FeedKind Pet, an air-based protein for pet food claimed to be nutritious and super sustainable, will soon be available to pet food manufacturers across Europe to cater to consumers looking for high-quality, health-supporting, eco-friendly pet food products.
The multinational biotechnology company Calysta, its developer and producer, announces it has shipped the first large batch of FeedKind Pet to its warehouse in Poland.
“For the first time, Europe’s pet food sector has the option to choose a fermented protein”
The shipments originated from Chongqing, China, produced by Calysseo, a joint venture between Calysta and Adisseo, which is one of the world leaders in animal nutrition with a turnover of €1.72 billion in 2023 and more than 4,200 customers. According to Calysta, Calysseo’s facilities include two of the world’s largest fermenters, each having a 10,000-ton capacity, to ferment the protein at full commercial scale.
Herman Sloot, Vice President of Commercial Development at Calysta, said: “For the first time, Europe’s pet food sector has the option to choose a fermented protein that is nutritious and kind to the environment. Starting today, FeedKind Pet will be available globally at commercial scale.”
Animal-free protein for pet diets
This milestone follows Calysta’s partnership with the German pet food manufacturer Dr. Clauder’s to launch the world’s first dog treats made with FeedKind Pet in the old continent. The treats debuted at the Interzoo trade show in May.
A vegan protein source, FeedKind Pet, is non-GMO, grain-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. It is said to be a nutrient-dense and highly digestible ingredient, offering a complete amino acid profile, while featuring postbiotic properties that help maintain a healthy gut. It can be incorporated into all kinds of cat and dog food products, from dry kibble to tinned food and treats. The novel protein has been approved for use in the EU, UK, Canada, and other countries after extensive safety and toxicity testing.
“Pet parents want ingredients that will benefit their pet’s health in the long run”
Besides FeedKind Pet for pets, the biotech has introduced FeedKind for fish and livestock, which recently received MARA approval in China as aquaculture feed; and Positive Protein for foods, described as highly nutritious, rich in branched-chain amino acids, with the best possible digestibility rating (this protein is not yet available).
Sloot adds, “In the last decade, the number of pet-owning households has increased by approximately 20 million, with few indications it will slow any time soon. There is a growing appetite for high-quality, animal-free protein in pet diets, and pet parents want ingredients that will benefit their pet’s health in the long run. FeedKind Pet uniquely meets that demand.”
Sustainability for the pet food industry
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, USA, Calysta has two fermentation facilities, one in England and the other, as mentioned before, in China. The biotech raised $30 million from Cargill and other investors in 2016 and $40 million in 2017, led by Mitsui & Co with participation from Temasek, for its sustainable proteins.
Over the years, the company has developed a fermentation platform powered by renewable energy that uses a microbe strain that converts carbon and energy into nutritious, non-GMO protein, hence the name air-based protein. Its fermentation method is said to use minimal water and no agricultural land since it does not use sugars, contributing to environmental conservation, protecting biodiversity, and improving global food security.
Alan Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Calysta, shares: “Calysta and its partners have now established a robust international supply chain with global reach. FeedKind protein is the culmination of 10 years of hard work and brings disruptive innovation to both the aquaculture and pet food industries at a scale that matters.
“FeedKind is the best kind of innovation – a partnership between nature and human ingenuity.”