1964
Founding of Kipco
Poultry slaughterhouse (Wielsbeke, Belgium)
1982
Founding of Damaco
Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM) processing plant
1999
Formation of Damaco Group
Founding of Damaco Group through the merger of Kipco and Damaco.
2007
Start of research into poultry protein hydrolysates
Damaco Group initiates R&D into poultry protein hydrolysates in collaboration with leading international universities and supported by the European Commission
2013 - 2015
Construction of Empro Europe pilot plant and production facility
Empro Europe opens a cutting-edge pilot and production facility in Dendermonde (Belgium), where the first protein hydrolysates are produced in 2015 — marking the start of an innovation-driven manufacturing journey.
2016
First experiments biostimulants
The first experiments with an early version of amino acid biostimulants on plants are conducted, laying the foundation for the development of Aphasol / Aphastim, our biostimulant brand.
2017 - 2019
First biostimulant lab tests and field trials
Laboratory tests and field trials are central to the development process. Collaboration with Ghent University begins with lab analyses to identify active ingredients and assess specific biostimulant effects. These efforts are soon followed by the first field trials on row crops, delivering promising results.
2020
Founding of R&D company Stamagro NV
Stamagro is founded as Damaco’s dedicated R&D division for nutrient science. In its early years, the focus lies on advancing the Aphasol biostimulant brand, with the number of field and farm trials increasing exponentially.
2021
Launch of biostimulant Aphasol
The Aphasol brand is introduced to the Belgian market at the end of 2021 following another successful trial season. That year also marks the start of a €1.3 million VLAIO research project, in collaboration with Ghent University. The aim of this project was to transform keratin-rich side-streams (feathers) from the poultry industry into high-value protein hydrolysate biostimulants.Valuable insights for the development of the Aphasol product line.
2022 - 2024
Towards Exponential Growth and Internationalisation
Following the successful launch of the Aphasol brand and impressive initial sales figures, research efforts continue to expand. A total of +100 trials conducted by expert research centers are complemented by more than 120 on-farm trials with independent 3rd party sampling and analysis, spanning over a dozen crops across two continents. In 2023, internationalisation progresses with product registrations in several European countries and an extensive series of crop trials carried out across multiple European nations.
2025
Launch of Aphastim biostimulant in France
The French market is also showing interest in our biostimulant. At the beginning of 2025, we launch the product Aphastim, specifically designed to meet the needs of French farmers.
