Swiss Institute of Feed Technology

What Swiss Institute of Feed Technology does

Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT), also known as Schule für Futtermitteltechnik, is a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1979 in Uzwil, Switzerland. It operates as the only dedicated feed milling school in Switzerland, accredited by the Association of Swiss Feed Manufacturers (VSF) as a center of excellence. SFT delivers practical, hands-on training in compound feed production using its own industrial-scale machine park, which was recently expanded with relocation to new premises adjacent to Bühler AG's Grain Innovation Center. The core offering is a 10-month part-time Diploma Course in Feed Milling Technology covering process engineering, animal nutrition, automation, and feed mill management, supplemented by an accelerated 5-month 'SMS goes SFT' program for Swiss Milling School graduates and a portfolio of short courses (1-2 week technical courses, a 3-day Executive Course, a 1-week Maintenance Course with electrical/mechanical specializations, and a 4-day Pellet Mill Bootcamp).

The institute generates revenue from three streams: professional training courses (diploma and short courses with per-course fees such as CHF 2,530 for the Pellet Mill Bootcamp), customized in-house seminars delivered at client facilities worldwide, and consulting services covering plant optimization, conversions, inspections, and homogeneity/carry-over testing. Go-to-market is a hybrid of event-driven enrollment via the sft-uzwil.ch website with scheduled annual course publications, and direct sales-led outreach for enterprise training contracts. Distribution combines in-person instruction at the Uzwil training center, on-site delivery at client plants globally, and an OpenOlat-based online webinar series. Customer segments span feed mill industry professionals (primary), maintenance technicians, feed industry managers and executives, and SMS graduates seeking feed specialization. The customer base includes enterprise clients such as Bühler AG (strategic partner and technology provider), ADM, Trouw Nutrition, BioMar, UFA AG, Kunz Kunath, JA-Group, and Weston Animal Nutrition. SFT serves participants from over 75 countries with 624 diploma graduates and over 10,000 short-course alumni since founding, operating with a faculty of 21 experienced lecturers.

Name

Swiss Institute of Feed Technology

Legal name

SFT – Swiss Institute of Feed Technology, Postfach 51, CH-9240 Uzwil, Schweiz

Website

https://sft-uzwil.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT) is a nonprofit training association founded in 1979 in Uzwil, Switzerland, delivering hands-on diploma courses, short courses, customized in-house seminars, and consulting in compound feed milling technology for feed industry professionals and enterprises worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Uzwil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Courses: Revenue from diploma courses, short courses, and specialized training programs in feed milling technology. Course fees include instruction, materials, and sometimes meals and social events.
2. Customized In-House Training: Personalized courses delivered at client facilities or in training center, tailored to specific company needs for plant optimization, maintenance, and process improvements.
3. Consulting Services: On-site consulting for plant optimization, conversions, inspections, and homogeneity/carry-over tests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT) provides professional training and education in compound feed milling technology, including a 10-month diploma program, multiple short courses, customized in-house seminars, online webinars, and on-site consulting services. Instruction is delivered in German, English, and Spanish at its training center in Uzwil, Switzerland, with an extensive industrial machine park enabling hands-on practical learning.

Product overview

The Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT) offers a comprehensive portfolio of training and education services for the feed milling industry. The core offering includes the 10-month Diploma Course in Feed Milling Technology, supplemented by the accelerated 5-month SMS goes SFT program for SMS graduates. Short course offerings include: Core Processes (1 week), Machines and Process Technology (2 weeks), Pellet Mill Bootcamp (4 days), Executive Course (3 days), and Maintenance Course (1 week, available in electrical and mechanical specializations). The institute also provides online webinar series and highly customized seminars delivered on-site at customer premises. Consulting services for plant optimization, conversions, and process testing complement the training portfolio. All programs emphasize hands-on practical training using the institute's extensive machinery park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diploma Course in Feed Milling Technology (Diplomkurs in Mischfuttertechnik) A 10-month part-time diploma program providing comprehensive training in compound feed production technology, covering process engineering, animal nutrition, automation, feed mill management, and sensor technologies. The program includes two 4-week intensive course blocks with written and oral examinations. Designed for professionals working in compound feed manufacturing plants.
• SMS goes SFT An accelerated 5-month diploma program for graduates of the Swiss Milling School (SMS), allowing them to obtain the SFT Feed Production Engineer diploma at reduced time and cost through self-study and intensive classroom training.
• Core Processes in the Feed Industry (Kernprozesse der Futtermittelindustrie) A 1-week introductory course covering the fundamentals of industrial feed production with focus on core processes: size reduction, mixing, and compacting. Participants learn process stages and functional principles of relevant machines and equipment.
• Machines and Process Technology (Maschinen- und Prozesstechnologie) A 2-week course focusing on practical aspects of machinery and process technology, covering productivity, plant accuracy, hygiene, quality, and energy consumption. Includes hands-on sessions on machines in the training center.
• Pellet Mill Bootcamp for Compound Feed (Pelletieren) A 4-day practical workshop providing hands-on knowledge in mechanical and process engineering to optimize pelleting processes and pellet quality. Covers raw material characteristics, conditioning, hygienizing, liquid addition, and practical pelleting trials. Priced at CHF 2,530 excluding VAT.
• Executive Course (Kurs für Fach- und Führungskräfte) A 3-day course for managers in the feed milling industry covering current most important topics, trends, news, and concepts in the feed industry, including long-term development expectations.
• Maintenance Course (Instandhaltungskurs) A 1-week course covering mechanical and electrical maintenance aspects of machines in feed mills, focusing on preventive maintenance practices, troubleshooting techniques, and practical machine repair skills. Available in two specializations: electrical and mechanical.
• Online Webinar Series (Onlinekurse) Online courses for predefined groups or companies emphasizing core feed technology theory and skills to identify bottlenecks and troubleshoot effectively. Modules include Mixing, Size reduction, and Hygienizing/pelleting/cooling. Enrollment capped at 25 participants.
• Customized Seminars (Personalisierte Kurse) Tailored courses designed precisely aligned with company needs, delivered by instructors either on-site at customer premises or in SFT training facilities. Covers specific areas of feed milling technology depth.
• Seminars and Consulting (Seminare & Beratung) On-site consulting services offering personalized advice on plant optimization, conversions, inspections, and homogeneity and carry-over testing. Also includes in-house seminars with simultaneous translation into national languages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Knowledge increase from 10% to 80% in core processes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• African Milling SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Close cooperation between SFT and African Milling School for delivering Executive Courses on site in Nairobi, Kenya. The partnership enables SFT to reach African feed industry professionals with practical training.
• Bühler AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBühler AG is a strategic partner of SFT. The Swiss multinational plant equipment manufacturer collaborates closely with SFT, providing technology and expertise. SFT is located near Bühler's Grain Innovation Center. Bühler AG employs SFT graduates and supports participants through course fee payments and time off allowances.
• Association of Swiss Feed Manufacturers (VSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFT is accredited by the Association of Swiss Feed Manufacturers (VSF) as a center of excellence for feed technology. This recognition establishes SFT as the premier training provider for the Swiss feed industry.
• Swiss Milling School St. Gallen (SMS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between SMS and SFT for the 'SMS goes SFT' accelerated diploma program. SMS graduates can earn the SFT Feed Production Engineer diploma in reduced time and at lower cost through this partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC): European feed industry federation representing national feed associations and supporting professional development across the EU feed sector. Comparable as an industry-level training and standards body serving the same feed manufacturer customer base.
• American Feed Industry Association (AFIA): US feed industry trade association offering the Feed Industry Institute (FII) and other professional training programs for feed manufacturers. Comparable as a feed-industry training provider, but organized as an industry association rather than a dedicated school.
• Bühler Group: Swiss industrial equipment manufacturer and SFT's primary strategic partner, providing the machinery used in SFT's training center and co-located via the Grain Innovation Center. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem enabler and customer of SFT graduates.

Broad incumbents

• Alltech: Global animal nutrition company with significant internal training programs and the Alltech Feed Industry Conference. Overlaps in feed industry education through customer training and technical workshops, though not a dedicated vocational school.
• Wageningen University & Research: Leading Dutch agricultural and food research university offering academic and applied training in animal nutrition and feed technology. Comparable as a broader agricultural education provider that overlaps in feed science and technology training.
• Cargill Animal Nutrition: Global agribusiness with extensive animal nutrition operations and internal technical training programs for feed mill customers and employees. Comparable as a large feed industry player providing industry-relevant education, but as part of a broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Kansas State University IGP Institute: US-based grain and feed industry professional development institute offering short courses in feed manufacturing, grain processing, and flour milling. Direct peer in vocational feed/grain industry training with similar hands-on course model.
• African Milling School: Regional feed milling vocational training school in Nairobi, Kenya, that delivers an SFT executive course on site. Directly comparable as a feed-industry technical training provider with similar curriculum and target audience, focused on the African market.

Regional players

• UFA AG: Swiss compound feed manufacturer that hosts feed mill visits for SFT courses and employs SFT lecturers (e.g., Adeline Robert). Comparable as a regional Swiss feed industry player engaged in industry education, though primarily a feed producer rather than a training provider.

Emerging players

• Swiss Milling School St. Gallen (SMS): Swiss-based milling vocational school that collaborates with SFT on the 'SMS goes SFT' accelerated diploma program. Comparable as a technical milling training institution, but with a flour-milling focus rather than feed milling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/swiss-institute-of-feed-technology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Swiss Institute of Feed Technology