From the editors of Feedstuffs
Kroger, Albertsons announce definitive merger agreement
Kroger and Albertsons Companies announced October 14 that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which the companies will merge to establish a national footprint and unite around Kroger's Purpose to Feed the Human Spirit. Through a family of well-known and trusted supermarket banners, this combination will expand customer reach and improve proximity to deliver fresh and affordable food to approximately 85 million households with a premier omnichannel experience.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company, Kroger will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. common and preferred stock for an estimated total consideration of $34.10 per share, implying a total enterprise value of approximately $24.6 billion, including the assumption of approximately $4.7 billion of Albertsons Cos. net debt. Read more
Inland waterway levels causing supply chain woes
At the most inopportune time for U.S. farmers, conditions of the U.S. inland waterway system continue to deteriorate due to historically low water. According to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the lower levels have reduced shipping capacity and resulted in record rates.
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USDA proposes Salmonella regulatory framework
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Salmonella bacteria cause approximately 1.35 million human infections and 26,500 hospitalizations in the United States every year. Of those infections, over 23% are attributed to poultry consumption.
“We know that Salmonella in poultry is a complex problem with no single solution,” says USDA Deputy Under Secretary Sandra Eskin. “However, we have identified a series of strategic actions FSIS could take that are likely to drive down Salmonella infections linked to poultry products consumption, and we are presenting those in this proposed framework.” Read more
Colorado State planning $278m veterinary health complex Veterinary medicine is changing and growing, and Colorado State University’s top-ranked College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is changing, too, with the future of the profession in mind.
The college has announced plans for a $278 million upgrade and expansion of its current veterinary medicine and education facilities housed on the South Campus of CSU, in support of comprehensive, forward-thinking updates to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum and cutting-edge clinical research activities. CSU’s Board of Governors approved the program plan for the veterinary health complex at its Oct. 6-7 meeting in Fort Collins. A financial review is still pending, and the board would still have to approve a financing plan for the project to move forward. New, renovated facilities will allow the college to implement this progressive new curriculum while enlarging class sizes and continuing to meet societal demands for highly skilled veterinarians in an increasingly broad array of roles. Read more
Axiota Animal Health, Resilient Biotics to co-develop BRD technology Axiota Animal Health, a global animal health company based in Colorado, announced this week a development and licensing agreement with Resilient Biotics, a North Carolina-based company pioneering new microbiome-based animal products using advanced multi-omic approaches, data science, and in vitro screening technologies. The agreement grants Axiota exclusive global rights to Resilient Biotics' proprietary treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and further collaboration with Resilient Biotics for additional product development and commercialization of important indications in the global cattle market. As part of the collaboration, Axiota also made a direct investment in Resilient Biotics. Read more
SHIC Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program moves to Phase 2
Swine Health Information Center, along with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a non-profit organization established in the 2014 Farm Bill to build public-private partnerships that fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges, and Pork Checkoff, joined together to fund a Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program to be implemented over the next two years. Phase 1 involved identifying subject matter experts and assembling task forces with the responsibility of establishing research priorities. Now in Phase 2, SHIC, FFAR and Pork Checkoff are soliciting proposals to investigate cost-effective, innovative technologies, protocols or ideas to implement biosecurity during the wean-to-harvest phase of production. Proactively enhancing wean-to-harvest biosecurity will help control the next emerging disease in the U.S. pork industry and improve U.S. swine herd health, all part of SHIC's mission including analysis of swine health data and targeted research to benefit the U.S. pork industry.
Priorities for the research proposals reflect input from key industry stakeholders recruited to join the SHIC Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program Site Task Force and Transport Task Force. These experts come from allied industry, academia, veterinary practice and organizations involved in pork production. Collectively, their experience and interest reflect contemporary issues related to wean-to-harvest biosecurity. Working at a rapid pace, each Task Force has met virtually several times to develop and refine priorities for the research proposals now requested. Read more
Bayer, Ginkgo Bioworks create agricultural biologicals powerhouse Bayer announced Oct. 18 that the company has closed the previously announced transaction with Ginkgo Bioworks to begin a multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate research and development of biological products for agriculture. The transaction includes the divestment of Bayer’s West Sacramento Biologics Research & Development site, and its internal discovery and lead optimization platform.
With the close of this transaction, the Biologics business, which is part of Bayer’s Crop Science Division, will also be able to further engage the open innovation ecosystem and build upon its leading position as partner of choice for innovators and scientists around the world.
Joyn Bio, the joint venture created by Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks in 2017, will be integrated into Ginkgo Bioworks to enable the continued advancement of Joyn Bio’s innovative nitrogen fixation platform. As part of the agreement, Bayer retains the right to commercialize the technology to complement synthetic fertilizer use in the coming years.
Bayer is now the first major partner of Ginkgo Bioworks expanded agricultural biologicals platform, entering into a new collaboration focused on important programs in the areas of crop protection, nitrogen fixation, and carbon sequestration to identify next generation biologicals that provide clear benefits to growers. Read more
Mexican beef and cattle industry development continues USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service recently released the latest Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report. The report provides estimates for production, consumption and trade for beef, pork and chicken for major countries.
Mexico continues to develop as a major beef exporting country. In recent years, Mexican beef production has continued to grow while total domestic consumption has been relatively stable leading to growing beef exports from the country. Current USDA projections for 2023 have Mexico as the number ten beef exporting country in the world. Over 80 percent of Mexican beef exports go to the U.S. although other global markets are receiving larger amounts of Mexican beef in recent years. Beef imports from Mexico have accounted for 18.9 percent of total U.S. beef imports and, 2021, Mexico was the second largest source of U.S. beef imports. Read more Advent, Wilbur-Ellis announce merger of businesses Advent International, one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors with a well-established track record in chemicals, and Wilbur-Ellis, one of the largest family-owned companies in the world, have announced an agreement to merge their life sciences and specialty chemicals solutions businesses, Caldic B.V. (Caldic) and Connell, to create a global leader in its sector. Read more
Kansas State develops new test for cattle diseases The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, a part of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has developed a new test for two major blood-borne diseases in cattle.
The laboratory's Molecular Research and Development section, under the leadership of Jianfa Bai, clinical professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, has developed a unique polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, bovine test specific for the endemic disease anaplasmosis and the emerging disease Theileriosis. These insect vector-transmitted diseases are caused primarily in the U.S. by the American dog tick for anaplasmosis, and the Asian longhorned tick for Theileria. The new K-State test will allow veterinarians and cattle producers to screen their herds and herd additions for these specific disease-causing organisms, helping them more effectively prevent and manage the diseases.
Although there are more than one Anaplasma organism species present in cattle, anaplasmosis is caused by a specific bacterium called Anaplasma marginale. This organism can be found in all states except Hawaii and is endemic in many areas of the U.S. Infection can occur at any age, but clinical signs are usually only observed in animals over 2 years old. Anemia, difficulty breathing and death are common clinical signs. Treatment is usually successful with currently available antimicrobials. Read more
