Driven by opportunities in the global feed software market to provide customers with integrated formulation software and solutions on a larger scale, Cargill announced Dec. 16 that it has acquired Format International Ltd., a leading global feed formulation software company with more than 30 years of experience and more than 5,000 users across 93 countries.

Format International specializes in the design, authoring and marketing of recipe optimization, ingredient allocation and food and feed formulation solutions for the animal feed, aqua feed, pet food, human food, premix and other industries.

Format International will become part of Cargill Feed Management Systems (FMS), a software company that operates as a separate part of the Cargill Animal Nutrition business. FMS has more than 12,000 users and provides formulation and operations solutions to the feed industry.

Cargill said the acquisition creates "a unique opportunity" for it to create "world-class formulation solutions" and provide customers with an even more comprehensive range of products and services.

"This acquisition combines Format International's software capabilities and state-of-the-art platform with Cargill's expertise in animal nutrition and nutrient analysis," Cargill Feed Management Systems managing director Bruce Feist said. "Together, we will be able to offer our customers a complete and fully integrated nutrition solution that will deliver the right information to the right person — anytime, anywhere."

Details of the transaction were not disclosed.