The poultry feed industry in Europe plays a crucial role in livestock production, serving as a key component for bird nutrition. Companies in this sector include large feed producers, innovative startups, and research institutions, focusing on developing sustainable and efficient feed solutions. They offer a variety of products, from traditional feed mixed with additives to innovative alternatives aimed at improving poultry health and growth. Sustainability is a major trend driving industry change, with increasing emphasis on plant-based proteins and reducing environmental impacts. The sector also adapts to evolving regulations and consumer demands for health-conscious poultry products.


This list features 12 prominent investors in Europe’s poultry feed industry, including venture capital, private equity, and corporate entities. Based in locations like Brussels, Zurich, and Paris, these investors range in size from small firms to extensive corporate giants. Founded from 1958 to 2016, they collectively invested in 2024 an impressive variety of projects, focusing on poultry health, nutrition, and sustainable practices to meet growing demand. Their commitment to fostering innovation is evident in the high number of deals finalized over the past year, indicating a vibrant investment landscape.


Top 12 Poultry Feed Investors in Europe


1. Unigrains

  • Website: unigrains.fr
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1963
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: unigrains

Unigrains is a private equity investment firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 1963. With over 60 years of experience, Unigrains specializes in the agro-food and agro-industry sectors, providing financial and strategic support to businesses to help them adapt to market changes. The firm has supported more than 1,000 companies and manages significant assets aimed at fostering growth and sustainability in agriculture and food production. Among its notable transactions, Unigrains has invested in companies such as Cooperl, which raised $820,137,900 in 1995 and is involved in the poultry sector, and Terrena and Arterris, which are also key players in the agricultural industry. These investments highlight Unigrains' commitment to supporting businesses that are integral to the poultry feed supply chain.


2. European Innovation Council (EIC)


The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Founded in 1958, the EIC offers various funding programs, including the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. The EIC provides business acceleration services, networking opportunities, and prizes to foster innovation in multiple sectors. Notably, the EIC has been involved in funding transactions relevant to the poultry feed industry, such as grants to Aviwell, a company focused on poultry health and nutrition, and participation in funding rounds for FarmInsect, which leverages insect technology that could be applicable in sustainable poultry feed production. These transactions highlight the EIC's commitment to supporting innovative solutions that can enhance the poultry feed sector.


3. The Yield Lab

  • Website: theyieldlab.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Killiney, Dublin, Ireland
  • Founded year: 2014
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: theyieldlab

The Yield Lab is a venture capital firm based in Killiney, Dublin, Ireland, founded in 2014. It specializes in agrifood technology investments, supporting early-stage companies with venture capital funding, access to a global network of experts, and educational resources. The firm has been involved in various transactions, including Ecto, an aquaculture software firm, and Planetarians, an upcycled flour maker. Although their recent investments do not directly pertain to poultry feed, their overarching focus on agrifood technology indicates a potential interest in innovations that could impact the poultry feed industry. Their investment in Aptimmune, which raised $6 million in Series B funding, also suggests a broader interest in animal health and nutrition, which could intersect with poultry feed innovations.


4. Blue Horizon

  • Website: bluehorizon.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: bluehorizoncorp

Blue Horizon is a Zurich-based venture capital firm founded in 2016, dedicated to investing in sustainable food systems. The firm supports mission-aligned founders in the bioeconomy by providing funding and resources to scale innovative solutions, particularly in alternative proteins and sustainable practices. Notably, Blue Horizon has participated in several transactions that are relevant to the poultry feed context. For instance, they invested in SuperMeat, an Israeli start-up developing lab-grown 'clean chicken' products, which directly relates to poultry. They also invested in NuCicer, an agri-food technology company focused on chickpea varieties with higher protein content, which could have implications for poultry feed. Their commitment to sustainable food practices positions them as a significant player in the evolving landscape of food production and protein sourcing.


5. Nutreco

  • Website: nutreco.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: nutreco

Nutreco is an animal nutrition company based in Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands, founded in 1994. The company specializes in providing innovative feed solutions for livestock and aquaculture, including poultry feed. Nutreco's offerings aim to enhance productivity and support animal health, serving farmers and feed producers with a focus on sustainable practices. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Hi-Pro Feeds, a leading manufacturer of high-performance animal feed in North America, which likely includes poultry feed products. Additionally, their acquisition of Animal Nutrition and Health (ANH) in South Africa and the establishment of Skretting Nigeria further demonstrate their commitment to expanding their presence in the animal nutrition market, which encompasses poultry. Nutreco's strategic investments indicate a strong position in the animal feed industry, making them a significant player in the poultry feed sector as well.


6. EIT Food

  • Website: eitfood.eu
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 37
  • LinkedIn: eit-food

EIT Food is a not-for-profit organization based in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 2016. It focuses on transforming the food system through innovation, education, and entrepreneurship. EIT Food supports agrifood startups and entrepreneurs by providing resources, funding opportunities, and educational programs aimed at creating healthier and sustainable food solutions. Their initiatives engage various stakeholders, including businesses and the public, to foster collaboration and drive change in the food sector. In 2024, EIT Food was involved in 37 investments, including notable transactions such as Onego Bio, which raised $40 million in a Series A funding round, indicating their active role in supporting innovative food technologies. Other transactions include BioFeyn and various non-equity assistance funding rounds for startups like Neggst and Ficosterra, showcasing their commitment to advancing the agrifood sector, which may include poultry feed innovations.


7. IDIA Capital Investissement


IDIA Capital Investissement is a private equity firm based in Montrouge, Île-De-France, France, founded in 1980. The firm specializes in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies (ETIs) in their growth, offering investment management services and strategic guidance. IDIA focuses on sectors such as agro-food, energy transition, and viticulture. Notably, they have participated in transactions like the €15M funding for Invers, which is involved in agricultural innovation, and have previously invested in companies like Océalia and Axereal, which are linked to the agro-food sector. Their involvement in these sectors indicates a potential interest in the poultry feed industry, making them a relevant player in this space.


8. Seventure Partners

  • Website: seventure.fr
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1997
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 21
  • LinkedIn: seventure-partners

Seventure Partners is a Paris-based venture capital firm founded in 1997, specializing in managing funds for innovative companies primarily in the digital technology and life sciences sectors. The firm focuses on supporting startups and growth-stage companies through strategic funding. Among their notable transactions, Seventure Partners has invested in String Bio, an Indian biotech company developing next-generation proteins for the global feed and food industries, highlighting their interest in the feed sector. They also participated in the funding of Proteon Pharmaceuticals, which aims to reduce antibiotic use in animal agriculture, further demonstrating their commitment to improving animal health and feed efficiency. Additionally, their investment in Animab, which focuses on developing monoclonal antibodies for livestock health, showcases their engagement in the broader animal health and feed context.


9. European Investment Bank (EIB)


The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a public entity based in Luxembourg that provides financial services, including loans, equity investments, guarantees, and advisory services, to support sustainable projects across various sectors. Founded in 1958, the EIB aims to promote growth and job creation through its funding initiatives. Among its notable transactions, the EIB has invested €40 million in Devenish Nutrition, an agri-technology company focused on research and development in animal nutrition, which is crucial for poultry feed. Additionally, the EIB has provided funding to In Ovo, a Dutch company dedicated to stopping the culling of male chicks in the egg industry, further emphasizing its involvement in the poultry sector. These investments highlight the EIB's role in supporting innovation and sustainability in animal nutrition and welfare.


10. Leaps by Bayer

  • Website: leaps.bayer.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: leapsbybayer

Leaps by Bayer is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2015. It focuses on biotechnology and agriculture, investing in early-stage companies that are pursuing scientific breakthroughs to tackle significant global challenges in health and food security. The firm provides funding and active incubation to support the development of innovative solutions in these sectors. Notably, Leaps by Bayer has participated in transactions such as the Seed investment in NuCicer, which aims to scale production of chickpea varieties with higher protein content, relevant for poultry feed. Additionally, they have invested in Covercress, which is involved in agricultural innovations, and Amfora, a biotech startup that could have implications for feed ingredients. These investments demonstrate their commitment to enhancing agricultural practices, including those related to poultry feed.


11. dsm-firmenich

  • Website: dsm-firmenich.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: dsmfirmenich

dsm-firmenich is a for-profit company based in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands, operating primarily in the nutrition, health, and beauty sectors. The company offers a diverse range of products, including fragrances, nutritional supplements, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. As a venture capital investor, dsm-firmenich has been involved in several significant transactions that highlight its interest in innovative solutions within the food and feed sectors. Notably, it participated in the Series A funding round for Deep Branch Biotechnology, a UK-based alternative feed ingredient producer, which raised €8M to develop sustainable feed solutions. Additionally, dsm-firmenich has invested in Meatable, a cultivated meat company, which, while not directly poultry feed, indicates a broader interest in sustainable food production. These transactions reflect dsm-firmenich's commitment to enhancing product offerings and addressing sustainability challenges in the food industry, including poultry feed.


12. Cibus Capital

  • Website: cibusfund.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2017
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: cibus-fund

Cibus Capital LLP is an investment advisory firm based in London, specializing in sustainable food and agriculture. Founded in 2017, the firm focuses on private equity and venture capital investments in companies that leverage technology to enhance food production and sustainability. Their clients primarily include businesses in the food and agriculture sectors seeking to innovate and improve their operations. Notable transactions include investments in companies like Believer Meats, which raised significant funding for alternative protein production, and PharmaZen, which focuses on nutraceutical products. While these investments are not directly in poultry feed, they reflect Cibus Capital's commitment to advancing sustainable practices in the food industry, which could encompass poultry feed innovations in the future.



Poultry Feed Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
UnigrainsParis, Île-De-France, France51-20019634
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
The Yield LabKilliney, Dublin, Ireland11-5020142
Blue HorizonZurich, Zurich, Switzerland11-5020162
NutrecoAmersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands10001+19941
EIT FoodLeuven, Flanders, Belgium51-200201637
IDIA Capital InvestissementMontrouge, Île-De-France, France11-5019801
Seventure PartnersParis, Île-De-France, France11-50199721
European Investment Bank (EIB)Luxembourg1001-5000195899
Leaps by BayerBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201516
dsm-firmenichMaastricht, Limburg, Netherlands10001+3
Cibus CapitalLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-5020172


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