AGRIPRO®
AGRIPRO animal health products are being developed based on natural compounds including extracts from the needles of various coniferous tree species. Utilising various extraction processes, a number of types of natural extracts can be formulated for a range of applications and treatments.
BioProspect has undertaken research and development with a number of AGRIPRO® products with applications in the animal nutrition, health and agricultural markets.
Active ingredients used include natural compounds extracted from the needles of various coniferous tree species like Scots Pine (Pinus silvestris) and Norwegian Spruce (Picea abies). Depending on extraction processes used, a number of pine needle extracts can be made for a range of applications and treatments.
These compounds have unique anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-oxidant properties based on the activity of chemical components like polyprenols, phytosterols, carotenoids and labdanic compounds. The activity of pine needle extracts is related to the synergistic effect of the natural chemicals with an animal's own immunological and metabolic systems.
History
Russian scientists first noticed the healing and nutritional benefits from crude pine needle extracts during WWII when these products were used to heal and treat infections from burns and wounds. Further applications spread to the manufacture of food ingredients for both humans and animals.
During the post-war era, the Russian Ministry of Forestry conducted a series of trials to determine the natural effect on farm animal production when using early formulations of a pine needle extracts. The results were positive and in recent years more detailed research has been conducted in human applications for a range of conditions.
Recently products based on pine needle extracts have received Australian Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) approval. BioProspect has investigated products based on pine needle extract in animal nutrition trials in Australia over the period 2007-2009.
Market fit for AGRIPRO® products in animal nutrition and health
There is a growing demand for safer foods for consumers. The effect is translated up and down the value chain in agriculture with producers seeking cheaper and ‘greener’ products to improve animal productivity and feed utilisation. Manufacturers are demanding less environmentally harmful products to use in animal feed and health products and distributors are trying to respond to consumers who are becoming more selective and cautious about animal products that they eat or use.
The market forces acting on the identified value chain levels are identified as:
- Increased demand for cleaner animal products with no chemical residues or contamination
- Meat and product quality does not always attract premiums at the farmer level
- Animal feed costs are increasing
- Medicated synthetic products are loosing efficacy and drug resistance is a real issue (anti-biotics)
- Some growth promoting chemicals are present post animal slaughter
- Intensive animal farming is growing to satisfy a larger population globally
- Feed companies are under increasing regulatory pressure
- Meat, milk and poultry processors have increased quality restraints and costs
- Feed input costs are increasing and in some cases, quality and integrity is decreasing
- Effective, cheaper and alternative feed products are required
- Matching demand with supply is difficult in droughts and long production periods
- Supermarket chains are dominant players and have marketing and advertising influence over consumers.
- Will demand specific food lines only when consumers act
- Some medicated products are under restrictions of use
- Anti-biotics are becoming less effective and need protecting until equivalent products are introduced. Replacement of existing products is not an option at this stage
- Will demand specific food lines only when consumers act
- Demanding ‘cleaner and greener’ products. But are not prepared to pay premiums all the time
Where and Why AGRIPRO® will be used?
Based on the data that BioProspect has reviewed and generated, there is a real potential to provide effective solutions for both companion animals and food production animals. Opportunities exist to development products for internal and external use in horses, for gastro-intestinal health and wellbeing, and for topical use to treat wounds and skin conditions. Farmers and feed manufacturers that produce intensively fed animals like chickens and pigs are also seeking cost effective but natural animal health and nutrition products that will improve animal health and welfare and also increase production and efficiency of food conversion. AGRIPRO® products offer solutions and applications in all of these industries and will be progressively targeted as BioProspect moves to commercialise a range of AGRIPRO® products including GI-GUARD® branded products for gastro-intestinal care.