From Ernest Solvay’s insight to success in animal nutrition

Once upon a time, in the second half of the nineteenth century, there was a man named Ernest Solvay, a Belgian chemist and industrialist gifted with a brilliant mind and an insatiable curiosity. At that time, the production of sodium carbonate—also known as soda ash or Solvay soda—was a costly and inefficient process.

Solvay, however, by observing nature and carefully studying chemical reactions, had a groundbreaking insight: he devised a more economical and sustainable method to produce sodium carbonate using only abundant and readily available raw materials such as salt, limestone, and ammonia.

In 1863, after years of experimentation, the famous “Solvay Process” was born. This system revolutionized the chemical industry and laid the foundations for the development of many other compounds, including sodium bicarbonate. Initially known only for its chemical properties, sodium bicarbonate soon became an essential ingredient for numerous applications: from pharmaceuticals to cooking, from household cleaning to industrial production.

Rosignano: The Heart of Italian Production

Over time, the Solvay process spread worldwide, but it was in Italy, in Rosignano, that it found one of its most important production sites. Here, at the beginning of the twentieth century, a major plant was established that not only contributed to the economic growth of the area but also became a symbol of quality, innovation, and sustainability.

The sodium bicarbonate produced in Rosignano stood out for its purity and reliability, finding application in an ever-growing range of sectors. However, it was thanks to the collaboration with Albitalia that bicarbonate found a new and highly significant destination: the animal nutrition sector.

How Sodium Bicarbonate entered animal nutrition

Albitalia and Solvay soon realized that sodium bicarbonate could make a real difference in the livestock sector. Through strong teamwork and genuine passion, they succeeded in communicating the value of sodium bicarbonate to nutritionists, farmers, and feed manufacturers. This was not merely a commercial effort, but a cultural one.

This simple yet extraordinary compound proved to be a valuable ally for animal welfare. One of its best-known functions is its buffering capacity, which not only stabilizes rumen pH in dairy and beef cattle but also improves feed digestibility in monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry, thereby contributing to improved productivity and efficiency across different livestock species.

To support these claims, a series of academic studies and data collection efforts were required. These studies were initially conducted by the University of Padua and, more recently, by the University of Piacenza. Thanks to these trials, it was demonstrated that this ingredient could improve animal performance, counteract ruminal acidosis and heat stress, rebalance electrolyte levels, and optimize diets.

Today, BICAR®Z is no longer just a chemical product, but a cornerstone of animal nutrition, recognized worldwide.

Quality, Sustainability, Reliability: the future of BICAR®Z

Today, BICAR®Z produced in Rosignano is synonymous with Made in Italy excellence, but its story does not end here. Thanks to production facilities located around the world, BICAR®Z maintains the highest standards of quality and safety, ensuring continuity of supply and long-term reliability.

Albitalia and Solvay, through their ongoing commitment to research and development, continue to promote BICAR®Z as a safe and effective solution for modern livestock farming, contributing to a more efficient and environmentally responsible sector.

Thus, from Ernest Solvay’s vision to an application that originated in Italy and then spread internationally, BICAR®Z has stood the test of time to become an indispensable element for animal welfare, performance, and livestock nutrition. A story of science, passion, and progress that continues to write new chapters, day after day.