EW Nutrition CEO: Investing in innovation to shape the future of poultry

6 October 2025

3 minute read

By: Sarah Mikesell

In an evolving poultry industry, Jan Vanbrabant, CEO of EW Nutrition, remains optimistic and resolute about the company’s future. As a keynote speaker at Producing for the Future, an exclusive poultry industry conference hosted by EW Nutrition in Berlin, Germany, Vanbrabant emphasized EW Nutrition’s commitment to innovation, investment and collaboration to navigate the sector’s growing challenges.

"I'm a big believer in the future of animal protein," Vanbrabant said. "At this conference focused on poultry, we brought together key actors, key opinion leaders, key experts from poultry genetics, poultry production, feed, technology and ourselves from the animal nutrition side to talk about the future and how we can improve."

Vanbrabant pointed to the combination of genetics and nutrition as tools that can yield even better efficiencies in poultry production. “We don't want to reinvent the egg, but I'm pretty sure we can make better eggs, so to speak. On top of the genetic improvements we’ll no doubt see, in-feed and in-water solutions help producers deal with the challenges they're facing today,” he said.

EW Nutrition sees itself playing a central role in delivering these advancements. The company focuses on natural feed additives and is positioning itself as a global industry partner for gut health, feed quality, and digestibility solutions.

“We have talked a lot about challenges here in Berlin. We can’t do much to control the geopolitical challenges of the day, but there is a lot we can do to ease the on-farm and environmental challenges that our partners face,” Vanbrabant said.

Investing in the future

Unlike some larger players that are scaling back, EW Nutrition is doubling down on its long-term vision and investing in the poultry industry.

“We go against this stream. We invest, we expand, we grow because we believe in the future of the industry,” he said. Backed by EW Group, which posted €5.5+ billion in turnover last year and operates in 165 countries, EW Nutrition is leveraging its freedom and resources to lead through innovation.

The company’s strategy is rooted in three core platforms: feed quality, gut health management, and digestibility. Supporting these are technological strengths in biotechnology, fermentation and phytomolecules.

“Our strength as a company is that we have fully integrated capabilities devoted exclusively to animal nutrition, from R&D to production. We research and produce in Asia, Europe, and North America, and we make the difference through innovation,” Vanbrabant explained.

In the past five years, EW Nutrition has made four acquisitions, expanding its product portfolio and technological capacity as well as its production and distribution capacity.

Today, EW Nutrition operates production sites across four continents, including the US, Brazil, Germany, Spain, China and Japan – with investment in process in India. Its global footprint is matched by boots-on-the-ground technical expertise in all major markets.

Vanbrabant also highlighted the increasing role of data in driving poultry health and performance.

“Data is such a key driver for this industry,” he said, pointing to the company’s use of high-throughput screening—a technique adapted from the pharmaceutical sector to test phytogenic compounds against intestinal pathogens.

Research remains central to EW Nutrition’s strategy, with active R&D hubs in Germany, Japan and the US.

“We also want to be close to our customers, not only with our production footprint, but also with our people,” he said. “Because to make a difference and to bring this innovation to our customers, we need to give them technical support. Our technical expertise includes being present in all major markets so we can work closely with our customers.”

EW Nutrition’s parent company, EW Group was founded in 1928 and has succeeded with the mantra of Growing Excellence through Innovation. With its core business in genetics, health, feed additives and diagnostics, it has more than 300 independent subsidiary companies, employs more than 23,000 people and has production sites in 45 countries.

“The core idea and philosophy of EW Group is to give their companies, like EW Nutrition, the freedom and the trust to develop their own business,” said Vanbrabant. “EW Group is one of the big players in agriculture, with strong subsidiaries. However, it’s not about EW Group; it's always been about the people.”