The fundamental requirement for Neova Agro’s products is maximum resource efficiency
Over ten years ago, Neova recognized the need to focus research and development on entirely new high-value products to replace the declining energy peat business.
This led to the establishment of Vapo Ventures, aimed at developing profitable, high-value products based on the company’s own resources and natural materials for international markets. From the initial screening phase, several basic requirements were set for the product concepts selected for development. The products had to be responsibly manufactured, meet needs more sustainably than existing market products, and the target market had to be large enough for the new products to capture market growth.
The new products based on in-house research and development are natural growth promoters used in agriculture, known as biostimulants, and peat-based animal feed materials. Both innovations are now on the market. Since these products primarily serve agriculture and food production, their business area was named Neova Agro at the beginning of this year.
The biostimulant marketed under the NeoCoreTM brand in several countries and the peat-based feed material marketed under the ProHumi® brand in Hankkija’s feed range meet all the criteria set during the Vapo Ventures era.
NeoCore biostimulant significantly improves plant growth results based on dozens of growth trials and is extremely resource-efficient to produce. One cubic meter of special dark peat can produce 500 liters of liquid biostimulant, which can enhance the yield of 25 hectares of fields. In growth trials, the yield increase has averaged 10%, and even 20% for some plant species. The by-product of the process serves as a natural soil conditioner in field cultivation.
The positive effects of peat on animal welfare have been known for decades, but Neova has succeeded in finding a special peat suitable for feed use, which supports animal welfare. In addition to carefully selected raw materials, the production of feed materials requires a manufacturing and testing method that ensures a safe and hygienic product for animals by destroying any harmful microbes in the product. One cubic meter of peat yields 150 kilograms of feed material, which increases pig growth by 500 kilograms.
Hankkija has tested the feed product in research institute trials with piglets and broilers, as well as enrichment material for piglets on farms in Southwest Finland and Ostrobothnia. The results from the trials and farm tests have been very promising.
A 28-day feeding trial at a Finnish test farm gave excellent results. The piglets in the test group received ProHumi in addition to their regular feed in the pen.
| Control group | ProHumi | |
| ProHumi consumption, % of total feed consumption | 0% | 2.5% |
| Growth (kg/piglet) | 8.8 kg | 10.7 kg |
| Average daily growth (g/d) | 303 g | 370 g |
| Mortality | 6.3% | 2.4% |
Based on the trial results, ProHumi had a statistically significant positive effect on the overall growth and average daily growth of piglets. Additionally, ProHumi increased the amount of beneficial fatty acids and gut bacteria in the animal’s intestines.
According to Neova Agro’s Business Director Mia Suominen, the coming years for Neova Agro will focus on expanding the markets and applications for NeoCore and ProHumi, as well as profitable growth. “Additionally, we will complement the portfolios of both product groups with new products this year to serve our customers more diversely. For ProHumi, our partner is Hankkija, and for NeoCore, we rely on our own sales staff and local national distributors,” says Suominen.
More information:
- Mia Suominen, Business Area Director, Neova, tel. +358 40 848 3148