Nutreco's livestock feed business line, Trouw Nutrition, has made some changes to its innovation team.
Coen Smits [pictured] has taken on the role of director of sustainability, and John Doelman the role of global R&D director.
Smits will focus on rolling out the company's sustainability roadmap and working with internal and external stakeholders to further develop sustainability programs. His focus will be on initiatives such as reducing antibiotic use in livestock production to address antimicrobial resistance, promoting an efficient use of resources, lowering the carbon footprint of animal production, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Smits joined Nutreco as a poultry researcher in 1997 and has served in various R&D management positions in swine, food, and ingredients research. The company said he was instrumental in the development of its global commercial validation farm network. “His experience, knowledge and network will be highly valuable as he leads sustainability initiatives.”
Doelman, as director of global R&D, is charged with advancing nutrition to support the company’s complete feed and mixed product offering. “He will also connect research platforms with precision farming and sustainability efforts, and support feed additives business units.”
Desert Control, a company specialized in climate-smart agri-tech solutions to combat desertification, soil degradation, and water scarcity, has hired Charlie Granfelt as its chief commercial officer.
An experienced international sales and marketing executive, Granfelt held senior commercial leadership positions in Skretting, both in Norway and France, for over 12 years. He was only appointed global manager, closed aquaculture systems, at the Nutreco company in November last year.
Granfelt started his career in Electrolux in Hong Kong at the end of the 1980s and has worked in global industrial companies such as Norske Skog/Alloc and Kverneland Group.
A Swedish national, he moved to Norway in 1994 after graduating from the London School of Economics.
French insect producer, InnovaFeed, sees Alf-Helge Aarskog, previously CEO of Mowi, appointed to its board of investors.
Clément Ray, co-founder and CEO of InnovaFeed, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Alf-Helge onboard as our development gathers momentum. He is a highly experienced figure in the aquaculture and wider food industries, and his insights will be extremely valuable for our future expansion.”
Aarskog said: “I’m delighted and excited to be joining the board at InnovaFeed. I believe that sustainable aquaculture is in dire need of high performing protein sources to support its growth. In my view, InnovaFeed has developed the most scalable, sustainable and competitive value proposition on the market, and I look forward to bringing my expertise to the table to support them as they develop globally.”
Holding an MSC in fish nutrition from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Aarskog was the former CEO of Mowi (2010 – 2020) and Lerøy Seafood Group ASA (2009 – 2010), respectively the largest and second largest salmon producers in the world.
Prior to those roles, he was executive vice president at Lerøy Seafood Group, CEO of its subsidiary, Lerøy Midnor AS, and production director at Fjord Seafood, a company that later merged with Mowi.
AB Agri has recruited business development specialist Graham Wong to head up operations in Southeast Asia as part of plans to significantly increase its market share in the region.
Wong, whose new remit as head of Southeast Asia, includes recruitment, technical development and innovation, joins the business having spent more than a decade in the animal nutrition sector, most recently as MD, Southeast Asia, Nuscience, part of the Agrifirm Group.
“With a rapidly increasing population and higher levels of disposable income, the scope for growth in Asia is considerable,” said José Nobre, AB Agri CEO, adding that Wong has a "fantastic track record" in developing commercial businesses.
“With 9% of the world’s population in Southeast Asia, there is a huge opportunity for us to significantly contribute towards meeting the growth of animal protein demands, sustainably and responsibly," commented Wong.
AB Agri outlined how it is planning to recruit for more roles in the region in the coming months including technical support and commercial colleagues.
Feed additives producer, Anpario, has recruited Dr Lawrence Brown as its senior technical and account manager for aquaculture.
The UK firm said that since qualifying as a veterinary surgeon, graduating from the University of Edinburgh’s veterinary college, Brown has worked in mixed practice and industry across the UK, Middle East and Australia.
Over the last five and a half years, he has engaged with several private and public sector organizations, supporting aquaculture producers expand their operations in the UK, and helping local aquaculture businesses to export their goods worldwide, reported Anpario.
In 2020, Brown completed an MBA from the University of Edinburgh. In addition, he is an invited member of KTN’s animal sciences advisory board and life sciences, as well as Scotland’s industry leadership group for aquaculture, animal health and agritech.
Jeroen De Gussem has been appointed as global business development director at Innovad.
He has a background in clinical research development in poultry and swine and strategic marketing in the animal feed business. Prior to this position, he was managing director at Adisseo-owned Nutriad International.
Commenting on his new appointment, he said: “With its know-how in gut health, mycotoxin management, stress, health and immunity, Innovad’s team has demonstrated its capability to bring innovations and new perspectives in areas vital to the development of our industry, helping customers boost their value and quality.”
De Gussem holds a master’s degree in biotechnology and laboratory animal science from Ghent University in Belgium.