Nutreco Garden of the Future

For compound feed manufacturers, differentiation is increasingly about more than nutrient optimization alone. Consistent animal performance, robust health and a future-proof ingredient strategy are becoming decisive factors. Within this context, Nutreco has made a clear strategic choice: to invest in proprietary, science-driven phytotechnology.

At the heart of this approach lies the Nutreco Garden of the Future, the innovation centre where Nutreco and Trouw Nutrition develop their plant-based solutions.

From plant selection to feed-ready solutions

The Nutreco Garden of the Future is in Thurgau, Switzerland, in the so-called Phyto Valley. This region is internationally recognized for its expertise in phytopharmacy and plant sciences. The location is a deliberate one. Here, academic knowledge, applied research and industrial scale-up come together.

What sets the Garden of the Future apart is the full integration of the phytotechnological development process. Activities range from large-scale screening of plant candidates and chemotype analysis to biological modelling, plant domestication, cultivation protocols, processing and regulatory management. Rather than starting with known active substances, development begins with the plant itself.
For the compound feed industry, this integrated approach is highly relevant. It means that innovations are not dependent on generic extracts or volatile external supply chains. Instead, Nutreco develops solutions that are fully controlled, reproducible and scalable, ensuring consistent quality and long-term availability.

PhytoComplexes: complexity as a functional asset.

Within the Garden of the Future, Nutreco works with PhytoComplexes: carefully selected constellations of naturally occurring plant metabolites derived from the whole plant. This represents a clear departure from the traditional focus on isolated compounds or synthetic analogues.

The underlying rationale is that plants express their bioactive compounds in complex combinations for a reason. Preserving that complexity allows multiple physiological pathways to be supported simultaneously, including gut integrity, immune regulation and metabolic balance. Rather than targeting pathogens directly, PhytoComplexes are designed to support the animal’s own resilience and functional capacity.

For feed manufacturers, this multi-target mode of action aligns well with modern feeding strategies. It fits systems that must perform reliably under variable conditions, such as heat stress, dietary transitions or health challenges, where single-mode interventions often fall short.

From innovation platform to commercial application

Importantly, the Garden of the Future is not an isolated research initiative. It is closely linked to commercial development. In poultry nutrition, solutions such as Fytera® Care and Fytera® Perform have already been developed based on this phytotechnological platform.
These products have been evaluated under commercial conditions, demonstrating that plant-based solutions can deliver measurable value even in high-performing production systems. From a formulation perspective, attention is paid to stability, compatibility with existing feed concepts and predictable inclusion in practical diets—key considerations for compound feed producers.

A strategic partner for the feed industry

The Nutreco Garden of the Future illustrates how phytotechnology can evolve from an interesting concept into a strategic tool for feed innovation. By combining discovery science, agronomy, processing and regulatory expertise under one roof, Nutreco is building a platform that delivers not only new ingredients, but also reliability, scalability and differentiation.
For compound feed manufacturers looking to strengthen their portfolio with future-oriented solutions, developments emerging from the Garden of the Future are well worth following. What is cultivated here today may well define tomorrow’s feeding strategies.