Ivo Lansbergen is the President of Animal Nutrition & Health at dsm-firmenich. He holds a master’s in science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Enschede, Netherlands. He joined DSM in 1997 and has held various positions within the company. In 2019, he took over the leadership of the Animal Nutrition & Health business, transforming it into a leading solutions provider. Under his guidance, strategic acquisitions strengthened the firm’s expertise in animal health and nutrition. Mr.Lansbergen is committed to driving sustainable animal protein production and reducing on-farm livestock emissions by 2030, aligned with the company’s Food System Commitments.
How long have you worked at DSM and has all that time been devoted to Animal Nutrition & Health? Why did you decide that DSM was a career choice for yourself?
I’ve grown up with DSM, having been with the company now for 26 years. I have a degree in chemical engineering and started my career as a Process Engineer at DSM Resins. I’ve held a variety of roles in many of the different business lines, including chemicals, materials, human nutrition and most recently Animal Nutrition & Health. One thing that strongly appealed to me is the company’s ability to transform itself repeatedly over time, along with a clear dedication to sustainability which is also a core tenet of dsm-firmenich.
The industry in the Europe has set high standards when it comes to food safety especially in the area of mycotoxins, etc. Do you believe the rest of the world is capable of reaching these same food safety standards or will we have to settle for various and different requirements from country-to-country?
Mycotoxins jeopardise both animal and human health and pose a direct threat to food safety and food security. Not all mycotoxins are regulated, and even contamination levels below legal limits can still cause problems for farm animals and producers. Food safety standards vary per jurisdiction and continually evolve. Expanding scientific knowledge on mycotoxins and other contaminants contribute to enhancing food safety standards not only in Europe but also on a worldwide basis. Higher standards help ensure that every person has access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food.
Do mycotoxins play a role in food safety for farmed fish species now that we are using more grain-based proteins in fish diets?
Mycotoxins have a significant impact on feed safety for farmed fish species. Mycotoxin contamination can adversely affect the health, welfare, and performance of aquatic animals, leading to substantial economic losses, estimated at billions of dollars globally each year. Moreover, there is a risk of mycotoxin carryover to human food. Recent data shows that over 90 percent of aquafeed samples contain multiple mycotoxins, with feed materials like corn by-products, rice bran, soy, and wheat being notably contaminated. With the growing use of plant proteins, cheaper raw materials, and the influence of climate change, the mycotoxin threat is expected to increase further in the future.
What is your view on the future ability of farmed fish to meet growing protein demand globally? Is aquaculture a ‘silver bullet’ in being able to produce sustainable proteins with minimal impact on the environment?
Aquaculture can meaningfully contribute to meeting the growing global protein demand sustainably. Improving the productivity and sustainability of all farmed species is crucial to meet the needs of a growing population within planetary boundaries. While aquaculture companies are already positioned well in sustainability rankings, there is room for improvement, particularly in areas such as environmental footprinting and the adoption of innovative feed ingredients. Incorporating net-zero single cell proteins can further enhance sustainability by reducing reliance on marine resources and volatile commodities while addressing land use concerns.
What are likely to be the future challenges for fish farmers in meeting a demand for protein when competing with land-based livestock production which has had many decades of development and achieving efficiencies? Will farmed fish be competitive with the chicken on the plate in future?
As well as space to grow, future growth of the industry relies on the scale and availability of affordable, low footprint raw materials with the right nutritional profile, and there will be new and continued challenges in health and welfare of farmed aquaculture species. Production efficiency also drives sustainability of course and a combination of nutritional interventions and data-based decision-making tools can support sustainable growth of aquaculture and accelerate progress in addressing these issues.
