Delacon Biotechnik

What Delacon Biotechnik does

Delacon Biotechnik GmbH is an Austrian-headquartered producer of plant-based phytogenic feed additives for animal nutrition, founded in 1988 in Steyregg by Helmut Dedl and now operationally headquartered at the Delacon Hub in Engerwitzdorf, Austria. The company formulates and manufactures standardized combinations of bioactive plant compounds — essential oils, saponins, spices, and bitter substances — for use in poultry, swine, ruminant, and aquaculture feed under brands including Biostrong™ (510, Protect, Comfort, Fertile), Fresta™ (F, Protect), Actifor™ (Power, Boost, Pro), Aromex™ Pro, and Syrena™ Boost. Its technical differentiation rests on a patented heat-resistant microencapsulation process that protects volatile active substances through feed processing (pelleting, mixing) and storage while enabling controlled release in the gastrointestinal tract, alongside GC and GCMS analytical methodology for product standardization.

The business operates a B2B sales-led model with direct sales subsidiaries across nine countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, France, USA, Singapore, China, and Hungary), an exclusive US distribution partnership with Land O'Lakes/PMI Nutritional Additives, and a distributor network spanning more than 30 countries. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales of feed additives plus a complementary Performizer™ professional service for ration optimization and feed cost reduction. Quote-based, multi-year enterprise pricing applies; no public pricing is disclosed. Production is consolidated at the €20M+ Delacon Hub, operational since 2020 with ~20,000 tonnes annual capacity and a renewable-energy footprint established in 2023.

Delacon was the first company worldwide to obtain EU zootechnical authorization for a phytogenic feed additive (Fresta™ F in 2012), a regulatory milestone under EU Regulation (EC) No. 1831/2003 requiring EFSA dossier evaluation, and secured a second registration for Biostrong™ 510 EC in 2017. Since 2022, Delacon has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cargill, integrating its phytogenic specialization with Cargill's global animal nutrition network and positioning the combined entity as the global market leader in phytogenic feed additives. The company is led by CEO Markus Dedl (since 2010), COO Michael Fischer (since June 2021), and CBO Stéphane Jolain, supported by a community of 130+ experts across R&D, production, supply chain, and sales and marketing.

Name

Delacon Biotechnik

Legal name

Delacon Biotechnik GmbH

Website

https://delacon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Delacon Biotechnik produces plant-based phytogenic feed additives — including essential oils and saponin-based formulations — for poultry, swine, ruminant, and aquaculture producers globally through patented microencapsulation technology under brands such as Biostrong™, Fresta™, Actifor™, Aromex™, and Syrena™.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Feed Additives

NAICS

Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Phytogenics & Botanicals (Essential Oils, Plant Extracts) (AFADAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Feed Additives & Medicated Feed (Coccidiostats, Ionophores, Antibiotic Alternatives) (HLAMAHAI), Carrier Systems & Microencapsulated Additive Premixes (Protected Nutrients, Slow-Release) (AFADAGAN), Performance & Metabolic Modifiers (e.g., Betaine, Carnitine) (AFADAKAI)

Keywords

• Phytogenic feed additives
• Animal nutrition solutions
• Plant-based feed additives
• Livestock feed supplements
• Essential oil feed additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Steyregg

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Phytogenic Feed Additives: Sale of standardized phytogenic feed solutions for poultry, swine, ruminants, and aquaculture. Products include Biostrong™, Fresta™, Actifor™, Aromex™, and Syrena™ brands. Revenue generated through direct sales and distributor partnerships globally.
2. Performizer™ Ration Optimization Service: Technical service providing matrix values for ration optimization based on phytogenic product efficacy. Helps customers optimize feed composition and reduce feed costs while maintaining performance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Delacon Biotechnik manufactures and sells standardized, science-based phytogenic (plant-based) feed additives for livestock, poultry, swine, ruminants, and aquaculture. Products combine bioactive compounds such as essential oils, saponins, spices, and bitter substances, and are stabilized using a patented heat-resistant microencapsulation technology that enables controlled release in the animal's gastrointestinal tract. The portfolio includes branded product lines Biostrong™, Fresta™, Actifor™, Aromex™, and Syrena™, complemented by the Performizer™ ration optimization concept.

Product overview

Delacon offers a comprehensive portfolio of phytogenic (plant-based) feed additives organized by animal species: poultry (Biostrong™ line: 510, Protect, Comfort, Fertile), swine (Fresta™ F, Fresta™ Protect, Aromex™ Pro), ruminants (Actifor™ line: Power, Boost, Pro, and for calves), and aquaculture (Syrena™ Boost). The products are standardized, science-based combinations of bioactive plant compounds including essential oils, saponins, spices, and bitter substances. All products share core capabilities around feed intake enhancement, nutrient digestibility, and gut health support. Delacon also offers the Performizer™ concept for feed cost optimization. The company operates the patented microencapsulation technology to protect volatile active substances and enable controlled release in the gastrointestinal tract. Delacon has achieved two EU zootechnical authorizations (Biostrong™ 510 EC and Biostrong™ All Natural) representing the scientific gold standard for feed additives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Biostrong: Product brand for poultry solutions including Biostrong 510, Biostrong Protect, Biostrong Comfort, and Biostrong Fertile
• Fresta
• Aromex
• Actifor
• Syrena
• Performizer

Products and services

• Biostrong™ 510 Phytogenic feed additive for poultry that improves feed conversion and supports growth and laying performance in chickens for fattening, reared laying hens, and minor avian species.
• Biostrong™ Protect Phytogenic solution for poultry that supports gut health and maintains performance under challenging conditions such as coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis.
• Biostrong™ Comfort Phytogenic feed additive specifically developed to support poultry under heat stress conditions by promoting feed intake and feed efficiency.
• Biostrong™ Fertile Phytogenic solution for boosting normal breeder flock fertility in poultry.
• Fresta™ F Phytogenic solution for pigs that enhances feed intake and supports feed utilization in piglets and sows, improving litter performance.
• Fresta™ Protect Phytogenic feed solution specifically developed for piglets in the post-weaning period to support gut health and feed intake.
• Aromex™ Pro Phytogenic solution for growing-finishing pigs that supports growth performance maintenance and may help reduce ammonia emissions.
• Actifor™ (calves) Phytogenic solutions for ruminants targeting calves, designed to support feed intake, rumen function, and protein efficiency in young cattle.
• Actifor™ Power Phytogenic solution for beef production that supports feed intake, rumen pH maintenance, and energy efficiency in ruminants, improving average daily gain and feed conversion.
• Actifor™ Boost & Actifor™ Pro Phytogenic solutions for dairy and beef cattle production that optimize feed intake, milk yield, milk protein content, and protein efficiency while reducing milk urea.
• Syrena™ Boost Phytogenic feed additive for aquaculture species that supports performance and profitability by improving nutrient utilization and feed efficiency in fish and shrimp.
• Performizer™ Solution concept that applies phytogenic products to optimize feed formulation, enabling ration optimization to reduce feed costs per ton while maintaining performance. Provides matrix values and optimized rations from Delacon's expert team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Feed conversion ratio improvement in broilers: 48 trials demonstrated improved feed utilization and growth performance with Biostrong™ 510
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alltech: Global animal nutrition company offering natural feed additives including yeast, probiotics, and botanical solutions across poultry, swine, ruminants, and aquaculture. Direct competitor in the broader antibiotic-alternative category.
• Phytobiotics Futterzusatzstoffe GmbH: German-headquartered direct competitor specializing in phytogenic feed additives for livestock. Closely comparable product category (essential oils, plant extracts), species coverage, and B2B premix distribution model.
• Kemin Industries: US-based ingredient manufacturer with a sizable animal nutrition and feed additives division including essential-oil and botanical products for livestock. Overlaps with Delacon in species coverage, B2B sales motion, and premix integration.
• Pancosma (ADM Animal Nutrition): Swiss-origin feed additive specialist (now part of ADM) producing plant-based and trace mineral additives for livestock. Directly comparable product portfolio and B2B premix/blending distribution model.
• BIOMIN (DSM-Firmenich): Specializes in mycotoxin binders, probiotics, and phytogenic feed additives under DSM-Firmenich Animal Nutrition. Directly competes with Delacon in antibiotic-alternative feed additives across poultry, swine, and ruminants.
• Orffa Additives BV: Dutch feed additive specialist distributing phytogenics, organic acids, and trace minerals across Europe and globally. Comparable B2B distributor-led model and overlapping product categories with Delacon.

Broad incumbents

• ADM Animal Nutrition: Major global feed manufacturer and additive supplier with full premix/compound feed operations including a phytogenics portfolio via Pancosma. Comparable customer base and species coverage.
• Novus International: Global animal nutrition and feed additive company offering methionine, trace minerals, and feed ingredient solutions. Comparable in B2B premix sales model and livestock customer base, though broader portfolio.
• Cargill Animal Nutrition (premix and compound feed): Delacon's parent company and largest animal nutrition franchise globally. Operates compound feed, premix, and additive businesses that distribute Delacon phytogenic products; both serve the same livestock integrator customers.

Emerging players

• Nor-Feed (Nor-Feed Sud): French animal nutrition company focused on plant-based feed additives (phytogenics, saponins, essential oils) for poultry, swine, and ruminants. Directly comparable product positioning though smaller scale.

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DelaconPhyto

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delacon Biotechnik