Market Information

4

3 min de lectura

17/05/2024

Environmental Sustainability

In today's world, protecting the environment and sustainability is a critical priority, and the practice of rendering can provide a solution to help. Rendering is a powerful process to reclaim and reuse animal agriculture resources responsibly, reduce food waste, and find important uses for meat co-products (also called by-products). Rendering uses these leftover materials from animal processing and recycles them for new applications instead of discarding them. Products such as fat, bones, and other animal materials can be reused instead of contributing to waste.   Rendering has a (hugely) positive environmental impact and is one of the most sustainable practices we, as a community, can support to improve our carbon footprint, reduce food waste, and return clean water to the environment's natural waterways. It's an often-overlooked industry that equips the entire food processing chain to use food materials more responsibly and sustainably. By reclaiming meat leftovers and including them in other products, such as animal feed, pet food, and renewable biofuels, rendering prevents waste and makes our resources go further for critical needs.   How Resilient Rendering Works   Because many people consider unused animal co-products or by-products inedible (i.e., meat from the animal that we choose not to eat), these leftovers often end up in landfills. Resilient rendering 'recycles' those co-products into valuable items like pet food and biofuel. Rendering's reduced carbon footprint is a result of using sustainable processing methods. Resilient rendering expands our uses for leftover food products produced from animal agriculture and helps us conserve resources while decreasing food waste across the production chain.   Environmental Impacts of Rendering   Rendering delivers essential benefits for increased sustainability. Products developed from rendered material follow strict safety standards to provide high-quality products from sustainable materials. Some reasons rendering makes a positive impact on the environment include: Environmental protection: Rendering helps protect the environment with lower greenhouse gas emissions than other disposal methods, decreased energy and water consumption, and more efficient processing technologies. Water reclamation: Rendering reclaims billions of gallons of water that would otherwise be wasted or contaminated. Water reclamation rendering methods improve water quality, naturally releasing water back into the environment through evaporation or returning it to streams and rivers according to federal, state, and local water standards. Food waste prevention: Reclaiming meat leftovers that would otherwise be discarded decreases our food production footprint. It also reduces waste piling up in landfillsas we reuse those co-products instead. Sustainable products: Renderers reclaim and recycle items such as used cooking oil and rendered protein ingredients for renewable diesel, animal feed, pet food, and many other products. Discover How NARA Works for Sustainability   The North American Renderers Association (NARA) represents independent renderers and meat processors across the United States and Canada. Their members also include those who support renderers with equipment and services or broker and buy processed rendered products.   NARA's mission is to represent the interests of the rendering industry in the political realm, provide resources for industry members and educate the public on the vital work renderers do. They offer a wide range of services and prioritize listening to their members' feedback. Learning about their evolving needs, they strive to provide the support and resources they require most. Also, they're committed to being the voice of the rendering industry to local and national government officials.   As a non-profit, NARA is committed to supporting the industry and furthering environmental sustainability efforts in the best way we can. They support those in the rendering industry with trusted resources to help them manage regulatory compliance, optimize rendering processes and promote meat science and technology awareness.   NARA advocates on behalf of renderers and aims to spread the word about the rendering industry's vital role in helping to protect and preserve environmental sustainability. They focus on providing innovative solutions for reclaiming meat leftovers and consistently reducing food waste.   If you'd like to learn more about NARA, click HERE.   Source: NARA.

Market Information

3 min de lectura

15/05/2024

Connection and trust: Revolutionizing brands in the pet food world

This shift in thinking leads us to evaluate the key elements in building a brand, from product innovation to social responsibility, which combine to forge a cohesive and resonant brand identity. In this text, we address these topics by highlighting the impact of each element on customer loyalty and satisfaction.   Real connections are brand essence   Creating a successful brand in the pet food industry means establishing a genuine connection with pet owners. This involves going beyond the product to speak directly to the hearts of consumers, addressing their values, needs, and desires. A comprehensive approach, which ranges from discovering a brand's mission to implementing effective communication and loyalty strategies, is the path to lasting loyalty. For example, let's look at some leading multinational brand experts in connecting with pet owners.   Technological innovation is the key to the future   In a rapidly saturated market, technological innovation is crucial. On the other hand, developing innovative products that anticipate trends and meet pet owners' expectations is essential to maintain our brand relevance. This ranges from specialized or improved formulas to sustainable practices, as well as the use of technology as a marketing claim, which generates trust and enriches the product experience. Today, there are successful brands that 'sell' technology implicitly and explicitly, particularly in premium foods.   Digitization cannot wait in the data era   Digital technology has redefined how we interact, and for pet food brands, it is an invaluable tool to increase and make the connection with pet owners ubiquitous. Personalizing the shopping experience and customer service through digital solutions can completely transform brand perception.   Sustainability and social responsibility are values ​​that permeate   Today, sustainability and social responsibility are not just good practices. These are already expectations consumers have, especially the youngest ones. Brands that demonstrate a real, transparent, and honest commitment to these values ​​not only earn the respect of pet owners but also their loyalty by resonating with their personal principles. An example of social responsibility is carried out by some leading brands by helping abandoned dog communities and donating food to their shelter network.   Empower the business by measuring and analyzing data   In our journey to connect with pet owners, we cannot overlook the compass that guides us: the power of data. Understanding the importance of measuring and analyzing our efforts allows us to fine-tune our brand strategies with precision. This analytical approach is what helps us ensure that we are not only meeting market expectations but exceeding them, raising the bar for what it means to be a brand in the pet food world. This area is where we are most behind in the region since there are only a couple of examples of brands that do not skimp on analyzing because they know that the returns are juicy.   Conclusion: generating brands that inspire loyalty   Building a brand in the pet food world goes far beyond selling a product with pretty packaging and a catchy name. It's about creating a meaningful experience and lasting relationship with pet owners. By holistically addressing innovation, technology, sustainability, and data analytics, we can ensure the relevance and competitiveness of our brands over time and in saturated environments.   Brand architecture is the skeleton on which the entire identity of a company is built and organized, ensuring coherence and clarity in its offer to the market. It facilitates consumer understanding, reinforcing their perception of value and loyalty towards the brand. This strategic approach is crucial to differentiate itself in highly competitive markets, guiding the expansion and evolution of the brand with a vision for the future.   By Iván Franco. Source: All Pet Food Magazine. 

Por Iván Franco

Ingredients

3 min de lectura

13/05/2024

Kemin Industries' request for use of rosemary extract as antioxidant feed additive for cats and dogs authorized by European Commission

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, submitted a request to the European Commission to allow the use of liquid rosemary extract as an antioxidant feed additive for cats and dogs and has received authorization through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1068.   The submission leading to this authorization was initiated by Kemin Nutrisurance, the pet food and rendering technologies business unit of Kemin Industries, and the resulting regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 15. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1068 categorizes and approves of the additive as a "technological additive" within the "antioxidants" functional group and goes into effect May 5.   Before this groundbreaking approval, the European Union's pet food market primarily consisted of tocopherols for antioxidants, with limited options for antioxidant molecules of natural origin. This new addition of rosemary extracts not only expands the range of available antioxidants but also addresses critical supply chain challenges.   "By diversifying sourcing and mitigating dependency on a single ingredient, Kemin Nutrisurance reinforces its commitment to sustainability and supply resilience in the pet food industry," said Beth Mann, Global Director of Quality and Food Safety, Kemin Nutrisurance. "Rosemary extract is a versatile and effective antioxidant that can help pet food manufacturers meet the growing demand for clean label, high-quality, and environmentally friendly products."   Since 1996, Kemin's Specialty Crop Improvement team has used conventional breeding methods to continually develop lines of proprietary rosemary with high levels of carnosic acid, a molecule with powerful antioxidant capabilities. Today, Kemin is one of the most vertically integrated suppliers of plant-based ingredients. Across the supply chain, Kemin controls the breeding, plant selection, growing, harvesting, and extraction for many of its specialty crops, allowing Kemin to ensure that every batch of product is consistent.   "We are thrilled to receive this authorization from the European Commission, which is the result of decades of research and development, as well as close collaboration with the authorities," said Dr. John A. Greaves, Vice President of Specialty Crop Improvement, Kemin Industries. "This is a game-changer for the pet food industry, as it opens new possibilities for natural and sustainable pet nutrition."   Kemin Nutrisurance is proud to offer rosemary extract as part of its portfolio of innovative solutions for the pet food industry. Kemin is committed to providing customers with the best quality, safety, and performance for their products, as well as supporting them with technical expertise and regulatory assistance. From oxidation control and food safety to palatability and nutrition, Kemin is Compelled by Curiosity™ to ensure pets around the world are living happy and healthy lives.   Click here to learn more about Kemin's Specialty Crop Improvement program.   About Kemin Industries   Kemin Industries (www.kemin.com) is a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services. The company supplies over 500 specialty ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textile, biofuel, and animal vaccine industries.   For over half a century, Kemin has been dedicated to using applied science to address industry challenges and offer product solutions to customers in more than 120 countries. Kemin provides ingredients to feed a growing population with its commitment to the quality, safety, and efficacy of food, feed, and health-related products.   Established in 1961, Kemin is a privately held, family-owned-and-operated company with more than 3,000 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States.   Source: Kemin.

Formulation

4

4 min de lectura

09/05/2024

Yeast nucleotide advancements in pet food

What is the nucleotide？
  From a genetic point of view, nucleotides are an important part of cells. It is a monomer that makes up DNA (genes) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) and plays an important role in cell structure, metabolism, energy and regulatory functions. From the perspective of application, nucleotides play an important role in the immune regulation, brain development and intestinal flora improvement of pets, especially newborn and young pets, and can also improve the immunity of pets. From a source, nucleotides are also found in food. For example, fish, animal organs, fungi, etc., of which yeast is particularly rich in nucleic acid content, and yeast nucleotide content is more abundant after industrial nucleotide enzymolysis.   Why the nucleotides need to added in pet food?
  Studies have found that although the pet body can synthesise nucleotides itself, the nucleotides synthesised in the body cannot meet the needs of various tissues with high metabolism, such as the immune system and intestinal tissues. The lack of nucleotides in pet food can affect the heart, liver, intestine and immune function of pets.   The application trend of yeast nucleotides in pet food   Yeast nucleotides improve pet intestinal health   Nucleotides play an important role in the gut, promoting the growth, development and repair of intestinal cells. Nucleotides can stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the body and effectively reduce the probability of diarrhoea in young pets. Nutritional studies have shown that injection of nucleotides and the addition of nucleotides to infant formula can improve intestinal health and immune system development in infants and young children. Because nucleotides and small peptides can maintain intestinal health, adding yeast source nucleotide nutrition to pet food fed by young dogs and cats can effectively improve the diet structure and promote intestinal health of young pets.   The addition of yeast nucleotide to pet cat food can improve the balance of intestinal flora. The experimental study of yeast nucleotide in pets conducted by Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences shows that the abundance of bifidobacteria in the added yeast nucleotide group is higher than that in the treatment group, and the lactobacillus abundance in the yeast hydrolysis group is also higher than that in the control group and other treatment groups. The results showed that adding yeast nucleotide improved the intestinal tract of pet cats better than other treatment groups. (Figure 1)     At the same time, the effects of yeast nucleotide addition on the contents of indole and skatole in pet cat faeces were detected. The test results showed that after the addition of yeast nucleotide, yeast nucleotide significantly reduced the contents of skatole and indole in faeces, effectively increased the content of bifidobacterium in pet faeces, and improved the intestinal health of pets (Figure 2).   Yeast nucleotides improve the immune system   When pets have some external conditions, such as intestinal damage, rapid growth, too little protein intake or stress problems, the immune system is triggered, the amount of self-synthesis is far from enough to provide support. So this extra intake of exogenous nucleotides optimises its physiological function. Pet mucous membranes, bone marrow, hematopoietic cells and lymphocytes, these tissues are more dependent on exogenous dietary nucleic acids as a remedy pathway. Studies have shown that pet food supplemented with yeast nucleotides can increase phagocytic activity of pet leukocytes and improve the ability of lymphocyte division. After addition of yeast nucleotide, pet vaccination resulted in increased anti-parvovirus antibody titers at 14 days, increased non-specific immunoglobulin levels at weaning, and improved peripheral blood mononuclear cells.   Yeast nucleotide strong freshening agent   Sodium inosine (IMP) and sodium guanylate (GMP) mixtures are used as fresheners in pet food. Umami, as one of the five basic tastes, can bring pleasure to pets and represents the characteristic flavour of most amino acids and nucleotides Yeast nucleotides are added with nuclease, so that the nuclease in yeast is decomposed into four free nucleotides (UMP,GMP,CMP,AMP). The four free nucleotides in the product have very good flavour and nutrition enhancement, and are suitable for pet food industry with better flavour.   The application prospect of yeast nucleotide feed additives   The raw materials of yeast nucleotides are extensive, the extraction technology is mature, rich in nucleotides can promote the healthy development of the intestines of pets, improve disease resistance and immunity, in addition, its degradation products such as IMP, GMP, etc. are themselves a kind of substances that affect the flavour, can indirectly improve the nutritional value of pet food, and commodity value, which is of great significance in pet nutrition.   Source: All About Feed.