In 2019, ADM purchased Neovia, and the business brought new technology such as feed additives and other value-added products and solutions for production and companion animals. Since the purchase, ADM has had an opportunity to learn more about and understand the new technology and how it fits with their existing portfolio.

Working with customers

The world has faced a difficult time with the global pandemic over the last 16 months. ADM has taken the last 18 months to invest in the business, including expanding the technical services team by 30% in North America. Like others, ADM hasn't been able to see customers face-to-face, but they have maintained contact to continue helping solve the day-to-day challenges on farms.

“We try to help our producers,” said Hruby. “We are not here to say, ‘We are selling you probiotics or enzymes or essential oils.’ We want to know what the issues are and what challenges producers are facing. Then, from the long list of products we have, we can put together a solution for that customer. Looking at our expanded portfolio, it allows us to do that. It would not be possible without a bigger team, whether it's technical services, which I already mentioned, but also R&D, marketing and other support teams.”

These opportunities have allowed ADM to become closer with their customers and get to know their producers better. The ADM team prefers to get on the farm and see the swine herd or poultry flock first-hand.

"If I can and there's no biosecurity issue, I love to walk the houses, either to see the pigs, see the sows, or go and see the birds because you walk in and you can feel what's happening," he explained. "You can talk to the nutritionist and the barn manager to understand a little bit better what they are looking for and what are their issues. Then we can come back with that information and say, 'This is what we can bring to that customer.' Or you go back to your R&D team and say, 'This is maybe a gap we have in our portfolio', or 'This is something the customers are looking for. Can we bring it, can we work on it and have a solution three to five years down the road?'"

Monitoring changing needs of agriculture globally

The industry's needs are changing and as an international company, ADM is well-positioned to monitor those needs around the world, like reduced antibiotic and zinc use.

“We’ve talked to our colleagues in the European Union,” said Hruby. “In 2022, high levels of zincs are going to be out, but in some countries today, like France, they have already banned it. A lot of our business and a lot of our colleagues in R&D are in that part of Europe, and they've been working on this for five to eight years. All that information can be brought here and added on top of the regional information.”