Nutraferma

What Nutraferma does

Nutraferma is a privately held U.S. biotechnology company (Nutraferma, Inc.) that develops and manufactures specialty feed ingredients for the livestock and aquaculture industries. Founded in 2007-2008 and headquartered in the Sioux City, Iowa / North Sioux City, South Dakota metro area, the company operates two solid-state fermentation production facilities — one in North Sioux City, SD and one in South Korea — and claims to be a pioneer of large-scale solid-state aerobic fermentation for the feed industry.

The company's product portfolio is organized into four categories spanning seven core SKUs: Direct-Fed Microbials (Natufermen, LactoPlan), Fermented Soy Proteins (PepSoyGen, NF8), Peptide Proteins (UltraPro+), and Enzymes & Enhancements (Enervance, Artvill). Underlying these products are patented viable microbial strains — Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum (GB-LP1), and Pediococcus pentosaceus — and proprietary solid-state and micro-aerobic fermentation processes that preserve metabolites (organic acids, amino acids, nucleic acids, enzymes) that conventional manufacturing is said to wash away. The most differentiated technical claim is the LactoPlan strain, which purportedly retains guaranteed cell counts after pelleting at 95°C and after one year of storage.

Nutraferma operates a B2B, sales-led go-to-market model, selling proprietary ingredient inputs directly to feed manufacturers via a sales representative team that distributes white papers and research bulletins, supplemented by channel partnerships (notably Carval Co.) and presence at industry trade shows such as VIV MEA and IPPE. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. End customers are feed manufacturers serving poultry, turkey, piglet, and aquaculture (fish and shrimp) production, with stated use cases centered on replacing antibiotic growth promoters, displacing animal proteins such as fishmeal and spray-dried plasma, and improving gut integrity and feed conversion.

Name

Nutraferma

Legal name

Nutraferma, Inc.

Website

https://nutraferma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nutraferma is a U.S. biotech firm that uses proprietary solid-state fermentation to manufacture direct-fed microbials, fermented soy proteins, peptides, and enzyme feed ingredients for livestock and aquaculture feed manufacturers, with production in the USA and South Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Feed Ingredients

NAICS

Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119), Animal Food Manufacturing (31111), Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAMAHAH

Nutraceuticals & Functional Ingredients for Animal Diets (Probiotics, Omega-3, Joint, GI)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Nutrition & Therapeutic Diets

SECONDARYAFAJAHAH

Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Ingredients & Additives/Proteins & Protein Ingredients (Plant/Animal Proteins, Protein Isolates/Concentrates)

SECONDARYEUAAAIAI

Bio-based Animal Feed Ingredients & Nutrition Co-products (e.g., DDGS, protein meals, yeast)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Bioenergy, Natural Gas & Biomass/Biorefining & Bio-based Chemicals (Co-products, Bioproducts)

Keywords

• Animal feed ingredients
• Microbial fermentation
• Direct-fed microbials
• Fermented soy protein
• Feed enzymes

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Animal Feed Ingredient Products: Nutraferma generates revenue through the sale of proprietary biotech products for animal feed including direct-fed microbials (Natufermen, LactoPlan), fermented soy proteins (PepSoyGen, NF8), peptide proteins (UltraPro+), and enzyme enhancements (Enervance, Artvill) to livestock and aquaculture feed manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nutraferma develops and manufactures fermentation-derived animal nutrition ingredients, including direct-fed microbials, fermented soy proteins, peptide proteins, and enzymes, for sale to livestock and aquaculture feed producers. The company applies solid-state fermentation bioprocessing at its USA and South Korea plants to convert soy and other substrates into functional feed additive ingredients. Its branded ingredient portfolio (PepSoyGen, Natufermen, LactoPlan, UltraPro+, Enervance, Artvill, NF8) targets feed manufacturers seeking probiotic, protein, and enzyme inputs.

Product overview

Nutraferma is an innovative biotech solutions company that developed a portfolio of feed ingredient products using proprietary solid-state fermentation technology. The product portfolio consists of seven core products organized into four categories: Direct-Fed Microbials (Natufermen, LactoPlan), Fermented Soy Proteins (PepSoyGen, NF8), Peptide Proteins (UltraPro+), and Enzymes & Enhancements (Enervance, Artvill). The products contain patented viable microorganisms (Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus) and valuable metabolites that are preserved through the company's solid-state fermentation process. The portfolio serves multiple animal species including poultry, turkey, piglets, and aquaculture, with products designed to improve gut integrity, feed efficiency, average daily gain, and protein digestibility. Nutraferma pioneered large-scale solid-state aerobic fermentation and operates production plants in the United States and South Korea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nutraferma: Innovative biotech solutions company for the feed ingredient industry, specializing in direct-fed microbials, high-value proteins, yeast products, bio-active peptides, and phytogenic additives.

Products and services

• PepSoyGen Branded fermented soy protein ingredient produced via solid-state fermentation for use as a protein source in livestock and aquaculture feed formulations.
• Natufermen Branded direct-fed microbial (probiotic) ingredient produced via solid-state fermentation for inclusion in livestock and aquaculture feeds to support gut health and performance.
• LactoPlan Branded lactic acid bacteria-based direct-fed microbial ingredient line for animal feed applications, produced using Nutraferma's fermentation capabilities.
• UltraPro+ Branded protein feed ingredient produced through Nutraferma's fermentation process, providing an enhanced protein source for livestock and aquaculture feed formulations.
• Enervance Branded enzyme-based feed ingredient produced via fermentation to improve nutrient utilization and feed efficiency in livestock and aquaculture diets.
• Artvill Branded fermentation-derived ingredient in Nutraferma's portfolio, offered as a specialty component for animal feed formulations.
• NF8 Branded direct-fed microbial / probiotic ingredient in Nutraferma's product line, produced via solid-state fermentation for animal feed applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Piglets fed UltraPro+ had significantly improved average daily gain and feed efficiency compared to fishmeal (Kansas State University)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Carval Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2014Carval Co. serves as a distributor for Nutraferma products, extending market reach to additional customers and regions. Announced as part of Nutraferma's expansion of distribution points to countries across the globe.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alltech: Privately held global animal nutrition company focused on yeast-based, fermented, and enzyme feed ingredients. Comparable as a fermentation-led, B2B animal-feed ingredient specialist with overlapping product categories (DFMs, enzymes, protein alternatives).
• Chr. Hansen (now Novonesis): Global leader in microbial and probiotic solutions for animal nutrition, including heat-stable direct-fed microbials and silage inoculants. Directly comparable to Nutraferma's Natufermen and LactoPlan DFM portfolio and the broader solid-state fermentation value proposition, though at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Kemin Industries: Global ingredient manufacturer with a dedicated animal nutrition and health division producing probiotics, enzymes, and gut-health solutions. Comparable as a specialty animal-feed ingredient competitor with patented technologies and species-specific product lines.
• Lallemand Animal Nutrition: Specialist in yeast, bacteria, and fermentation-based animal nutrition products including probiotics and silage additives. Highly comparable to Nutraferma's microbial strain portfolio and fermentation-driven approach to gut health and feed efficiency.
• Novozymes (now Novonesis): World-leading enzyme manufacturer serving animal feed among other industries. Directly comparable to Nutraferma's Enervance enzyme product line and shares the fermentation-manufacturing technology foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Phibro Animal Health: Diversified animal-health company with nutritional specialty products and feed additives. Overlaps with Nutraferma in performance-oriented feed ingredients, particularly for poultry and swine, and competes for similar B2B feed-manufacturer relationships.
• ADM Animal Nutrition: Global agribusiness major with a broad animal-nutrition portfolio spanning feed ingredients, premixes, and specialty proteins. Overlaps with Nutraferma in fermented soy proteins (e.g., soybean processing) and feed additives, but operates as a much larger incumbent with full commodity-to-ingredient integration.
• Cargill Animal Nutrition: One of the largest global animal-nutrition providers with feed, premix, and ingredient offerings including protein meals. Competes with Nutraferma for feed-manufacturer wallets and could replicate specialty fermented-protein products as part of a broader portfolio.
• Evonik Animal Nutrition: Major supplier of amino acids, probiotics, and feed additives for livestock and aquaculture. Comparable to Nutraferma in gut-health and protein-efficiency product lines, with the scale and global service network of a large chemical-nutrition incumbent.

Emerging players

• Biorigin: Brazil-based specialist in yeast-based and fermentation-derived animal-nutrition ingredients, including protein and palatability solutions. Comparable to Nutraferma as a smaller, fermentation-focused feed ingredient competitor with global ambitions in swine, poultry, and aquaculture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nutraferma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Nutraferma