New range helps answer growing demand for alternative nutrient sources, sustainable and plant-based options for aqua and livestock feed
BENEO, one of the leading manufacturers of functional ingredients, is pleased to announce the expansion of its product portfolio for aqua and livestock feed with the addition of the new faba bean ingredient range, including faba bean protein concentrate, starch-rich flour, and hulls. These pulse ingredients are non-GMO and represent sustainable sources of protein, starch, and fibre, enabling feed manufacturers to improve the nutritional profile of their products.
Aqua and livestock feed markets are increasingly raising consumers’ concerns regarding sustainability and are coming under greater scrutiny from authorities. As a result, many feed producers have committed to ambitious targets to meet these changing requirements. Demand for a more eco-conscious feed sector is also reflected in the sustainability objectives of key industry associations i. At the same time, with rising concerns around the environmental impact of raw materials, producers are also facing present and future price pressures, alongside logistical and supply issues. This is driving demand for sustainable ingredients, such as locally produced plant-based alternatives, that can deliver both a good nutritional profile and improved technical properties.
When it comes to sustainability, faba beans help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at farm level. The faba beans can capture nitrogen from the air, to provide it for themselves and subsequent plants, which reduces the need for fertilizer input. Also, the faba beans are grown in a German region with good rainfall and soil with good water retention capacity, so that irrigation is not necessary. BENEO strives to source its faba beans at Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) Gold level from German farmers with long-term contracts, to ensure production and supply stability. Furthermore, the production process, being done locally in Germany, has been chosen for its low energy and water consumption in comparison to alternative processes; overall contributing to BENEO’s sustainability targets.
Faba bean ingredients are showing promising potential for aqua and livestock recipe formulations as they are a good source of protein, starch and dietary fibre. BENEO’s faba bean protein concentrate, starch-rich flour and hull ingredients are produced from faba bean varieties which are low in antinutritional factors (e.g., tannins, vicine and convicine) and are guaranteed to be non-GMO.
BENEO’s faba bean starch-rich flour offers producers of livestock and aqua feed a good source of starch and energy, while still containing a significant residual amount of protein of approximately 20%. It is ideal for use in many applications, including for salmon and trout, as well as in broilers’ starter and piglets’ weaner diets. Also, thanks to its good solubility and rather low iron content, it could be applied in liquid feed like calf milk replacers.
BENEO’s faba bean protein concentrate is a concentrated source of vegetal protein that serves as a good alternative to e.g., animal and soy proteins. It has excellent solubility in comparison to other vegetal proteins and a good amino acid profile.
BENEO’s faba bean hulls can be used to provide a source of insoluble fibres in feed for ruminants or gestating sows, while also offering certain protein and starch contents which increase its nutritional value. The faba bean hulls and protein concentrate are listed in the EU Catalogue of Feed Materialsii, while faba bean starch-rich flour is in the EU Feed Materials Registeriii.
Karel Thurman, Commercial Director Animal Nutrition at BENEO comments: “Manufacturers of pet food and feed are increasingly faced with the challenge of finding ingredients that deliver the necessary nutrients for their formulas, whilst also complying with ambitious commitments towards sustainability. Our new plant-based faba bean ingredients are a valuable addition to our portfolio, as they provide convincing sustainability credentials and offer producers in the livestock and aquafeed industries sound nutritional and technological alternatives for their feed recipes.
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i Examples include: FEFAC (European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation) – Feed Sustainability Charter 2030 (FEFAC Feed-Sustainability-Charter-2030.pdf), AFIA’s (American Feed Industry Association) sustainability initiative (Sustainability in the Animal Food Industry – AFIA).
ii Commission Regulation (EU) No 68/2013 of 16 January 2013 on the Catalogue of feed materials – Faba bean hulls are listed under entry 3.7.3: “Film horse beans; [Faba bean hulls]”; Faba bean protein concentrate is listed under entry 3.7.5: “Horse bean protein”
iii EU Register of Feed Materials (https://www.feedmaterialsregister.eu)