The deal means NutriQuest gets a worldwide license to market the products under its brand name.
When we last spoke to Zivo in March, the dairy sector was the focus of the Michigan based algae producer’s R&D work, but this research alliance is looking at other livestock markets.
Poultry feed appeals
“Poultry feed manufacturers, in the EU and the US, and in Asia, at a later stage, are the initial target for the algae products,” said Andrew Dahl, CEO of Michigan based, Zivo Bioscience, when commenting on the joint venture.
He told us: “Once poultry is up and running, we may likely focus on swine.”
The alliance is seen as a way to accelerate Zivo's entry into global markets.
The two companies will test Zivo product samples in birds at facilities contracted by NutriQuest in a study protocol designed by that feed additive producer, continued Dahl.
If the test results are acceptable, they will move to the product formulation stage and then will start the compliance and registration process for the target markets.
He said a company based in Orlando, Florida is handling the compliance studies. “Preliminary toxicological, microbial, nutrition, ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) and heavy metal [studies have been] completed. Stability testing and a dosing study have started and a digestibility trial is also underway. A safety study is to commence shortly,” explained Dahl.
Earlier this year, the CEO said ZIVO had moved beyond the proof of concept stage and was now growing enough algae for repetition purposes.
In terms of manufacturing capacity at Zivo at year’s end, the CEO said the company has made an offer to acquire a “substantial production facility” in the US to ramp up output.
“Simultaneously, we have engaged directly with producers in Europe, North America and South East Asia to forge offtake agreements,” said Dahl.
Human nutrition
The dietary supplements market holds appeal as well for Zivo.
The biotech firm said it intends to approach the “near-term markets” first, nutritional products and ingredients for human and animal applications, while laying the groundwork for the more complex medicinal and pharmaceutical sectors.