Vitamin B2(Riboflavin)

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is an essential molecule needed in endogenous processes of all vertebrates including all livestock and poultry species. Deficiency of this vitamin may lead to reduced feed intake, low performance, dermatitis and skin lesions, retarded embryonic development, retarded growth and nervous disorders like leg paralysis and curled toes in poultry. For poultry and pigs, riboflavin is usually added to their diets along with other vitamins and minerals, also in organic feed productions. The source for riboflavin additives is industrial fermentation with bacteria or yeasts, and these are nowadays commonly genetically modified. The use of GMO, however, is prohibited in organic livestock production at any level of the food chain (EC, 2007). Thus, special non-GMO fermentations are needed to produce riboflavin for organic livestock. For years, such products were imported to Europe from one producer in China. In summer 2018, with short notice, the Chinese producer stopped delivery, and since then we have witnessed a shortage of adequate riboflavin for animal feeds in European organic agriculture.