A NEW BEGINNING
By Patti Wilson | Contributing Editor
N ovonesis means “a new beginning,” so says the No- vonesis website. I visited with Steve Lerner, Ph.D., about the company and its mission. Lerner is the senior scientific and business advisor for planetary health biosolutions in North America. Novonesis is the 1-year-old merger of two biological com- panies, Chr. Hansen and Novozymes. Chr. Hansen was founded in 1874 by a Danish pharmacist who took rennet from calves’ stomachs to turn milk into curds and whey to make cheese. It was the beginning of a food renaissance. Novozymes produced functional proteins and enzymes for biofuels, household care products, human, plant and animal health. The newly formed company employs 10,000 people in 42 facilities worldwide; 2,000 are involved in research and development. Their motto is,“We better the world with biology.” They focus on biosolutions in three areas: food and beverage, human health and planetary health. What Do Probiotics Do? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines probiotics as “living microorganisms, which when fed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host.” It is a tool producers use to keep livestock healthy and achieve their genetic potential; they sup- port normal nutrient digestion. Lerner says there are, in any given microbiome, tens of trillions of bacteria working on this process. After digestion, nutrients are absorbed across a healthy gut into the bloodstream. Probiotics support normal intestinal health. They also support the bar- rier function of the gut that keeps harmful bacteria from leaving the digestive system. Healthy animals use their immune systems to defend themselves against potentially harmful organisms. Probiotics help the immune system modulate its responses – to turn on when needed and turn off when not. Last, probiotics can support the proper composition of microbiological life in the digestive system, ensur- ing a beneficial balance of good vs. bad bacteria. Feeds and Fuel The ethanol industry uses a great deal of enzymes and yeast. Distiller’s grains are the byproduct. The quality of distiller grains as an ingredient in livestock feed can be improved by additional fermentation with yeast to make it more palatable and digestible.
Lerner encourages us to look at a plant’s entire life cycle. From plant (corn) to harvest, fuel and feed, biosolutions help get the most out of all resources and significantly reduce waste and inefficiency. Other Uses Biosolutions have off-farm uses, as well. Household and industrial detergents benefit from the addition of enzymes to cut fat and oil residues. Bakeries and beverage companies could not exist without beneficial biosolutions, even baby formula gets a boost in quality and shelf life. The possibili- ties are endless. Steve Lerner, a Maryland native, has a lengthy list of degrees in biological studies and has conducted numerous research projects in U.S. universities. His advanced degrees involve molecular genetics and reproductive physiology. “In an opinion, based on evidence and experience, every person and every animal in our care should be on an effec- tive probiotic every day,” he says.
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June | July 2025
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