Animal feed additives are designed to increase absorption of essential vitamins and minerals, increase nutritional value and enhance animal product yield, while reducing harmful materials in animal waste. We are developing several enzymes, including phytases and carbohydrases, to increase the absorption of organic phosphorous, and to improve the digestibility of carbohydrates, and improve feed conversion and weight gain in livestock and poultry.

When used as an additive in animal feed applications, phytase enzymes allow higher utilization of naturally occurring phosphorus from the feed, increasing its nutritional value and reducing phosphate pollution. We estimate that the worldwide market for phytase enzymes is more than $300 million per year, and growing at more than 5% per year. This growth has been driven by economics as well as regulatory pressure to decrease pollution caused by the phosphate-rich waste from swine and poultry farms that is a leading cause of water pollution. We have developed and, with our partners, commercialized phytase products to address this market.