FVG Select 2017

Joseph P. Kearns is Vice President Aquafeed Div. for Wenger Manufacturing, Inc. Joe received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in Food Technology Engineering. He has been employed at Wenger since 1974. He has 8 patents for Wenger all with regards to aquatic feeds and/or machinery associated with production of same. He has more than 60 published articles on aquatic feeds production advantages by extrusion cooking through trade magazines. He has presented at countless events around the world on the topic of aquatic feed production.

Aquafeed production methods continue to advance in order to keep pace with changes and requirements desired by the industry: High capacity sinking and floating feed machines capable of making products down as small as 0.5 mm with production rates measured in tons per hour; AquaFlex designs available for making a complete wide range of all styles of aquatic feed; density control packages for instantaneous corrections of density while running; computer and In-Line measuring devices all controlled automatically for speed and accuracy avoiding costly rework and improving efficiency by reduced downtime and higher plant yield; capacity increases in large single screw extruder's also improve cost efficiencies by producing higher capacities per hour; Dryer improvements also reflect the industries desire to improve efficiency in production of predicable results.

The flow in aqua feed extrusion is a very complex topic because it involves temperature dependent non- linear viscosities, viscoelastic fluid behavior, gas expansion and complicated flow geometries. Experimentally it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine the influence of each parameter. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods on the other hand allow for the studying of effects separately, they are time-saving, cost-efficient and avoid wasting valuable raw materials. Today, with the power available in standard computer workstations it is possible to realistically model the flow through elaborate extrusion dies, even in an industrial R&D environment. In particular, we investigated the effects of viscous heating and shear-thinning viscosity on aquafeed die flow. Typical models spanned the final windings of a twin-screw, the transition from a twin-screw barrel to an axisymmetric die, as well as inserts and nozzles. However, more complicated aspects such as heterogeneous material, viscoelasticity, thixotropic viscosity or gas expansion have not been addressed.

Kim Pagh, has 25 years of experience in the extrusion feed business, and has had multiple roles with in ANDRITZ Feed & Biofuel, as where the latest is global responsible for the segment extruded Aqua feed & Petfood. Thomas Ellegaard Mohr joined ANDRITZ Feed & Biofuel in 2015, before joining ANDRITZ Thomas has been working within the process industry since 2008, as Installation & Commissioning Engineer, Technical Advisor and Sales Manager, before being hired as Sales Application Manager at ANDRITZ Feed & Biofuel, with focus on Petfood & Aqua Feed Extrusion.

One of the keys to successful fish farming lies in correctly adapted feed formulas, high quality ingredients, controlled homogenous content and optimum physical feed pellet properties. In order to keep pace with these increasing demands, industrially produced feed is undergoing a continuous quality improvement process. The different types of feed are subject to different demands, the feed/food’s functionality. E.g. on fish farms in terms of floatability or sink ability and the pellets durability to assist mechanical handling without generating fines. And as feed demand increases, so does the availability of traditional raw materials: this gives new challenges to ensure that extrusion technologies and process control are developed to adapt accordingly.

Rafiq Ahmad moved to Norway to pursue a Master degree in Chemical engineering at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway in 2010. He has over two years of work experience from chemical process industries where his responsibilities involved operation of process plant equipment, process optimization, raw material handling and project planning and development in order to enhance the product quality and yield. In 2013, he started his industrial PhD project entitled “Thermal and rheological properties of protein feed ingredients and their impact on extrusion process and product quality” at the University of Bergen Department of Chemistry in collaboration with Nofima, Norway.

Potential plasticizer candidates such as free amino acids and pH have been evaluated combined with moisture in a soy protein concentrate model system using a Phase Transition Analyzer (closed-chamber capillary rheometer). The study demonstrate that free amino acids and low molecular weight water- soluble peptides can replace moisture as a plasticizer in the extrusion process. Due to the need for higher moisture level during extrusion processing of the increasingly commonly used plant-based diets these require more energy for drying compared to fishmeal based diets. The use of protein based plasticizers opens up the possibility to obtain a satisfactory “cook” at reduced moisture level with a potential for significant reduction of the energy consumption. The results from this study documents the possibility to develop a new processing add for the fish feed industry, serving multiple purposes, such as nutrient, plasticizer and binder in extruded fish feed.

Scott Vallette is a Market Manager for Buhler Aeroglide Europe where he supports a growing customer base in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Scott has deep knowledge and experience in thermal processing applied to food and feed production. Scott worked with National Drying Machinery Company before joining Buhler Aeroglide’s U.K. office in the spring of 2005. He is a regular contributor to industry conference events where he introduces a long tradition of drying and engineering expertise to the unique needs of aqua feed processors, pet food processors, and the manufacturers of snack food.

This presentation will introduce three opportunities for processing efficiencies in drying that can both ensure sustainability and improve bottom line profits: Aquafeed processing lines, on average, experience up to a 5% loss in fines during processing; however, if they are continuously collected in the dryer, they can be carefully reintroduced upstream to eliminate waste, product loss and the need to introduce additional raw material for the same output as well as reduce the cost and time required for cleaning. Heat loss comes about because of inefficient operations or thermodynamic limitations on equipment and processes. Fortunately, it can be captured and reused with a heat recovery system. Many processors track the cost of fuel used in drying operations but they don’t consider lost production compared to energy costs. Because most extruded feeds are sold by weight, over drying can mean a processor is sending water (at product value that could have gone to packaging), straight out the exhaust stack. The good news is a processor can raise discharge moisture and get more out of the production line with no additional cost or additional dry ingredients. The value of this recaptured production can be surprising.

Anders holds a M. Sc. in chemical engineering from the University of Southern Denmark and UCD Ireland from 2011, and an Industrial PhD degree within model based optimization of the drying process in extruded feed production. He has five years of industry experience within simulation and modeling of heat and mass transfer. Anders has published in national science magazines, the International Aquafeed Directory and authored eight scientific articles on mechanical durability and energy efficiency in extruded feed production. He has presented his research at seven national and international seminars and symposia, particularly related to the drying of extruded feed.

 Hot air drying is one of the most widespread drying methods in extruded feed production. The exhaust air from hot air dryers are malodorous, humid and warm. The ideal solution would integrate the goal of reducing odor, recover energy and reuse condensed water back into the process, in a single end-pipe solution. This has been the aim in a recent collaborative development project, subsidized by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, between Graintec A/S and customers in aquafeed and pet food production. This presentation will highlight experiences from the project, and demonstrate applications and potential of the technology in future pet- and fish feed plants, as well as when retrofitted onto existing lines. A technical-economical comparison with conventional odor abatement technologies will be given, alongside results from pilot-scale experimental stages: condensation based odor abatement efficiency, energy recovery potential and feeding trials using feed produced with recycled water, condensed from the drying process.

Dr. Olav Fjeld Kraugerud, leads the Centre for Feed Technology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway. In this role he works with customers in both academia and industry. The challenge of always making feed in new ways leads to innovation, as new demands are imposed on both hardware and processes. As a previous scientist at the Aquaculture Protein Centre in Norway, Dr. Kraugerud was one of the demanding customers of the Centre from 2004 to 2012. In his thesis, he mainly examined the processing of novel ingredients, especially the carbohydrate fraction, and studied their nutritional effects. He received his PhD in 2008.

The drive for new ingredients puts a timely pressure on processing evolution, with respect to both physical quality of the pellets, and nutritional quality. The talk will give some examples on processing of novel ingredients, and strategies to reach the goal. For example, the food sector has valuable knowledge on ingredients processing, that the feed sector can benefit largely form.

Rui A. Gonçalves, holds the position of Scientist – Aquaculture in the Research & Development of BIOMIN Holding where his main focus on Mycotoxins research in aquaculture species. Rui holds a BSc degree in Marine Biology and Biotechnology, followed by a MSc in Aquaculture and a Post graduation in Pharmaceuticals sciences. Gonçalves worked for one of the major Gilthead Seabream and Seabass hatcheries in Europe where he was responsible for the larval rearing and weaning. Later he focused his objectives on nutrition of new species for aquaculture at University of Algarve, Being involved in several projects for determination of nutrient requirements for Solea senegalensis, Sepia officinalis through radioactive (14C) tube-feeding methods.

To evaluate the consequences of mycotoxin contamination in European aquaculture finished feeds, two experiments were performed with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): the effect of short and long term feeding of Fusarium mycotoxins to rainbow trout, using natural contaminated raw materials and pure mycotoxins was tested and the influence of mycotoxins against Yersinia ruckeri susceptibility was evaluated. All experimental diets revealed the presence of other mycotoxins metabolites/toxins alongside added Fusarium. The presence of these naturally-occurring metabolites/toxins, highlights the high risk of mycotoxin contamination in aquaculture finished feeds within Europe. The effect of feeding Fusarium mycotoxins to rainbow trout resulted in a significant decrease in growth. Thermal growth coefficient decreased 17 % (p = 0.001) and specific growth rate decreased in 13 % (p < 0.001). Also important differences (P > 0.05) were found for protein efficiency rate or feed efficiency rate. Ingestion of mycotoxins resulted in gut and liver tissue destruction, confirmed by blood enzymes values and histology. Experiment results, confirms that the ingestion of mycotoxins, within the levels found on finished feeds across Europe (up to 1000ppb), can lead to an overall decline in performance which ultimately results in economic losses.

With broad knowledge and more than 20 years of field experience in aquaculture production management and nutrition, Dr. Kabir Chowdhury's academic and research excellence are reflected in numerous scientific communications published in various outlets. He received his PhD in Animal Nutrition from the UG/OMNR Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory (FNRL) of the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and MSc from the Asian Institute of Technology of Thailand. At his current position with Jefo Nutrition Inc., an animal feed additive company from Canada, he manages the worldwide aquaculture program for the organization.

Maarten Jay van Schoonhoven has worked for various companies involved in aquaculture in Europe, USA and Thailand. After starting with sales and account management he was able successfully to introduce new products into different aquaculture markets. This involved working closely between the end users and the R&D group to find the best product and the best possible application. He now works for Olmix, which is introducing a range of highly innovative products into the aquaculture market.

Marine algae are at the base of the food pyramid and are the fastest growing plant organisms in nature. Nutritional studies have shown that green, brown and red seaweeds possess good nutritional characteristics, and in addition, also have biological active compounds including proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, pigments, polyphenols, minerals, vitamins and polysaccharides. Biological activities related to these compounds include: antiviral antibacterial, anti-tumor, anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory activities. Olmix has specialized in working with polysaccharide extracts from wild harvested algae. Studies in collaboration with INRA have already demonstrated high immunomodulating activities. More recently University trials where shrimp were challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria causing EMS, showed long lasting effects that helped improving survival rates. Field trials in both fish and shrimp have confirmed the beneficial effects of these sulphated polysaccharides from marine algae.

Norbert Schmitz obtained a PhD in business administration from the University of Cologne in Germany. He worked several years for a leading European management consultancy before developing, in a multi- stakeholder initiative, ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification). Since 2010, he is Managing Director of ISCC System GmbH. Today, ISCC is a globally leading certification scheme with system users in 100 countries. 3,500 companies are using ISCC to proof sustainability along supply chains – from agricultural production, trade and conversion to the consumer markets.

Protein and fats sources of vegetable origin (e.g. soybean meal, soybean oil, rapeseed oil and palm oil), gained relevance supporting the traditional fishmeal for the satisfaction of the growing aquaculture feed demand. The use of these feed sources has though potential negative effects on the environment, as most of the fishmeal alternatives are cultivated in highly bio-diverse tropical and equatorial regions and could derive from unsustainable deforestation practices. With this contribution we would like to present an innovative system based on remote sensing data (Global Risk Assessment Services), able to verify whether unsustainable production practices are used for the production of raw materials in aquaculture feed. The system allows the identification of agricultural land obtained through deforestation. In addition, the several stages of the feedstock preparation and processing can be mapped, offering a complete traceability of the supply chain of the feed products. Cases based on soybean meal and palm oil production are presented in this contribution.

Dr. Bernhard Eckel is the vice president of Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition GmbH & Co. KG.

Dr. Ester Grilli is a professor in animal nutrition at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna. She is co-author of more than 70 national and international papers. She graduated in 2003 at the University of Bologna, Italy, in Veterinary Biotechnology, major in animal nutrition; and obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Bologna in 2007.

Dr. Imdad Leghari is a professor in Sindh Agriculture University’s department of poultry husbandry in Pakistan.

Dr. Michael Noonan joined BIOMIN in a director role as Global Product Manager Phytogenics in January 2016. Prior to this, Michael held a business development position with AB Vista, part of the AB Agri Group with areas of focus spanning livestock and companion animals. Noonan grew up on a dairy farm in Southwest Ireland. He completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Agricultural Science in University College Dublin in 1996. He also holds a corporate MBA from the University of Limerick, Ireland.

Peter Radewahn is the managing director of the Deutscher Verband Tiernahrung (German Feed Association) and the chairman of the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation’s (FEFAC) animal nutrition committee. Within DVT, Radewahn acts as a consulting member on feed legislation, nutritional systems and European markets. In addition to his many varied responsibilities within the organization, he lobbies on behalf of the feed industry regarding legislation in the German Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection; German Parliament; and the EU Commission and EU Parliament. Radewahn also lectures at the University of Bonn on “Knowledge transfer in animal nutrition” and publishes Kraftfutter magazine.

Jackie Roembke serves editor of WATT Global Media’s feed brands, which include Feed Management and Feed International magazines, Feed eNews and WATTAgNet.com. Prior to joining WATT, Roembke served as the editor of Feed & Grain magazine at Cygnus Business Media

Dr. Phillip Smith is a poultry nutritionist for Tyson Foods, Inc. located in Springdale, Arkansas. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. In 1980, he started his career as a poultry nutritionist with Tastybird Foods, which was later acquired by Tyson Foods, Inc. Currently, Dr. Smith formulates broiler feeds for twelve complexes in seven states. He has also worked with Tyson’s poultry research and as a swine nutritionist in the Tyson swine group.

Dr. Jan Dirk van der Klis is Delacon’s director of products and innovation and species leader poultry. Van de Klis started his career in poultry nutrition at Spelderholt Institute in the Netherlands, and completed his PhD in animal nutrition at Wageningen Agricultural University. After working for several Dutch research institutes and developing the retainable phosphorus system for poultry, he wrote the first scientific publication on the efficacy of phytase in laying hens.

Dr. Mike Varley is the director of The Pig Technology Company. Raised on an English pig farm, Varley has spent his life working in the swine industry. He studied at Newcastle University, where he was awarded an honours degree in animal science, and earned his Ph.D. in reproductive physiology with early-weaned sows from Nottingham University. After working on a variety of early-weaned sow and piglet projects at the Rowett Institute, he spent 12 years teaching in the Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition at Leeds University. After producing numerous books and 150 scientific papers, Varley worked for the Provimi Group and BPEX before pursuing consulting full time.

Dr. Antje Eckel is the CEO of Dr. Eckel GmbH; an international supplier of additives for animal nutrition. The product range includes high quality additives, developed and produced by Dr. Eckel, for worldwide distribution; and selected products from various international manufacturers exclusively sold to German-speaking markets. With its focus on targeted research and development, the company is a key partner of the feed industry.

Dr.-Ing. Verena Böschen works for the Internationale Forschungsgemeinschaft Futtermitteltechnik e.V. (IFF). 

He is a specialist in vacuum coating and mixing due to the bachelor thesis and work in the pilot plant. He develops processes for customer needs. Makes trials on a daily basis (pelletization, extrusion, mixing, conditioning, vacuum coating) and does general laboratory work. 

Prof. Dr. Dr. S. Dänicke works for the Institute for Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Braunschweig, Germany. 

Prof. dr. R. Zijlstra is professor Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. 

Dr. Jan Værum Nørgaard is Associate Professor at the University of Aarhus, Department of Animal Science. He works on working on projects within nutrition and physiology of pigs with a focus on applied research. The objectives are often to optimize pig production while minimizing the environmental impact. 

Dr. T. Hulshof is Swine Researcher at Trouw Nutrition. 

Prof. dr. W.H. Hendriks is professor at the University of Wageningen, Department of Animal Sciences. His expertise is animal nutrition and feeding, nutrition and health, nutrition physiology and nutritive value.