The pet food industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of cultivated meat products for dogs and cats. Noochies!, a US pet food brand, has taken the first steps towards introducing a cultivated chicken dog product in the market. The brand’s parent company, Further Foods, owned by Canada’s CULT Food Science, has submitted a feeding trial protocol for dogs to the FDA. This protocol, developed in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Dodd of Friends & Family Pet Food Co., is essential to ensure the safety and efficacy of the novel ingredient.
Noochies! has already launched two unique products featuring an alternative protein: Freeze-Dried Dog and Cat Snacks made with a dried yeast protein developed by CULT Food Science. Mitchell Scott, CEO of CULT Food Science, emphasized the importance of these feeding trials, stating that a successful trial could revolutionize the pet food market by offering nutritional, environmental, and ethical benefits for pet owners.
In a similar vein, the cultivated pet food sector is gaining momentum globally. Meatly, a UK cultivated meat startup, recently received approval to sell its cultivated chicken ingredient for pets in the UK. This approval marks a significant milestone in the industry, with Meatly set to introduce a cat food product made with cultivated chicken in partnership with Omni, a plant-based pet food brand.
The environmental impact of traditional pet food production is substantial, with dog and cat food accounting for a significant portion of CO2-equivalent methane and nitrous oxide emissions in the US. Cultivated pet food offers a more sustainable alternative, requiring fewer resources and reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional meat production.
Exciting collaborations are also on the horizon, such as UMAMI Bioworks and Friends & Family Pet Food Co.’s plan to launch cultivated fish cat treats by 2025. These treats will provide enhanced nutrition through high-quality cultivated fish proteins enriched with microalgae, promoting a „Longevity Diet“ for pets while offering significant environmental benefits.
BioCraft Pet Nutrition, an Austrian company, has achieved a milestone by bringing its cultivated meat to price parity with animal meat for pet food. This achievement is crucial for cultivated meat companies looking to lower production costs and make their products more accessible to consumers. By leveraging innovative production methods and scaling solutions, BioCraft has made cultivated meat competitive with premium animal meat for pet food.
Bene Meat Technologies (BMT), a Czech-cultivated meat startup, showcased the EU’s first cultivated pet food product at the 2024 Interzoo Fair in Germany. The company’s self-registration at the European Feed Materials Register signifies its commitment to commercializing cultivated ingredients in the European market. BMT aims to launch a product by the end of the year, catering to the growing demand for personalized, premium, and sustainable pet food options.
As pet owners become increasingly conscious of the environmental and ethical implications of traditional pet food production, the rise of cultivated pet food offers a promising solution. With innovative companies like Noochies!, Meatly, UMAMI Bioworks, BioCraft Pet Nutrition, and Bene Meat Technologies leading the way, the future of sustainable pet nutrition looks bright.
