The company said the expansion comes because animal producers are operating in an increasingly complex world, faced with volatile commodity markets and changing regulations and consumer needs.

“We wanted to find the best way to satisfy the nutrition research and development needs of our customers,” said Dave Cook, research & development director for Cargill’s animal nutrition business.

“So, we designed a facility we believe will promote collaboration among our experts as well as those from local universities to accelerate innovation and allow us to more quickly deliver new products and services to our customers.”

Designed to serve dairy, poultry and swine customers, the Cargill Animal Nutrition Innovation Centre includes new poultry nutrition research facilities, new guest viewing corridors and the collective knowhow of its Netherlands-based animal nutrition experts.

The $3.7 million expansion and renovation comprises a new broiler grow-out facility and a state of the art broiler breeder facility. Both were designed to meet or exceed all European regulations and to provide additional capabilities.

As one example, the new broiler breeder facility allows our scientists to investigate the impact of the hen’s nutrition on the performance of its offspring.

“We can collect the fertile eggs, incubate them and not only look at fertility and hatchability but also subsequent performance,” said Mr Cook.

The Global Innovation Centre hosts more than 3000 visitors a year and the new viewing corridors will allow visitors to conveniently view the animal R&D facilities without changing footwear or clothes while improving hygiene standards.

The Velddriel location is one of Cargill’s two global animal nutrition innovation centres. It, along with the Elk River, Minnesota, location, serves as the hub of the company’s global network of 15 animal nutrition research and technology centres that are working around the clock to explore, innovate and think ahead of the challenges customers face in navigating today’s complex and ever-changing environment.