by Dr Julian Wiseman, Emeritus Professor, University of Nottingham, UK and Edward Manchester, Global Commercial Director, Ecolex Animal Nutrition, Singapore
With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) recognised as a global One Health emergency, Professor Julian Wiseman of the University of Nottingham addressed the Advanced Poultry Nutrition Forum 2026 in Bangkok to emphasise the industry’s responsibility to rethink feed additive use as part of the AMR solution. Reminding delegates that more than 70 percent of the world’s antimicrobials are used in animal agriculture—creating impacts that reach far beyond the farm gate to include people and the planet—he called for a holistic One Health approach. This mindset should unite nutrition, farm management, hygiene and biosecurity to reduce antibiotic dependence while safeguarding productivity and ensuring the supply of safe, sustainable, high-quality protein.
In his thought-provoking presentation, ‘Next Generation of Feed Additives – Where Are We Heading,’ he invited poultry nutritionists to reconsider how they choose and use feed additives and shared his outlook on how these solutions are likely to evolve over the next five years. He pointed to emerging opportunities in mycotoxin control, short- and medium-chain fatty acids and their blends and NSP enzymes used alongside digestibility enhancers like emulsifiers, as practical tools to support both AMR mitigation and gains in feed efficiency and sustainability as modern birds approach their genetic potential. Some of his key takeaways included are discussed in this article.
Rethinking mycotoxin management: From clay to chemistry
Clay binders have long been the go-to solution for tackling mycotoxins in animal feed—but their limitations are becoming increasingly clear. Traditional clay products work through physiochemical adsorption and are particularly effective against negatively charged, planar mycotoxins—mostly aflatoxins. However, many other mycotoxins escape this binding, leaving animals exposed to hidden performance and health risks. Just as importantly, these binders do not deliver any direct health benefits to the animal, creating a growing need for more multifunctional solutions in modern feed programs.
Humic acid is a rapidly emerging solution to this challenge. This complex, high molecular weight compound—derived from decayed plant and animal material and brown coal—naturally contains phytogenic-type structures, including aromatic rings, phenolic, carboxyl and quinone groups that underpin its mode of action. Its molecular structure gives it a strong binding or chelating capacity, allowing it to form complexes with both mycotoxins and heavy metals in a way similar to clays, bentonite and yeast cell wall products, while going a crucial step further. Acting as a potent antioxidant, humic acid also helps protect the intestine and liver, supporting overall resilience and performance. In this way, it functions not only as a versatile mycotoxin binder but also as a gut and liver protector.
Mycotoxin-neutralising enzymes are redefining what’s possible in feed safety by going beyond simple binding. These advanced enzymes act directly on the mycotoxin molecule itself, delivering rapid, permanent and highly targeted detoxification. This enzymatic approach is pushing animal feed safety to the next scientific level and setting a new benchmark for future mycotoxin control strategies.
Precision mycotoxin programmes: Protecting performance, protecting profit
The future of mycotoxin management will be precision strategies using combined solutions with complementary modes of action (clays, humic acid, and/or specific enzyme blends) emphasising specific life-stages of the birds, as well as raw material risk. “It’s about protecting the right animals, at the right time, with the right combination of tools to unlock their full genetic potential,” noted Professor Wiseman.
“For example, starter phases receive maximum protection, with strong binding capacity, enzymatic detoxification and gut-protective components to safeguard organ development, vaccine response and early growth. By aligning product profiles with these critical life cycle stages, producers can invest in higher inclusion rates and more complex formulations when the biological cost of mycotoxin damage is greatest and strategically spend less when risk and is lower and birds are more resilient—delivering a healthier bottom line,” he added.
Getting the most from alpha-monolaurin
Most common bacterial pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens, have multi-drug-resistant strains causing concerns with productivity losses and food safety issues, Prof Wiseman spotlighted medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)—saturated fats with 6-12 carbon chains derived primarily from coconut and palm kernel oils as potential solutions. Lauric acid (C12) and its derivatives, particularly alpha-monolaurin (AML), are recognised as the most potent MCFAs, offering antibacterial and antiviral (load reduction) effects. AML functions not only in the gut but also acts systemically impacting the blood and lymphatic systems of animals.
With efficient processing a 60-68 percent AML product is achievable. Prof Wiseman also noted that the alpha position—where lauric acid is attached on the glycerol backbone strongly influences monolaurin’s amphiphilic balance and how efficiently it interacts with microbial membranes. When lauric acid is esterified specifically at the sn-1 (alpha) position, the resulting alpha-monolaurin shows higher antibacterial potency than other positional isomers (e.g., 2-monolaurin or mixed 1,2-monoglycerides), because this optimised configuration allows AML more effectively to destabilise bacterial membranes and enveloped viruses, increasing permeability, causing leakage of cell contents and ultimately cell death at lower concentrations than non-alpha forms. In practical terms, that means for a given inclusion rate, alpha-monolaurin can deliver stronger antimicrobial effects, making it particularly attractive as a non-antibiotic tool.
The future is fatty acid synergy
Prof Wiseman highlighted the future is short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and AML blends working in synergy along the entire digestive tract.
Short-chain fatty acids (like formic, acetic, propionic, butyric) and AMLs each have complementary modes of action in different gut segments and against different microbial targets. SCFAs are more active in the lumen and lower gut pH, while AMLs are powerful membrane-active agents that can insert into bacterial cell walls and disrupt them. When blended and properly delivered, they offer a proven alternative to AGPs that:
- Deliver broad-spectrum protection against Gram+ and Gram– bacteria
- Reduce pathogenic bacteria, improving gut microbiome balance
- Promote digestion, nutrient absorption, and gut barrier strength
NSPases: From fibre to feed
Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), present in varying levels in common feed raw materials, are a major factor limiting nutrient utilisation in poultry diets. Cereal grains, such as wheat, oats and barley—high in NSPs—can increase digesta viscosity, reducing nutrient digestibility and absorption.
Adding exogenous enzymes (NSPases) to the diet helps overcome these challenges by breaking down NSP components and releasing ‘hidden’ energy, protein and minerals. This enzymatic action improves feed conversion ratio, reduces feed costs, and supports consistent flock performance even when raw material quality fluctuates.
Research conducted by the University of Nottingham has demonstrated that xylanase not only breaks down complex NSPs in feed but also enhances glucose uptake and availability in the small intestine.
Enzymes and emulsifiers: Redefining digestibility
The next generation of exogenous enzymes is combining multi-enzyme NSP blends to cope with the diversity in structure of complex NSPs—pentosans (arabinoxylans), hexosans (β-glucans), mixed (xyloglucan) and cellulose—combined with innovative digestibility enhancers (emulsifiers). Specific emulsifiers (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, glycerin monostearate and distilled monoglycerides) work not only on starches and carbohydrates but also proteins and lipids.
By breaking down the dense structure of starch, it is easier for amylase to access in the gut, improving gelatinisation during pelleting, reducing the risk of starch retrogradation, unlocking more energy for birds and preventing excess hardening after pelleting, keeping feed more digestible.
Emulsifiers prevent protein aggregates which can reduce formation of Maillard products and indigestible protein complexes, keeping proteins in a more accessible form for digestion. Better protein solubility in the gut; makes them more accessible for proteases to break down, enhancing amino acid availability, supporting lean tissue growth and egg production.
Emulsifying large fat droplets into micelles, makes it easier for digestive enzymes (lipase) to access and utilise dietary fats, as well as allowing better absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and carotenoids. Well-emulsified fats mean less undigested oil passes through the bird, reducing greasy droppings and maximising feed investment.
One health, one future
Prof Wiseman concluded with a powerful message, “Developing science-based alternatives to antibiotics is essential for the health of poultry, people, and the planet! Achieving this vision demands a holistic One Health approach, considering not just innovative feed additives, but nutrition, including raw material quality, biosecurity and hygiene, and farm management.”
“Several feed additives show considerable promise for sustainable, resilient, and responsible poultry production—acidifiers, medium chain fatty acids (alpha-monolaurin), probiotics, phytochemicals (essential oils), enzymes and digestibility enhancers, and advanced mycotoxin mitigation strategies.”
Turning insights into impact
“The forum underscored that the most effective way to address AMR lies in implementing integrated nutrition strategies rather than depending on single feed additives or isolated interventions. The priority now is to translate this knowledge into real-world implementation—where science-based nutrition programmes sustainably promote health and efficiency on farm. By doing so, the industry can meaningfully reduce dependency on antibiotics and help deliver what consumers increasingly expect—safe and high-quality animal protein for a growing world,” advocated Edward Manchester, Global Commercial Director, Ecolex Animal Nutrition.
