Feed additive specialist Orffa has reinforced its commitment to science-driven animal nutrition with new investments in research and expertise that will directly benefit livestock farmers across Africa and other regions.
The Dutch-based company, which operates in over 90 countries, has established a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to guide its innovation strategy in animal nutrition. The Board will be chaired by Professor Leo den Hartog, Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Animal Nutrition at Wageningen University.
According to Orffa, the Board will bring together internationally recognised scientists from Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America to provide independent scientific guidance in three key focus areas: gut health, feed efficiency and mineral nutrition – all critical for improving productivity and sustainability on farm.
“Science has always been at the heart of Orffa. The establishment of our Scientific Advisory Board and Leo’s appointment as chairman represents an important step in further strengthening our scientific foundation and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation in animal nutrition,” said Haiko Zuidhoff, CEO of Orffa.
Turning Science into Practical Solutions for Farmers
The new Advisory Board builds on Orffa’s recent opening of the Orffa Science Lab in Breda, The Netherlands – a dedicated research facility that connects diagnostics, microbiome analysis and applied nutrition to deliver actionable insights for feed producers and farmers.
The lab strengthens Orffa’s ability to develop high-bioavailability mineral solutions that address a common challenge for African livestock producers: getting maximum value from trace minerals while reducing waste and environmental impact.
Its mineral nutrition portfolio includes:
- Excential Selenium 4000 – a highly bioavailable organic selenium source (L-selenomethionine) that builds body reserves and can be transferred to offspring, supporting immunity and reproductive performance
- Excential Smart Hydroxy Trace Minerals – stable, low-reactivity trace minerals for optimal absorption and performance
- Elovital Miku range – dust-free mineral sources developed to improve worker safety during feed handling and premix production
“Trace minerals play a vital role in catalytic, physiological and structural processes in the body,” Orffa notes. “When highly bioavailable sources are used, they improve animal health, product quality – including meat colour and tenderness – and reduce excretion into the environment.”
Why Mineral Nutrition Matters for African Livestock Systems
For Africa’s growing poultry, dairy, beef and aquaculture sectors, efficient mineral nutrition is emerging as a low-cost lever to improve feed conversion, reduce losses and meet sustainability demands.
Orffa says its regional business model – with dedicated units for Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), Asia and the Americas – allows it to adapt global scientific standards to local market conditions, including raw material challenges and climate-related stress.
The company has also welcomed Prof. Nadia Everaert from KU Leuven to its Scientific Advisory Board, adding expertise in intestinal health and immunity – a key link to mineral absorption and overall animal resilience.
With its new brand promise, “Orffa. The science in your feed,” the company aims to empower viable animal farming through solutions that are economically sound, environmentally responsible and proven in practice.
