Company acquisitions, research grants, promotions and new hires—the pork industry has several updates to note. Here’s a look at recent happenings.
Novus International, Inc. Acquires Agrivida Inc.
A global animal health and nutrition company, Novus International, Inc., announced it’s recent acquisition of biotech company, Agrivida Inc., taking ownership of the proprietary INTERIUS™ technology Agrivida developed to embed feed additives inside grain, the release states.
Beginning as a commercial partnership two years ago, Novus supported Agrivida in the sale of the start-up’s flagship product, GRAINZYME.
“Since December 2020, we’ve taken the time to understand and explore what INTERIUS™ technology is capable of,” says Dan Meagher, president and CEO of Novus. “With this technology we believe we can revolutionize the feed additive industry through the expression of high-value, functional proteins inside grain, providing new products that are sustainable, both environmentally and operationally.”
With the acquisition, Novus plans to expand product offerings to include antibodies embedded in grain, utilizing the INTERIUS technology to remove costly fermentation and coating processes, while offering the potential to stack different antibodies and enzymes in a single corn product solution without the need of blended products, notes Al Zimmerman, Novus vice president and chief innovation officer.
The acquisition includes Agrivida, Inc. team members and operations in Massachusetts and Nebraska.
Hypor and the University of Alberta Receive Multi-Year Grant to Study Sow Lifetime Productivity
A four-year-long project by Hypor and the University of Alberta to identify and study new approaches for the improvement of sow lifetime productivity (SLP) has been funded through a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada grant.
The research will focus on studying the underlying genetics and phenotypic relationship between different trains for better sow lifetime productivity, as well as collect detailed information on weight, growth, feed intake and feeding behavior of gilts and sows during development and gestation. While the results of the study have many implications for practical application, the goal of the research is to present new findings and applications for a more efficient and sustainable industry, the release says.
The American Feed Industry Association Promotes Sarah Novak to COO
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has announced Sarah Novak as its new chief operating officer, after serving over 15 years at the association as the vice president of membership and public relations.
AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman says Novak has been an invaluable asset and has an excellent pulse on the members’ needs and the staff’s ability to serve them. Novak will work to implement strategies to help the organization perform at optimal capacity while maximizing member service and satisfaction, Cullman adds.
Le Trong Tri to Serve as PigTek’s Vietnam Facility Managing Director
PigTek’s Vietnam facility near Ho Chi Minh City has a new managing director, Le Trong Tri, according to Greg Bodak, vice president and general manager for the CTB, Inc. business unit. Responsible for managing operational activities in Vietnam, Mr. Le will follow strategic plans and implement sales and product strategies to achieve division growth and profit targets for the company, the release explains.
Mr. Le brings 26 years of sales and management experience in working with agricultural equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturers to the new position at PigTek, along with degrees in animal science and business administration.
