German biotech startup MicroHarvest has teamed up with animal-free pet meals producer VEGDOG to unveil first-of-its-kind microbial protein canine deal with.
The novel deal with shall be out there Might 6 on the 2024 Pet Meals Discussion board happening in Nuremberg, Germany, throughout Interzoo Europe.
The VEGDOG Pure Bites snack, which the corporate stated is a primary for the pet food market in Europe, combines the brand new microbial protein from MicroHarvest with potato and apple pomace. With its hypoallergenic properties, it’s designed for canine that can’t tolerate typical protein sources. The excessive tolerance and digestibility in addition to the scrumptious style make it the primary alternative for canine with extreme intolerances and allergic reactions, stated MicroHarvest.
“Our aim at VEGDOG is to point out canine house owners that they don’t have to depend on meat-based merchandise to feed their pets,” stated Tessa Zaune-Figlar, VEGDOG founder and CEO. “With this contemporary strategy and our high-quality, wholesome and engaging merchandise, we’ve been capable of pioneer a brand new market. By collaborating with our companion MicroHarvest, we’re opening a brand new chapter and bringing to market a promising snack that demonstrates our means to innovate.”
Extremely scalable, constant protein resolution
With a world protein demand forecasted to develop 50% by 2050, by making use of trendy know-how to millennia-old fermentation strategies, MicroHarvest is able to producing tons of high-quality microbial protein substances in simply 24 hours, providing a extremely scalable and constant protein resolution, famous the corporate.
“We’re always trying to find progressive protein sources that profit our canine in addition to our planet, stated Dr. Carla Steffen, head of R&D at VEGDOG. “It’s of excessive significance to us to formulate our merchandise primarily based on scientific proof. Because the microbial protein of MicroHarvest is confirmed to be extremely digestible, palatable and sustainable, it ticks all of those packing containers.”
Like protein sources from algae, bugs and cell-cultures, fermented microbial proteins’ sustainability benefits come from utilizing much less land, water, feed and different sources than livestock. Within the case of microbial protein, useful resource use could possibly be even decrease than soy and different plant-based proteins.
MicroHarvest’s microbial ingredient footprint — at 1.4 kg CO2 equal per kilogram of product — presents a sustainability edge equal to insect proteins and considerably surpassing that of plant-derived proteins, famous the corporate.
A examine performed by MicroHarvest in partnership with a Wageningen College Masters program finds that 78.4% of British and German canine house owners would take into account shopping for pet meals merchandise containing microbial proteinVEGDOGMicrobial protein research in Europe
Pet meals has been a spotlight software market from the onset for MicroHarvest. The corporate not too long ago partnered with a Wageningen College Masters program to conduct the primary acceptance examine for microbial protein amongst canine house owners within the UK and Germany, international locations that symbolize two of the most important premium pet food and treats markets in Europe.
The examine surveyed 1,162 UK and German canine house owners and located vital curiosity, with 77.2% of respondents prepared to buy canine treats containing microbial protein of their composition and 78.4% of the canine house owners prepared to purchase full pet food containing the protein.
Though different pet meals merchandise have explored microbial sources like yeasts and mycelium as substances, this particular product is the primary to be designed with microbial protein derived from micro organism which were a part of human diets for hundreds of years in meals like kimchi, kefir and sauerkraut.
A subsequent palatability examine carried out by MicroHarvest discovered that canine confirmed a ten% greater acceptance fee of microbial protein treats in comparison with these made solely with poultry.
‘’Testing has confirmed that our protein ingredient has a secure dietary profile containing all of the important amino acids for canine,” stated Ally Motta, animal nutritionist and software specialist at MicroHarvest. “Moreover, In a reside palatability examine, we discovered that the treats containing our ingredient have been enthusiastically accepted by 85% of canine trialed, whereas treats containing solely poultry meal had a 75% acceptance fee. This confirms the viability of MicroHarvest protein as a rewarding and nutritious deal with for canine.”
MicroHarvest cofounder Katelijne Bekers added their partnership with VEGDOG, coupled with the outcomes of their shopper analysis, demonstrated the potential for microbial substances to supply aggressive protein options to the pet meals trade.
“Sustainability is changing into more and more necessary for pet meals customers,” stated Bekers. “Nonetheless, there are different buy drivers to contemplate, like palatability, digestibility, in addition to particular dietary advantages, like low-fat content material. These are all advantages that our protein over-delivers on. With rising strain on the provision chain of animal-derived protein substances, our resolution is an effective way to distinguish the protein supply alternative for pet meals producers, being each extremely dependable and scalable.”
Other than the pet meals trade, MicroHarvest is growing purposes for his or her microbial proteins in livestock and aquaculture feed with a view to ultimately extending their product providing to tailor-made options for the human meals market.
A examine performed by MicroHarvest in partnership with a Wageningen College Masters program finds that 78.4% of British and German canine house owners would take into account shopping for pet meals merchandise containing microbial proteinVEGDOG
