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Precision nutrition, microbiome science change the feed additive game
78 Plays8 days ago
Giles Houdart, Global Head of Micronutrition & Health Solutions at Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, discusses AI-driven R&D, the synergies of recent acquisitions, shifting customer demand and a changing regulatory landscape.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Feed Strategy Podcast
00:00:01
Speaker
Hi everyone. Welcome to Feed Strategy Podcast. I'm your host, Jackie Remke, Editor-in-Chief of Watts Feed Brands. This edition of Feed Strategy Podcast is brought to you by FeedStrategy.com.
00:00:15
Speaker
FeedStrategy.com is your source for the latest news and leading edge analysis of the global animal feed industry.
Interview with Jill Hadar at the Expo
00:00:23
Speaker
At the 2026 edition of the International Processing and Production Expo, Held in Atlanta, Georgia, January 27th through 29th, I had the opportunity to catch up with Jill Hadar. He is leading Cargill's micronutrition and health solutions team globally.
00:00:41
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During my visit to the Cargill booth, we had the chance to discuss some of the pressing issues affecting the feed industry and how those will impact feed additive production in 2026.
00:00:56
Speaker
Here's a bit of that conversation. Tell me a little bit about yourself, your background and
Jill Hadar's Background at Cargill
00:01:00
Speaker
your time at Carvel. I'm Julou Dar. I'm leading the micro nutrition and health solutions business globally now for three years, which is when we created that business. I started in ProVMe 2009, long time ago, 16 years now, 17 years. I've been in different positions, but I started the first feed-additive business right after the prolin acquisition by Cargate. I've been in different positions, global marketing director, also managing director in Canada since we brought. I'm going to be Delacon and Cargate feed-additive together. I'm leading that business. So you've seen a lot of change in the industry during your time. What would you say has been maybe the most staggering or notable change in the last couple years?
Industry Changes and Precision Nutrition
00:01:43
Speaker
um I think how science, the advancement of science progressing into precision nutrition and feeding the animals according to their needs, maximizing their potential. And also one thing we've seen in in the part I oversee is the impact of all the micronutrition on the microelement and the knowledge we have from the microbiome, how it influences not only nutrition but health and how you see how this has advanced and the science around that is amazing compared to 10 years ago. It's incredible.
AI in R&D: Innovations in Feed Formulation
00:02:19
Speaker
You just mentioned ai How do you see that shaping formulations? So we use more and more AI in our R&D to find new compounds, new developed models,
00:02:31
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and manage the millions of different of compounds that we can use to target a specific mode of action and see which ones can match. So this is truly new and AI is a big role, this is a big change. That's why we are now reinvesting into basic research using those
Advancements in Phytogenics and Microbiome Development
00:02:51
Speaker
models. And with those acquisitions that you mentioned, is there still a real emphasis and interest in the phytogenics space? What developments are happening there? For sure, for sure. So first, we are very pleased that we brought different technologies from those acquisitions together. And now we are seeing all the synergies We see some benefits, for example, bringing post-baliotex and phytogenesis together with a dual effect with some of our products. They help the chick mature their microbiome faster. And when the chick has an earlier
00:03:25
Speaker
mature microbiome, then they are in better health, better performance, better growth. So this is fascinating. i We are just watching this and yes, we see a lot of potential now because there are lots of phytogenics that we have no one known, already approved, but now we're going into new ones using those tools like AI, which compounds could solve some of those industry biggest challenges, methane reduction, health and immunity, resilience development, some
Antibiotic Alternatives and Scientific Approaches
00:03:53
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of those things. specifically discussing additives, what are the biggest shifts that you're seeing? Well, for sure the the trend of finding alternatives to antibiotics now is everywhere.
00:04:05
Speaker
It's not just in the three countries. It's very clear. That's one. The second one is... Field additives are no more fufu dust, if I may say. They are really deep science. So applying the right product at the right time, the right dose is the shift we see. So it's deep science. And realizing that with some of the solutions, we can really help the animals be resilient. support their immune system, and which will avoid treatments and help them regulate their digestive health. This is a big thing for customers. And there are varying degrees of sophistication with the producers. Are you seeing some of those maybe late adopters or skeptics embracing the offerings? Absolutely. Little by little, we see everywhere. So we've got to convince little by little, but yes, we are saying
00:05:04
Speaker
And how do you overcome when they're maybe not 100% on board? Where are those areas where maybe they need to see more evidence?
Customer Skepticism and Data-Driven Solutions
00:05:16
Speaker
The key, I think, is the amount of action. They want to see the data. When you present to a customer some solutions with 30 plus trials that are significant, it becomes, you cannot discuss the results, it's there. But they want to understand the mode of action very deeply and we are spending a lot of time on this course with that. And we are also reinvesting research to go deeper in what is the true impact of some of the solutions we have or that we develop.
Sustainability and Feed Additives
00:05:54
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Sustainability continues to be a huge issue globally.
00:05:58
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What role do you Feed Additives play in helping companies hit sustainability objectives? So obviously the multinational, a huge emphasis. How do you communicate that value and which areas are most important? So area number one, aiming for zero nutrient waste.
00:06:17
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using the potential of all the diet, all the nutrients in the diet and to make sure there is no waste which means of course making sure they are all valuable used using enzymes or other solutions that is one making sure they are all bio-valuable so that's one side Of course, then reducing the amount of those waste, like nitrogen, into the excreta, so that we have solutions. We have products like that that do a really nice job doing that. And then, of course, there is the big challenge about methane in their clouds. Well, there are solutions in the markets, but it seems like none of them is getting the big traction because you've got to decide. The farmer doesn't... Sometimes there are subsidies, but they are not always getting the paid back for the cost of that, right? So our focus now is to find methane mitigation solutions that can have a payback so that the farmer can afford it. without subsidies or whatever so that it would really be in his interest to do what's good for sustainability but also good for his return.
00:07:28
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That's our focus. Looking at the North American market, obviously a lot of movement with supply chains and availability.
Regulatory Changes and Industry Competitiveness
00:07:35
Speaker
What regulatory and supply chain trends are shaping Cargill's strategy for additives in 2026?
00:07:44
Speaker
Of course, the tariff tu situation is a very fluid. yes We are adapting to whatever happens. and We have to be agile. We are agile, I think. And we are ready, like we've been over the many years to adapt to whatever. I think one side that is interesting is the regulatory landscape evolution.
00:08:02
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Because we see some changes potentially coming into the US. And actually, we're ready for that. We of course support food safety, food safety, right? So anything that re reinforces that is something we i want support. But we also support the modernization of the regulatory framework. So as I alluded to you, many of the products that we have can do more than just nutrition, nutrient utilization. They can do
00:08:34
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things around microbiome regulation, the gut health, or for mycotoxin mitigation. So we would highly favor or we are supportive of the evolution of the regulatory framework. So the Innovative Feed Act? Exactly.
00:08:53
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But we are also ready if the DRAS system would evolve. We actually don't do too much self-gross anymore. We are ready to move to the full class. However, we want to make sure the industry remains competitive, agile, that the process doesn't become too challenging or long so that it will reduce the competitiveness of the industry. So that's the mitigation of the compromise we wish can find.
00:09:19
Speaker
For additional coverage from IPPE 2026, please visit feedstrategy.com or wattpoultry.com. Thank you for tuning in.