Nutreco Exploration: Harnessing the power of plants together

Nutreco Exploration combines expertise in ingredient discovery, creation and production with the ability to leverage advanced technology and the natural efficacy of plants and bacteria. Through phytotechnology, our team develops ultra-specialty PhytoComplexes that use the full range of compounds in plants to enhance animal health and performance at inclusion levels that are scientifically defined. These complexes go far beyond traditional plant extracts, and Nutreco is including them in functional feeds, smart mix solutions and feed additives.

Unlike conventional methods, that isolate a single compound or extract, Nutreco’s PhytoComplexes use entire plant parts – such as leaves or stems – to preserve the full spectrum of bioactive molecules, or the full set of defences a plant has developed for itself to target challenges in the animal world. This produces a more potent effect at a lower, defined concentration. Rather than targeting pathogens, PhytoComplexes trigger systemic responses in animals that could lead to, for example, decreased inflammation or increased nutrient absorption, ultimately boosting performance.

To ensure the customised solutions we create are laser-focused on meeting real-world needs, Nutreco Exploration works very closely with teams across Skretting (Nutreco’s aquaculture business line) and Trouw Nutrition (Nutreco’s livestock and pets business line). Every PhytoComplex begins with a simple question: what do our customers need?  

This approach is already delivering important results. In September 2025, Skretting launched Necto, our new health diet for fish, which features a pioneering blend of PhytoComplexes, along with other well-documented ingredients, to support fish health and welfare in a synergistic way. Our teams developed and tested Necto by engaging with our salmon, sea bass, sea bream and trout customers. It will first be available for customers in the Mediterranean, but will later also be available in other regions for other species, including trout, barramundi and salmon. The development of this diet has brought together our expertise from Nutreco Exploration, Skretting AI, the Skretting operating companies and our customers. This is a true example of co-creation, as the teams work closely together to ensure the solution addresses real-world farming challenges.

The first Skretting shrimp feeds, powered by our proprietary EDGEOS PhytoComplexes,  have also just been launched. On October 21, 2025, the Skretting team unveiled the new generations of their flagship shrimp products Lorica and Optiline at Aqua Expo 2025 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Lorica has a strong legacy as a functional feed, and, with the addition of the PhytoComplexes – designed to work in synergy with other components in the feed – it now offers enhanced and broader functionality, supporting shrimp resilience and overall health. Optiline, as a grower product, is built to perform with demanding growth targets. The new version takes optimised nutrition to the next level, and, in combination with the EDGEOS Phytocomplexes, it has resulted in a solution that delivers measurable improvements in growth and feed efficiency.​ Lorica and Optiline have already been adopted by some customers in Ecuador, where improvements in performance have been observed.

While our aquaculture teams are leveraging PhytoComplexes to support fish and shrimp health, our Trouw Nutrition experts are applying the same cutting-edge phytotechnology to livestock. In poultry, swine and ruminants, the challenges may differ, but the need for resilient, high-performing animals is just as critical. That’s why Trouw Nutrition and Nutreco Exploration are working in close partnership to develop targeted, science-based solutions that address challenges such as inflammation, gut integrity and immune support, helping animals thrive in increasingly demanding production environments.

Together, we’ve built a robust portfolio of phytotechnology-based solutions under the Fytera™ brand. These products are designed to help animals become more resilient and stay healthy, freeing up energy for growth and performance. Fytera solutions have become integral components of Trouw Nutrition’s flagship offerings. Today, they’re embedded into Milkiwean for weaned piglets and PullyCare for rearing hens and are a core part of many of our Maxcare premix ranges. Fytera products are also sold globally as standalone feed additives, supporting large integrators in tailoring their nutrition strategies to specific challenges.

Each Fytera product is developed in-house, starting with a clear customer need and formulated in close cooperation with our business teams. Whether they are reducing sub-clinical chronic inflammation in poultry, improving gut integrity in weaned piglets, or supporting passive immunity transfer from cow to calf, these solutions are grounded in rigorous science and real-world relevance.

One standout example is Presan Evolve, a next-generation solution for broilers. As genetics evolve, so do the physiological demands of high-performing birds. Presan Evolve combines a proprietary PhytoComplex, crafted from four distinct plant materials, with target-release butyrates. This unique blend activates metabolic pathways that are new to animal nutrition, supporting muscle metabolism and mitigating chronic inflammation. The result? Measurable commercial impact: a 100g increase in final body weight and a 5.9-point improvement in feed conversion ratio.

And the best part? By working together, our Phytotechnology team and the business lines are creating a future pipeline full of opportunities to support animal health and resilience. By supporting the prevention of diseases that still require antibiotics, we are helping to reduce antibiotic usage and staying in the forefront of offering the most innovative solutions to support sustainable agriculture.