Alumni testimonial

Alumnus Michel van Spankeren upcycles livestock feed by-products

Michel van Spankeren: Application Technologist at Protix

“I help to turn the tide of detrimental agrosystems by upcycling ‘useless’ food by-products back into the food chain”

“You are what you eat, so to know what you eat is to know what you are. But how do you know what you eat, or even deeper, what your food has been eating?” During my studies in Wageningen this question culminated in my MSc Animal Sciences where I learned what animal feed is made of.

At the moment, many ingredients for animal feed comes from detrimental agrosystems and that while large quantities of food by-products brimming with nutritious ingredients are rendered as ‘useless’ for traditional livestock and therefore converted into energy sources such as biodiesel. At Protix, I help to turn the tide by upcycling those local nutrients back into the food chain via mother nature’s evolutionary answer to by-products: insects.

As application technologist I apply my knowledge of animal nutrition to support our commercial staff and customers in the translation of insect-based ingredients into new nutritional solutions for a growing market. Thereby, I also oversee our animal research portfolio. Ultimately, my aim is to empower progressive feed producers and consumers by bringing the food system back in balance with nature.

My advice: use the world of social media to your advantage, reach out to the people that work in the teams that you would like to join and get them excited! If they have no place for you today you still have broadened your network for tomorrow.