The new site adds to the existing aquaculture research facilities ADM has in Brazil, Mexico and Vietnam.
The US lab is based at the agribusiness group’s Animal Nutrition Technology Center (ANTC), which is strategically located near ADM’s James R Randal Research Center and ADM production facilities in Decatur.
“This location positions the new aquaculture lab at the heart of our innovation capabilities and the project lifecycle teams that drive nutrition breakthroughs, from concept to commercialization,” said John Bowzer, senior research scientist in aquaculture and director of the new lab.
The North American lab is designed for upstream research and product development, a process whereby innovation is driven and generated by market needs, through the gathering of market intelligence, he explained.
The researchers at the new site will have access to a pilot lab that allows production of commercial-equivalent feeds for rapid prototyping of new technologies, such as fish feed ingredients and additives that can increase production efficiency, mitigate environmental impact and improve animal health and welfare.
First trials are expected to begin at the Illinois site in the first quarter of 2022.
"The aquaculture wet lab will be able to conduct trials on a variety of species that transverse temperature and salinity gradients. This capability allows our scientists to conduct trials on the most relevant species and conditions to our customers. ADM has a wide footprint in the global aquaculture industry with a focus on shrimp, tilapia and marine species, and our research trials are planned mainly for these species," Bowzer told us.
Latin America and Southeast Asia based facilities
ADM’s aqua facilities in Latin America and Southeast Asia include outdoor research labs for shrimp and fish in large, farm-like systems.
Last year we reported on how ADM was increasingly focused on the aquaculture segment in terms of its growth strategy for animal nutrition in Asia, and how its Life Defense branded Ocialis functional fish and shrimp feed would comprise a major part of that expansion effort.
