4.3 Novel ingredients

For each of our RoadMap 2025 goals and targets, we have aligned an SDG sub-target to measurably address the issue.

SDG sub-target 2.1: Identifying new ways to sustainably feed the growing global population

We realise that we cannot solely rely on conventional ingredients, such as soy and marine ingredients, to achieve our purpose of Feeding the Future. We need to substitute or complement high-impact ingredients with low-impact alternatives. Therefore, we areinvesting considerable resources in finding viable applications for novel ingredients. To substantially increase our inclusion of novel ingredients by 2025, we need to accelerate our efforts and focus our resources on three principal areas:

To feed a growing global population sustainably, we cannot solely rely on conventional ingredients.
1 Validation of novel ingredients’ functional benefits

Thanks to our extensive R&D efforts, we have further expanded our knowledge on ingredients like single cell proteins, insect meals and EPA/DHA alternatives. This R&D helped fuel an increase in our usage of EPA/DHA alternatives throughout 2021. In addition, we conducted more than 25 testing activities, with further tests planned. We have evaluated about 170 leads and continue to look for new opportunities. By engaging with start-ups and novel ingredients suppliers we seek specific information on the footprint and other impacts to validate the environmental and social footprint reduction potential associated with those ingredients.

2 Operations and supply chain must assess and adapt to new and additional ingredients

Our Sales and Marketing teams are extending their efforts with customers and retailers to develop an interest in and willingness to invest in novel ingredients. Creating demand for this category of products is critical to the success of commercial uptake.

3 Regulatory Affairs: support novel ingredients suppliers with regulatory framework and applications

In 2021, Nutreco’s Regulatory Affairs (RA) department provided regular updates on legislation concerning the use of insect ingredients, single cell proteins and fungus meals in various geographies. RA also supported novel ingredients suppliers with specific advice regarding requirements for approval in different regions.

At the same time, we updated our novel ingredients definition. We define novel ingredients as non-conventional feed ingredients, or those that need further development before being utilised as alternatives for conventional ingredients traditionally used by feed manufacturers. We consider novel ingredients those that have been introduced to our formulations after 2015.

Our progress

The application of novel ingredients is a small but growing trend. We increased our use of novel ingredients from 52,000 tonnes in 2020 to 56,000 tonnes in 2021. This was mainly due to a higher consumption of food by- products in North America and algae oil in our salmonids business.

Chapters:

4.1 Climate and footprinting
4.2 Natural resources
4.3 Novel ingredients
4.4 Packaging
4.5 Waste and water