This new structure guarantees BernAqua a long-term development, dynamic innovation research as well as a continuous field evaluation with a unique product portfolio. ADM wants to be positioned among the most innovative companies in the field of animal nutrition and health, so the Group has chosen to place innovation at the heart of its strategy. An effective innovation is about examining changing market needs and searching for the most adapted solutions. Adaptability, flexibility and responsiveness are therefore the main pillars of an innovative approach.

The innovation centre built at the headquarters of ADM in Brittany has changed the way ADM carries out its work. Many partnerships with research institutes, universities and suppliers have been signed.  The synergistic approach involving various departments will allow ADM experts to work together under a common objective.

The Farm of the Future

The investment in innovation must be combined with more technological experimentation based on tools (big data, digital technology) and new approaches (test modelling, analysis of animal behaviour, etc.). One of ADM’s objectives is to develop its Farm of the future.

The Farm of the future is designed to be the hub of a French and international network (initially Brazil and then Asia) of connected farms. In 2020, the Brazilian research centre, dedicated to research in pets, but also active in the fields of aquaculture, will become the first international centre to be connected to this world network.

Focus on aqua innovations

The aquaculture is an important focus at ADM. Precision feeding is essential to ensure more sustainable aquaculture. ADM strives to reduce waste by innovating aqua-farming. The market for aqua feed is expected to reach 250 million tons by 2040.

Early stage aqua feed is a priority, but it requires a real expertise and a thorough work with a true attention to detail. BernAqua has this unique technical know-how at the pre-larvae stage in terms of the nutritional inputs, critical to achieve a better fish performance later on.

Therefore the company is investing a lot in this area with many leadership positions in the key markets of Brazil, Mexico and Vietnam.

Watch the video about ADM’s R&D Center in Vietnam:

BernAqua’s R&D initiatives

As a part of ADM, BernAqua is actively contributing to the R&D initiatives in the aquaculture sector. ADM Brasil and BernAqua are working together to offer to their customers new nutritional alternatives and break some feeding paradigms such as buoyancy or quantity used. In addition, multiple tests on BernAqua’s products are run in different hatcheries in the world.

Some tests were recently run on the commercial premium feed from BernAqua (MeM Prime) in one of the tilapia commercial hatcheries located in Paulo Alfonso, Brazil, which produces 3 Million/fry/month. The tests demonstrated that using MeM Prime can increase weight gain (gr/day) by 50% in average, reduce feed used for each Kg of fish produced and significantly decrease mortality rates (from 37% to 23%).

InMyFarm helping farmed fish producers

ADM Group has already developed a tool for farmed fish producers, which aims to optimize technical and economic performance through the identification of the most critical points of the farm, proposals of improvements and constant follow-up. The main objective of this tablet application called InMyFarm is to help producers manage their aqua farms more systematically through analysis of various parameters, such as water quality, feeding management or health and environmental status. Thus, InMyFarm allows fish farmers to review their own farm performances and benchmark by comparing their performance to other farmers.

The tool has been used in many fish and shrimp farms, mainly in Brazil and Mexico, and achieved incredible results by improving the uniformity of animal population, increasing growth rate, shortening cycles, improving FCR and, thereby, lowering production costs as a direct benefit.