Published on 25 October 2024
The Insider’s Perspective shines a spotlight on the innovative and cutting-edge partners shaping the future of the algae sector. This eleventh edition focuses on NUQO and its transformational work in sustainable animal nutrition through algae technologies. Keep reading to discover how this leading company is driving algae innovation forward.
NUQO: Leading sustainable innovation in animal nutrition through algae-based technologies
Founded in 2020 by Ewenn Helary, NUQO is a French company specialising in the development and production of natural ingredients and feed additives aimed at improving animal nutrition and health. A core focus for NUQO is utilising plant and marine algae metabolites within its technologies to enhance animal well-being and performance. The company’s mission is to help global animal feed producers boost the health, performance, and welfare of animals through advanced nutrition solutions.
NUQO’s team consists of highly skilled experts, including partners, employees, and shareholders, all possessing deep knowledge of natural ingredients in animal nutrition. The company manufactures its technologies in Switzerland and Poland while collaborating with distributors worldwide. With commercial offices in Thailand, Mexico, and more recently India, NUQO is committed to advancing its research efforts and innovation, investing substantially in R&D led by Director Stephanie Ladirat (based in the Netherlands) and forming partnerships with various universities and institutes across Europe and beyond.
Phytogenics and Phycogenics: Nature's solutions for animal health
As the demand for natural, efficient solutions in animal health grows, NUQO’s approach to phytogenics and phycogenics offers groundbreaking potential. While NUQO develops a range of feed ingredients, its primary focus lies in harnessing the power of natural molecules. NUQO meticulously screens plant-derived molecules, often referred to as ‘phytogenics’ a term rooted in the Greek word ‘phyto,’ meaning plant, to evaluate their effects on animal physiology and health. Additionally, NUQO applies the same rigorous approach to metabolites from marine algae, which they have coined as ‘phycogenics’.
A key aspect of this strategy is NUQO’s specialised manufacturing technologies, including advanced drying and micro-encapsulation techniques. These techniques help the preservation of the quality and efficacy, but also the controlled release of these metabolites, allowing NUQO to maintain high-performance results.
NUQO Nex: A breakthrough in animal nutrition
One of NUQO’s flagship products is NUQO Nex, which encapsulates carefully selected molecules from both plants and algae to enhance digestive functions in animals. It not only allows animals to extract more nutrients and energy from their feed but also to modulate the microbiota composition and the immune system, ultimately improving overall performance. With a highly concentrated formula, particularly with marine algae, requiring less than 100 grams per ton of feed, NUQO’s advanced manufacturing processes make NUQO Nex cost-effective for customers.
Backed by extensive research in collaboration with universities in Europe (Germany, Austria, the UK), Asia (Thailand), the US, Mexico, and the Middle East, NUQO Nex has been presented at numerous scientific conferences. While other companies also produce algae-based products for animal nutrition, with a typically volume-driven approach, NUQO is focused on efficiency and impact. Today, NUQO’s technologies are used in the production of approximately 1 million tons of animal feed worldwide, and the product’s positive impact on reducing the carbon footprint of poultry production further underscores its value.
The Role of EU4Algae: Catalysing industry growth and collaboration
The EU algae sector remains in a relatively early stage of development, with certain market segments showing promise while others are still in exploratory phases. While fundamental research is widespread, practical applications are less common. It is essential for the algae sector to foster projects that unite experts from diverse fields, enabling the effective implementation of initiatives.
In the animal feed and livestock sectors, for example, stronger connections and partnerships between algae specialists and feed ingredient experts are needed. The EU4Algae initiative creates vital opportunities for stakeholders across the industry to meet, collaborate, and unlock the full potential of algae innovation.
Looking ahead: NUQO’s vision for future innovation
NUQO is involved in several forward-thinking projects that harness the potential of marine algae. A key initiative involves working with a PhD candidate from the University of Wels to explore the antioxidant properties of specific marine algae molecules. At the same time, NUQO is developing a technology to reduce methane emissions from cattle by utilising marine algae, with a focus on screening various algae species to identify the most promising candidates for future development. Two key aspects of these initiatives include:
1) Creating a stabilized technology to preserve the active compounds in algae, which are often unstable and pose a challenge for other suppliers.
2) Ensuring our methane reduction technology offers tangible benefits to farmers, making its adoption more feasible in the future.
NUQO’s approach to incorporating marine algae into animal feed is both innovative and highly practical, setting us apart in the industry.
The algae industry is at a stage where demonstrating proof of concept through technical or business successes is crucial. Supporting diverse projects, particularly those with a high likelihood of success, is vital to establishing credibility and driving further investment in the sector. As NUQO continues to push the boundaries of algae research and application, its forward-looking vision is shaping the future of sustainable animal nutrition.
Watch this insightful video to learn more about NUQO’s groundbreaking innovations and their impact on sustainable animal nutrition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsSB_6lMkwQ
Stay Connected with NUQO
Stay updated on NUQO’s latest news by visiting their official website and following them on LinkedIn.
Have you heard about the EU4Algae Interactive Platform?
Designed to promote algae product awareness and increase consumer knowledge, the EU4Algae Interactive Platform offers a range of activities. Take the EU4Algae Quiz to test your algae knowledge, participate in our Survey to share your algae-eating habits (the first 200 respondents get a free eBook!) and play the interactive Game to discover which type of algae you are.