Efko plans to open a cluster for the production of enzyme preparations for animals in 2027

"As a result of the implementation of the entire project, there will be a full-scale production that can help overcome dependence on enzyme preparations (imported - ed.) in Russia," Dobrovolskaya said during the forum "Biotechnologies in agriculture: national priorities and cooperation in the EAEU space."
 
“This is a full-cycle project — from the creation of micro-organisms that are superproducers of feed enzymes to the production of enzyme preparations,” she stressed, adding that following the results of its implementation, the company expects a significant increase, up to 61%, in the share of domestic feed enzymes. In 2021, the total consumption of feed enzymes in the Russian Federation was 5.34 thousand tons, while imports accounted for 85%, and by 2027 the company expects an increase in total consumption to 5.6 thousand tons and a decrease in the share of imported products to 39%.
 
“Enzymes break down and make the main components of plant-containing feeds — polysaccharides, fats — more accessible for digestion by animals and birds, and it becomes possible for expensive feed components to be cheaper without reducing productivity. Today in Russia, the level of provision with domestic enzyme preparations is only 15% , the rest are imported, imports come from the territory of the EU countries. Therefore, the challenge in terms of supply with them is now quite serious," Dobrovolskaya noted.
 
At the first stage of the project, the production capacity will be 30,000 tons per year, according to the results of the second, it will increase to 300 tons per year in 2025, and as a result of the implementation of the entire project in 2027, it will amount to 2,000 tons of enzyme preparations annually. "Pilot production has already been created, on its basis, cultivation conditions, conditions for optimizing technological parameters, stability indicators and other parameters have been worked out. Large-scale production has begun this year," she specified.
 
The Efko group of companies is one of the largest manufacturers of the food industry in Russia. The group is engaged in the processing of oilseeds, the production of sauces, oil and fat, dairy and sour-milk products. The main beneficiary is Valery Kustov. Oksana Lut, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, reported in December that Efko plans to launch the industrial production of enzymes for livestock products by 2027.