In 2020, animal nutrition company Novus International Inc. announced plans to redefine its business through an enhanced focus on gut health and innovation. The Missouri-based company is making good on its strategy with a new partnership.

“Novus and its board of directors are very excited to announce the partnership with Agrivida,” said Novus Chief Executive Officer and President Dan Meagher. “Agrivida’s novel and innovative technology allows for the delivery of feed additives in a completely unique and very sustainable way – directly inside of the grain. It is technology like this that will further show Novus’s commitment to our customers: to help them produce wholesome, affordable food in an efficient and sustainable way.”

Agrivida, a privately held biotechnology company based in Massachusetts, was founded in 2003 by scientists from MIT who discovered a way to incorporate feed additives directly into corn grown for production animals. By having the additive inside of the grain, the molecules are more efficiently absorbed, and producers can improve both animal performance and their bottom line.

The partnership combines Novus’s nearly 30 years of research, sales, and marketing experience with Agrivida’s unique technology, allowing both companies to grow the customer base as well as explore new innovative products and solutions through R&D collaboration.

Rajiv Singh, CEO of Agrivida, echoed Meagher's enthusiasm about the partnership: "The Agrivida team has been undertaking groundbreaking work in biotechnology innovations to express functional proteins in grain. That work has led to the development of a sustainable production platform with application potential for many types of feed additives, and we are thrilled to partner with Novus, an organization that shares our commitment to improving the world of animal health and nutrition through new technologies.”

Meagher continued, “We believe our customers value innovative, sustainable solutions to their challenges that also improve their cost position, and they will be eager to integrate a novel technology that delivers these advantages. We look forward to bringing this technology to customers and having them join us on the journey to continue transforming our industry.”

Novus is making Agrivida products available to its customers in the U.S. immediately, while registration is underway to expand to other countries.