Delacon Biotechnik Ges.m.b.H. is a multinationalfeed additive company headquartered in Engerwitzdorf, near Linz, Austria. The company develops and manufactures phytogenic feed additives on a sound scientific basis, delivering benefits to producers, animals, consumers, and the environment. Delacon pioneered the development of phytogenic feed additives in the 1980s, coined the term ‘phytogenic feed additives` and is the globally leading expert and producer in this field. Currently, the company develops solutions for poultry, swine, ruminants and aqua. Delacon conducts research in company-owned facilities and collaborates with independent institutes and universities around the globe. New products are formulated based on fundamental research on the bio-efficacy of phytogenic actives. In field trials with customers, product performance is proven under regional conditions. Delacon operates a production facility in Steyregg, Austria. From here, Delacon distributes its products through its global network of subsidiaries, regional offices, and exports to about 80 countries worldwide; its main markets are Europe and Middle East, North America, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
History
1984: Phytogenic feed additive research begins in Austria.
1988: Delacon Biotechnik Ges.m.b.H. is founded in Steyregg, Austria, by Helmut Dedl. A new category of feed additives - phytogenics - is introduced to the market and the production facility is opened.
2000: Delacon is being certified by ISO 9001 quality management standard and the HACCP concept is implemented.
2001: A patented micro-encapsulation technology is introduced into Delacon products.
2003: Delacon expands globally, Asia Pacific Regional Office is founded. The company receives certifications and its products are organic farming certified under EU Regulation 2002/91.
2006: First Performing Nature Symposium is organized in Vienna.
2009: The 2nd Performing Nature Symposium is held on the Greek island Crete to celebrate Delacon’s 20th anniversary.
2010: Handing-over of daily management to Markus Dedl and founding of Delacon China.
2012: Fresta® F is approved for use by the EU, and is the world’s first phytogenic zootechnical feed additive.
2013: Delacon celebrates its 25th anniversary along with a further enlargement of the production facilities, enabling production capacities to be tripled.
2014: Delacon hosts its 3rd Performing Nature Symposium, featuring more than 350 guests, including customers, distributors, leading scientists, economists, and industry leaders of the feed sector. Delacon introduces a new corporate design at EuroTier 2014.
2015:Research and Development, Product Management and Innovation teams are united within the division ‘Product & Innovation’.
2016: For the second time, Delacon receives a positive EFSA opinion, this time for the poultry product Biostrong® 510 EC. Delacon enters a strategic partnership with PMI Nutritional Additives, a business unit of Land O ‘Lakes in the USA.
2017: Biostrong® 510 EC is authorized as zootechnical feed additive by the European Commission. Delacon enters a strategic partnership with Cargill, including a minority equity investment.
Regulatory affairs
In February 2012, the European Union announced Fresta® F as an approved zootechnical feed additive for weaned piglets. This regulatory category is restricted to products whose performance claims are tested and proven. A thorough evaluation of product safety, quality and efficacy by the European Food Safety Authority, the European Union Reference Laboratory, the EU Commission and 27 EU Member States. This product is the first phytogenic product in the world to meet the standards of proven performance set out by European Union regulators. In March 2017, Delacon received the zootechnical authorization for a second feed additive: Biostrong® 510 EC for chicken and minor avian species, both for fattening and until the point of lay. Again, the safety for animals, workers, consumers, and the environment as well as the efficacy in improving animal performance has been confirmed for a Delacon product.
Innovation and research
Delacon has introduced a continuous innovation process that aligns the needs from customers, target animals, technology, and production with the long-term strategy for new product development. Currently, the Products and Innovation division conducts basic and applied research with universities and research institutes worldwide, with a global recognition as well as in Delacons own Performing Nature Research Center. The focus of research is on animal health, performance, on reducing environmental impact of livestock production such as reduced ammonia and methane; and improving animal welfare. To ensure that products are developed based on sound scientific knowledge on bio-efficacy and modes of action of phytogenic actives, Delacon invests around ten percent of the annual turnover in the Products and Innovation division. In selection of phytogenic actives, Delacon focuses on natural ingredients to fully use the synergies between actives.
Performing Nature Research Center
To meet a growing internal and external demand for high quality controlled animal studies, Delacon opened its Performing Nature Research Center in 2011. The company-owned facility is used to develop and evaluate new phytogenic substances and formulations with poultry and pigs. The facility is equipped with a spot mix feeding system, a section for layers, for broilers, as well as climate chambers for measurements of aerial emission of ammonia and methane from livestock production. The focus of Delacon’s trials is to collect and evaluate data on new phytogenic substances, and product applications. It further investigates effects on nutrient digestibility and utilization, reduction of gaseous emissions, effects of phytogenic feed additives on animal health, all being linked to the animals’ performance. Delacon’s PNRC is located in Czech Republic.
