Jefo Nutrition Inc. is using some of its CAD 256.4 million (approximately $278 million) investment, which was announced earlier this year, to strengthen its position in Europe, a market demanding sustainable, antibiotic-free livestock production.
Discussing the strategy in an interview with Expana, Emilie Fontaine, Vice President, Brand and Products at Jefo, said part of the spending will help accelerate innovation and production capabilities for European customers.
“Europe is one of the world’s most demanding markets when it comes to responsible production, sustainability and reducing the use of antibiotics in livestock farming,” Fontaine said.
The investment is also in line with Jefo’s 2026-2029 strategic plan. It funds new production lines at the company’s main site in Saint Hyacinthe in Quebec, as Jefo aims to increase annual production of microencapsulated additives. It also covers a new poultry research center and experimental feed mill and will advance research and development activities.
Fontaine said the acceleration rests on two complementary areas: innovation and production.
Regarding production expansion, the program will be rolled out progressively, in several phases, through to 2030. “This increase in capacity should therefore not be seen as a change taking place on a single date, but rather as a major long-term investment that will gradually support the growth and future needs of our markets,” Fontaine said.
The new lines will be designed to provide Jefo with greater capacity and flexibility to respond to evolving demand. “It is not simply about producing more, but about producing better, more efficiently and more sustainably, while further developing our ability to innovate,” Fontaine added. “And, for our European customers and partners, this means having access to solutions that are increasingly tailored to their needs and being able to rely on a partner that is investing in its scientific and industrial capabilities today to support their long-term development.”
For Jefo, the key to addressing customer challenges in the fields of feed efficiency, resource utilization and sustainability, will be to continue developing solutions based on its Jefo Matrix Technology.
The company claims the technology ensures feed additive stability during production through thermal and mechanical protection against high-temperature pelleting (50°C-74°C) and acts as a chemical barrier against environmental degradation. It also delivers improved mill flowability with reduced dust, odor and machinery corrosion. In animals, the technology bypasses ruminal breakdown in ruminants and resists gastric acidity in monogastrics, releasing compounds in the small intestine when triggers such as lipase, bile salts or villi contact activate it, maximizing nutrient bioavailability and preventing pathogen-feeding.
Fontaine confirmed that manufacturing will remain in Canada for now. “As part of our current strategic plan, there are no plans to establish dedicated manufacturing or microencapsulation capabilities in Europe. The investments made in Quebec currently give us the resources to support the development of our various markets worldwide, including Europe,” Fontaine said.
She left the door open for the longer term. “However, this does not mean we are ruling out other possibilities in the longer term. Agility is one of our core values: we remain attentive to developments in our markets, our customers’ needs and any opportunities that may arise,” she said. Furthermore, she highlighted that Jefo, tracking European demand closely, believes that any decision to invest in manufacturing capabilities depends on market developments, customers’ evolving needs, and economic, logistical and sustainability considerations.
Jefo Europe manages warehousing, logistics, and just-in-time distribution across several European markets through regional maritime and logistics hubs. The company also has warehousing facilities in Nantes, France, and Getafe, Spain. “Our objective is to continue developing our European logistics network in line with the growth of our markets and the needs of our customers, while maintaining our agility and fully integrating sustainability considerations,” Fontaine said.
One key example of a customer need in terms of logistics highlighted by Fontaine is green fuel. “In July 2025, Jefo introduced 100% green logistics for all road freight operations in France, in partnership with IDEA, using XTL biodiesel, a 100% renewable fuel. This is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions from domestic logistics operations by 80%. Our ambition is therefore to continue developing our logistics operations alongside our growth in Europe, striking the right balance between customer proximity, efficiency, agility and reducing our environmental impact,” she commented.
Geographic expansion continues to be a priority for Jefo in Europe. “We are particularly looking to accelerate our development in Central and Eastern Europe,” Fontaine said, adding that in Poland, Jefo has grown from one employee to three: two in sales and one dedicated to customer support and logistics. She also said that the company is exploring an additional warehousing facility, particularly in Poland. “At this stage, however, this remains under consideration,” Fontaine added.
Of note, Fontaine said, geopolitical tensions have had limited impact on Jefo’s European supply to date as its main shipments to Europe are transatlantic and are not directly exposed to the maritime routes currently experiencing the greatest disruption.
“However, this does not mean we underestimate these risks. The international environment is evolving rapidly and reinforces the importance of agility and resilience in managing our supply chain,” Fontaine cautioned. “As Jefo is expanding, it is necessary to have stocks. We have supply flexibility and a dynamic team in touch with the customers to find alternative solutions, if necessary,” Fontaine said.
Fontaine went on to say: “Our development is not just about expanding our commercial presence, but also about supporting our customers and understanding the specific realities of each market,” She stated that the innovation team in Europe works closely with Canadian headquarters so that regional challenges are communicated and solutions adapted accordingly.
It comes as no secret, therefore, that Jefo also observes that feed and energy costs remain a major concern for European producers. However, the company is not seeing radical changes in formulation strategies but mainly an increased focus on efficiency.
“Ultimately, the challenge is to achieve better, or at least equivalent, results with fewer resources. This is precisely where precision nutrition comes into its own. Jefo’s approach delivers the right nutrient, at the right dose, in the right place and at the right time to optimize nutrient utilization and improve feed efficiency, “Fontaine said. “In a context where every resource counts, precision nutrition can therefore help producers make better use of available resources and find the right balance between performance, economic efficiency, and sustainability.”
Still on the topic of efficiency and efficacy, Fontaine said Jefo has a clearer understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) can support its work. “At Jefo, we use AI as a tool to support research and innovation,” she said. For instance, AI can significantly speed up scientific literature reviews, allowing the company to assess concepts against a large body of scientific knowledge before development. However, Fontaine warned that AI does not replace research or human expertise. Veterinarians, nutritionists, researchers and PhD-qualified experts remain central to the process, analyzing, verifying and validating information.
According to Jefo, for AI-based technology to deliver real value to producers, it must be capable of turning available data into recommendations that are relevant, easy to understand and, above all, practical to implement on the farm. “Our approach therefore remains pragmatic,” Fontaine said. “We are not looking to use AI simply for the sake of using AI. We want to integrate it where it can deliver concrete, measurable value, whether by accelerating our innovation capabilities or, in the longer term, helping producers make more informed decisions.”
Looking at 2027, Fontaine summed up three underlying challenges shared by Jefo’s customers and the wider animal production industry. The first is growth: supporting sector development while responding to evolving needs. The second is precision nutrition, requiring continued innovation and demonstrated value for producers. And last but not least, the talent challenge.
“Attracting and developing skilled people is a challenge facing our entire industry today, from farms to animal nutrition companies. Human expertise remains essential to driving innovation and supporting the evolution of the sector,” she said.
In Fontaine’s view, Jefo’s strategic multi-year plan has been designed to address those challenges while maintaining agility and anticipating customer needs with practical solutions.
Written by Simon Duke
