Pet Food Processing - November 2024 - 44

INGREDIENTS
ing brands and food testing organizations for rigorous
analysis and prototyping of nutrition applications. We
have now progressed into the engineering design phase
for a half- to 1.5-ton per day facility, expected to be
operational in 2026, and have developed a roadmap to
commercial-scale production in 2028. "
Producing nature-identical animal proteins - as well
as other animal and plant nutrients - through precision
fermentation is gaining traction. In precision fermentation,
bioengineering techniques are used to program
microorganisms by giving them a specific genetic code
to produce a compound of interest when fermented
under precise conditions. The genetic code is the exact
copy of the DNA sequence found in a digitized database
on animal or plant DNA sequence; however, it requires
no animal or plant involvement. The result is the molecularly
identical ingredient made by microorganisms.
ADM Ventures, the corporate venture capital division
of ADM, has invested in Bond Pet Foods, Boulder,
Colo. Together they will employ precision fermentation
technology to create nature-identical chicken and other
meat proteins without the animal.
" Such cell-based proteins are another exciting alterJiminy's
uses the
entire insect in
its formulations,
which is more
sustainable for
the environment
and nutritious
for pets.
Jiminy's
As mentioned, crickets are GRAS. To demonstrate
the food safety of crickets, Jiminy's assembled a dossier
on cricket protein for dogs. The digestibility and
utility studies were peer reviewed and published, and
then the complete dossier was reviewed by a panel of
experts, who issued a consensus statement that crickets
are a high-quality and safe protein for dogs, according to
Carlson. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and AAFCO were involved in process.
Carbon-recycling company LanzaTech Global Inc.,
Chicago, uses a biorefining platform to produce nutritional
protein from carbon dioxide. The company has
nearly two decades of experience biorefining carbonrich
feedstocks to produce ethanol as the primary product
and protein as a co-product. Leveraging this experience,
the company developed a solution using carbon
dioxide to produce protein as the primary product.
LanzaTech is in the process of completing trials and testing
in animal feed and pet food, and is underway with
completing FDA's GRAS certification process.
" By coupling a new microbial production strain with
our existing bioreactor technology, and our years of operating
experience, we have developed a path to mass
produce protein from carbon dioxide, " said Jennifer
Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech Global. " For two years
we've operated a pilot facility to prepare for commercialization,
and in the process, we've partnered with lead44
PET FOOD PROCESSING | November 2024 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
native to traditional sources, " said Jennifer Adolphe, pet
technical services manager at ADM. " Yeast-based proteins
can also be used in pet food and treats to supplement
or replace animal proteins. "
A 2024 feeding study conducted by ADM compared
a conventional pet food with animal proteins to two
flexitarian options that included blends of animal-based,
plant-based (pea and soy) and dried yeast proteins
alongside a vegan food that contained dried yeast, corn
We use the entire insect,
which means no waste, and the
exoskeleton is fiber, which feeds
the good bacteria in the gut. "
Anne Carlson, Jiminy's
gluten meal and pea protein. Results imply that carefully
designed vegan or flexitarian pet foods are viable alternatives
for providing adequate nutrition while positively
influencing the diversity of gut microflora.
" Like many emerging ingredients, insect- and cellbased
proteins are entering the marketplace as more
premium offerings, " Adolphe said. " Cost efficiencies are
expected to increase along with supply, provided pet
food companies also scale up their demand for novel
ingredients. Supplier partnerships with companies of
all sizes are needed during the ramp-up period toward
production volumes that will meet the protein needs of
the future. Smaller companies that launch new products
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