, feed mill operations, and distributors across four primary industries: poultry, swine, dairy and beef.
With all the advances happening in and around the feed additive industry, M&A plays an important role in our expansion plans, and we are constantly looking for potential strategic fits.
The livestock and poultry industries are subject to pressure from consumers and regulators in relation to their environmental impact. Do you see nutrition as fundamental in improving their carbon footprint?
Nutrition is critical in being able to produce milk, meat, and eggs. Thanks to advances in technology, we are able to produce these foods today with a third of the raw feed inputs from 15-20 years ago. There are many choices when it comes to feed additives. Animal agriculture sees the value in choosing additives that can do more for their animals. For instance, inorganic trace minerals can be fed inexpensively, yet an important portion of them usually ends up in the environment undigested. Organic trace minerals such as our MINTREX bis-chelated trace minerals are an excellent alternative due to their efficiency. Furthermore, there are enzymes that allow us to feed less protein or use alternative protein sources because the enzymes help break down the nutrients in the feed, making them more accessible to the animal. There is also research now on how red algae and essential oils may help to curb gas emissions from dairy cows. These are just a few examples of how feed additives are supporting environmental initiatives.
Sustainability is a complex subject and many times we do not realize how a less obviously relevant aspect, such as nutrition, can help tip the scale in the right direction. Case in point - our INTERIUS™ technology has direct effects on the environment in that we can produce the additives directly into grains, like corn, that make up the bulk of an animal’s diet. By eliminating some steps in the nutrition production chain, we can feed animals in a way that decreases the carbon footprint. Moreover, this platform can also support our efforts to produce functional proteins, such as antibodies, in the animals' diet, thus boosting their immune system to support initiatives like antibiotic-free production.
What are the biggest challenges that Novus International faces at present?
The last couple of years have taken a toll on the food industry in ways that are not perceivable by the wider public, but that deeply affected our operations. The pandemic lockdowns, the war in Ukraine, and the recession are reverberating into global logistics systems. As a partner supplying essential nutritional feed additives to the food system, it is vital we make the right decisions when it comes to developing our supply chain and logistics pipeline since we need to be able to serve our customers with the same quality products.
What would you highlight as the cornerstone for Novus International’s plans for the future?
We have a strong company, but our future is around people. To thrive continuously, we’re working to create an inspiring environment that not only retains the talent we have today but also attracts equally brilliant minds. Thanks in large part to the pandemic, we work in a different world now, so we must adjust according to all that is taking place around us, be it good or bad. Celebrating success is important but in order to continue to grow, we must restlessly improve how we do business. Having the right people has a direct effect on our customers’ experience, supporting both our business and theirs to thrive.
