Feline frenzy: The inside track on China’s pet food market
Growing preference for cats over dogs in China
Pet Food
Regen ag gains momentum in the US pet food supply chain
Collaborative efforts to advance sustainable farming
Pet food market round-up
Deals, partnerships, and R&D in the global pet food sector
We track deal making, new distribution partnerships and R&D developments in the global pet food sector
Meatly: Lab-grown meat feeding trials with dogs prove successful
Lab-grown meat startup, Meatly, has successfully completed feeding trials in dogs, with results showing that pets found its cultivated chicken to be “highly palatable” and there were no safety concerns.
Global investments and technology advances in insect protein: Spotlight on Tebrio, Entosystem, Entocycle and EnviroFlight
This week we report on investor action in the insect protein sector and on the increasing reliance on advanced technology for scalable production in that industry.
News
Pure Pet Food secures £15m investment
Pure Pet Food has secured £15m of investment to help support growing demand after a period of rapid growth for the business.
Regulatory update: ASC certification, EFSA call on trace minerals and FDA guidance
We round-up regulatory developments including ASF certification for BioMar facilities, US ingredient review challenges and an EFSA call for data on copper, cobalt and other trace elements.
Fungal protein may enhance dog health and digestion
The results of a new study by the Research Laboratory in Canine Nutrition at Brazil's Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) suggests that fungal protein can improve dog health and digestion.
Feature: Protein innovation
Green Plains and Houdek look to unlock potential of fermented protein
Fermented plant-based proteins are emerging as a promising ingredient category in feed, with two US-based companies at the forefront of this innovation: Green Plains, headquartered in Nebraska, and Houdek, based in South Dakota.
Algiecel secures €6.5m to help scale microalgae technology
Copenhagen-based biotech company, Algiecel, has raised DKK 50 million (€6.5m or US$7.11m) in equity funding, with the round led by West Hill Capital.
AAFCO considers new regulatory pathway for feed ingredients
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is weighing a proposal from Kansas State University’s K-State Olathe Innovation Campus to lead the scientific review for a new feed ingredient submission pathway.
News
Pets Choice acquires brands from Petlife International
Pet food manufacturer Pets Choice is to purchase a number of brands from Petlife International to strengthen its product portfolio in the premium and veterinary sectors.
Lewis Hamilton invests in plant-based fresh food for dogs
British racing car driver Lewis Hamilton has invested in US-based Bramble, a dog food brand that claims to be 'the world’s first' vet-formulated, plant-based fresh food for dogs.
What does the future hold for the insect protein industry?
As the insect farming industry matures, companies are facing mounting pressures to scale sustainably, attract further capital, and deliver on their promises.
Port strikes could be worse than pandemic for US feed sector
US feed manufacturers may suffer severe financial impacts due to the ongoing port strikes along the East and Gulf Coasts, which began on Tuesday.
What’s gone wrong for Ynsect?
The French poster child of the insect farming industry has filed a safeguard plan after failing to find enough financing for its expansion plans. Can it find cash from some investors?
Some of Darwin’s raw pet food lots test positive for salmonella
The FDA warns that samples of five of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products raw cat and dog food tested positive for Salmonella and a sixth sample tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono).
Skretting executive jumps ship to Corbion
Lenaïg Richard-Breivik, a seasoned Skretting executive, has joined Corbion Health and Nutrition as business development manager for aquaculture.
EU: Updated nutritional guidelines for cats and dogs
The European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) has introduced its latest guidelines on nutrient levels for pet food.
How will new US animal feed ingredient review process work?
The US feed industry is undergoing significant changes in how new animal food ingredients are reviewed.
Pet food industry shifts: Merger deal, novel ingredients, and a new push for sustainability
The pet food industry is evolving, and recent weeks have seen a major acquisition, innovative ingredient developments, strategic partnerships, and a new sustainability initiative.
From Deep Branch to Aerbio: Rebranding, buyout, and the debut of gas to feed pilot facility
Aerbio has officially launched, while its pilot facility converting carbon dioxide into protein goes online, marking a key milestone for the business.
Spotlight on Brazil: Pet owners prioritize health despite challenging economics
Natural nutrition is trending in the Brazilian pet food market as owners invest in pet health, contributing to double digit growth against a backdrop of tough economic conditions.
Pet food companies drive value despite challenges, says investment bank
Macro-economic headwinds have induced caution in the pet food space, but opportunities still abound in high-growth segments for those companies who target the right subthemes, according to Houlihan Lokey.
Extracting more value from spent grains: a brewery-backed blueprint
Working with one of the world’s largest breweries, Duynie Group is extracting value from brewer’s spent grains by transforming the protein fraction into concentrate that can be used by the food and feed industries.
The race to incorporate cultivated meat in pet food
Several significant milestones have been reached in the regulation and in the research and development of cultured meat for pet food in the EU, UK, and US.
Meatly gets UK approval for use of cultivated meat in pet food
Meatly has received regulatory clearance to sell cultivated chicken meat to the pet food market in the UK.
News
Pets Choice acquires vegan dog food manufacturer
Pets Choice has announced the acquisition of HOWND from Power Pet Brands.
NutriLeads and dsm-firmenich partner to boost pet gut health
NutriLeads is teaming up with dsm-firmenich to explore the potential of its precision prebiotic, Benicaros, to improve gut and immune health in pets.
Morocco: New rules for importing rendered products for pet food
Morocco has introduced new regulations for importing animal meal for use in pet food. Previously, there was no established framework for this process.
Aker BioMarine plans $590m divestment of krill feed business to new joint venture
Aker BioMarine has finalized an agreement to divest its feed ingredients business to a newly formed entity, established by American Industrial Partners (AIP) and Aker Capital (Aker), for an enterprise valuation of $590m.
FEDIAF annual congress: Prioritizing pet food in EU regulations
The Federation of European Pet Food Manufacturers' Associations (FEDIAF) held its annual congress in Poland last month, focusing on the complexities of the authorization process for additives used in animal nutrition.
Extrusion enhances amino acid digestibility in grain-free pet food
A study examining the effects of single and twin thermal screw extrusion on the protein quality of grain-free pet foods including animal- or plant-based protein ingredients found that amino acid digestibility increases after extrusion compared to raw...
AAFCO rejects voluntary copper claim for dog food after review
The AAFCO pet food committee has voted against establishing a voluntary ‘controlled copper’ claim for dog food.
Protein innovator Enifer secures €36m in funding, new factory build on the horizon
Enifer has announced the completion of a funding package worth €36m (US$39m) that enables it to start building a food-grade mycoprotein factory in Finland, with the initial output set to be feed grade.
Calysta novel protein secures European pet food market entry
Interzoo in May marked the debut of a pet food product featuring a novel protein from Calysta.
New tie-up aimed at expanding access to sustainable pet food ingredients
Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition and precision fermentation technology innovator, Bond Pet Foods, are partnering to develop tailored ingredients for pet food applications.
Innovafeed aims to advance sustainable insect protein production in North America
Innovafeed recently inaugurated an insect innovation center in Illinois, US, marking a milestone in its pursuit of global insect-based ingredient production.
News
Pets Choice to purchase premium pet food brand
Cat and dog food manufacturer Pets Choice has agreed to purchase premium pet food brand Vet’s Kitchen from Pet's Kitchen for an undisclosed sum.
General Mills snaps up premium Belgian pet food brand
General Mills has acquired Edgard & Cooper, a prominent independent premium European pet food brand.
Beneo sees no let-up in demand for plant-based ingredients in pet food
Beneo highlights its vegetal proteins, derived from fava bean, wheat, or rice, as valuable assets in pet food producers’ toolboxes. Launched in June 2023, the range has seen robust performance, according to Dr Maygane Ronsmans, product manager of animal...
From hurdles to heights: Maltento's journey in insect biotechnology
What are some of the challenges that South Africa’s Maltento has encountered on its journey from a small-scale operation to a serious player in insect biotechnology?
Insect protein for companion animals: Hill’s Pet Nutrition sees great potential
Leading US pet food manufacturer Hill’s Pet Nutrition highlights insects as a valuable, sustainable protein and fiber source for dogs.
Cargill and Nestlé align to slash Purina pet food carbon footprint
Nestlé and Cargill are building on their joint efforts in regenerative agriculture in a new project.
News
Halal cat food to hit store shelves this summer
Leeds-based entrepreneur Aihtsham Rashid has launched a brand new 100% halal certified pet food company, Hurayra Pet Food, in response to lack of options currently on the market.
Anatomy of a fall in global feed production
In a year marked by volatility, Alltech's Agri-Food Outlook for 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the intricate dynamics shaping the feed production industry worldwide.
Top 10 most read articles so far this year
We delve into the diverse array of topics that have resonated deeply with our readers since January, shaping the discourse and informing perspectives on issues.
News
'World's first' cultivated pet food seeks regulatory approval
Meatly has created the ‘world’s first’ cans of pet food that uses cultivated chicken as a protein source, ready for rollout to stores across the UK pending regulatory approval.
Plant-based dog food brand PawCo secures $2m in funding
PawCo Foods, a pioneering plant-based pet nutrition brand, has successfully secured $2 million in seed funding, spearheaded by Elevate Ventures, and featuring notable angel investors like Arash Ferdowsi, co-founder of Dropbox.
Helping pet food brands make protein sourcing decisions
Why is optimal protein utilization crucial for maximizing the potential to enhance the environmental footprint associated with pet food?