Microwave moisture measurement. (Image source: Hydronix)

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ZIVO Bioscience and top animal health firm launch studies on poultry immune-boosting compounds

ZIVO Bioscience, Inc., a biotech and agtech research company developing immune-boosting compounds from proprietary algal cultures, has announced a new partnership with one of the world’s leading animal health companies

The collaboration focuses on advancing ZIVO’s novel biologics for use in the poultry industry and may expand to other livestock and companion animals in the future.

The companies have signed two agreements to conduct independent studies that will explore the potential of ZIVO’s compounds to support poultry health. The goal is to enhance existing vaccination strategies and help address diseases that continue to affect poultry production.

Expanding poultry protection

The first agreement involves a 42-day challenge study focused on coccidiosis, a common and damaging parasitic disease in poultry. This study aims to confirm earlier positive results from ZIVO’s compound, now used alongside the partner’s vaccine. It will also collect samples to evaluate new performance measures. Findings will support ZIVO’s regulatory process with the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics and help establish a strong business case for commercial use.

The second agreement outlines a study of ZIVO’s compounds using a model for a viral poultry disease that causes high mortality and has no available cure. The virus was chosen for its well-known in vivo model, clear clinical results and short testing timeline. The goal is to confirm the antiviral effects ZIVO has already observed in earlier trials, including reduced severity and spread of low-pathogenic avian influenza. Positive outcomes could lead to broader studies covering more viral diseases.

The collaborating animal health company will fully fund both studies. Researchers will assess how ZIVO’s compounds can shorten the time between vaccination and immunity, protect birds in vulnerable periods, enhance immune response and reduce the impact of diseases that suppress the immune system.

“This collaboration supports our strategy to partner with a major animal health company that brings scientific expertise and R&D infrastructure to advance our innovations to global markets efficiently and at scale,” said John Payne, chairman and CEO of ZIVO Bioscience. “We are aligned with this company on the broad applicability of our immune-modulating technology and its potential to create a disruptive, non-antibiotic therapeutic platform.”

Horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning could be a huge boost to the global dairy farming industry. (Image source: UCL)

Researchers have developed a new technique to extract tiny cellulose strands from cow dung and turn them into manufacturing-grade cellulose

A study published in The Journal of Cleaner Production, describes the potential of a new ‘pressurised spinning’ innovation that uses cow dung as a raw material to create cellulose materials more cheaply and cleanly than some current manufacturing methods. Cellulose is one of the world’s most commonly used manufacturing materials, and can be found in everything from cling film to surgical masks, paper products, textiles, foods and pharmaceuticals.  

Professor Edirisinghe, the senior author of the study, considered the possibility of extracting tiny fragments of cellulose present in cow manure and turning it into manufacturing-grade cellulose materials. He first used mild chemical reactions and homogenisation, which was successful in fragment extraction. However, the use of pressurised spinning technology to turn these fragments into fibres failed. 

However, upon trial and error, a new technique called horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning, proved successful. This is an energy efficient process that doesn’t require the high voltages of other fibre production techniques such as electrospinning. This advancement is a prime example of circular economy and is the first time that manufacturing-grade cellulose has been derived from animal waste. 

Horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning could be a huge boost to the global dairy farming industry, given the fact that animal waste management continues to be a growing problem globally. The research team is currently seeking opportunities to work with dairy farmers to take advantage of the technology and scale it up.

By installing additional PEM electrolysers, Hy2gen plans to upgrade the facility by the end of 2025. (Image source: Hy2gen)

Hy2gen’s ATLANTIS facility, located in Werlte, Germany, has been certified by CertifHy as the first site in the country to produce RFNBO-compliant e-methane under the EU’s sustainability framework for renewable fuels

This certification confirms that ATLANTIS meets all EU criteria for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO), including sustainability, traceability, and lifecycle emissions. By installing additional polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysers, Hy2gen plans to upgrade the facility by the end of 2025, to meet the growing demand for renewable hydrogen and its derivatives. 

As part of its strategy, Hy2gen has also signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a German hydropower plant to supply additional renewable electricity to the ATLANTIS plant in the future. This will enable Hy2gen to expand the facility’s electrolysis capacity, increasing its ability to supply certified fuels to the European and international markets.

Managing director of Hy2gen Deutschland GmbH, Matthias Lisson expressed pride in the company being one of the first RFNBO hydrogen and e-methane molecules producing site in the world. “Our team at the ATLANTIS plant in Werlte are pioneers in the production of e-methane. Right now, we are operating the biggest e-methane production site in the world,” said Lisson. With the RFNBO certification, we increase the value of our molecules, as it offers our clients the security that our products are 100% renewable and can be used to decarbonise industrial sectors to comply with EU regulations.”