Precision fermentation company Bond Pet Foods has partnered with previous investor Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition, a leading provider of innovative animal nutrition solutions, to develop customized, non-animal-derived ingredients for pet food applications.
Instead of raising livestock or fishing, Boulder, Colorado-based Bond Pet Foods uses yeast and precision fermentation technology to “brew” customizable meat proteins (chicken, turkey and fish).
“Precise fermentation is becoming an increasingly attractive tool for protein production.”
Through this partnership, Wilbur-Ellis will develop innovative pet food products incorporating customized chicken proteins to enhance the nutritional value and other benefits of pet food products, offering a new range of multi-functional pet diet solutions.
The collaboration marks a first for Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition and Bond’s second strategic partnership with a global company to introduce sustainable ingredients to the pet food industry.
Nick Braden, vice president of Wilbur Ellis Pet Nutrition, commented, “As the pet food industry becomes more focused on sustainable solutions, precision fermentation is an increasingly attractive tool for producing functional proteins, flavors and blends. This collaboration with Bond and their deep fermentation expertise allows us to further advance our ingredient portfolio.”
A new class of product
Animal-derived ingredients have a significant environmental impact and raise animal welfare concerns, yet they are a staple in dog and cat diets.
Pet health and sustainability trends continue in the pet food industry, with brands expanding their ingredient sources to introduce new products with enhanced benefits, such as more fiber and amino acids, reduced fat and zero allergens.
As evidence of the new trend, Bond Pet Foods delivered two tonnes of animal protein (brewers’ protein is a new ingredient) to Hill’s Pet Nutrition in February for product formulation testing and regulatory review.
Bond Petfoods founder and CEO Rich Kelleman said the company is producing protein at a 45,000-liter scale and highlighted this as a key milestone in the collaboration between Bond and Hill’s, which began in late 2021 when Hill’s was looking for an alternative to its most commonly used meat protein.
Bond’s fermented proteins for the pet food industry have attracted the attention of several investors, including ADM Ventures, Cavallo Ventures (Wilbur-Ellis), Genoa Ventures, Lever VC, Thia Ventures and iSelect Fund.
“Through this JDA program, we look forward to developing a new class of products that offer pet food manufacturers more sustainable and functional formulation alternatives,” Kelleman said.
