Innovation in enzyme development

Enzymes are nature’s catalysts. This means that they can increase the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process – a characteristic which makes them a powerful tool in the optimization of a number of industrial applications including animal feed production. Enzymes are involved in the control of all reactions related to life and are therefore found in every living organism including animals, plants and microorganisms. These components have been used for thousands of years to naturally process and conserve agricultural products, but the rapid development in molecular biology has made it possible to significantly enhance the development and application of industrial enzymes.

Take home message

• Feed enzymes are a widely accepted and adopted means to increase feed utilisation and ultimately save on feed costs
• Feed enzymes typically improve the environmental impact of animal production
• While the use of phytases is most developed and widespread, there is still more to be learned and more to be gained from the application of carbohydrases and proteases
• Enzyme activity assays and activity units are necessary for quality control and dosing purposes but cannot be used to compare or evaluate feed enzymes
• Enzyme development of innovative products is an interdisciplinary