Programme
The FeedNavigator Pet Food Digital Summit consists of four separate sessions :
Mining the microbiome: Balance is everything | Sustainable sourcing: Limiting pet industry impact on ecosystems | Premium categories: Does the humanization trend still have legs? | Mitigating safety: Challenges in pet food
manufacturing.
Each session includes dynamic presentations, fireside chats and panel discussions with stakeholders from across the industry.
The Pet Food Digital Summit 2024 is FREE to attend, and pre-registration is required.
Session 1 - Microbiome
Scientists are digging deeper in their quest to understand the influence of diet and nutrition on pet gut health as the evidence grows that developing a stable and beneficial microbiome early on has long-term benefits.
There is increasing interest in exploring how the inclusion of substances such as prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes and postbiotics can impact the complex microbial community within companion animals. If that community shifts out of balance, the gut can fall into a state called dysbiosis. This unhealthy microbiome is linked to chronic inflammation, digestive problems, and other health issues.
Studies evaluating pro- pre- and post-biotics in pets are scarce, but such products could potentially benefit animals with compromised or weak immune systems, as well as ageing and stressed animals.
Research into the cat and dog microbiome could potentially create new ways for scientists to understand this ecosystem and what they could do to improve it. With antibiotic resistance a growing, and potentially life threatening, problem for humans and animals alike, microbiome- based products could provide an alternative solution.
Hear from 3 companies revolutionizing the pet microbiome space.
Our Stand on Oral Health: TEEF for Life
TEEF for Life introduces a revolutionary approach to pet dental health, tackling the issue at its core: the oral microbiome. TEEF acts as a peacekeeper, nourishing good bacteria to outcompete the harmful kind. This gentle shift balances the oral microbiome, naturally reducing plaque, tartar, and bad breath.
Doderm- Where nature meets science for a microbiome in balance
Doderm's natural skin care brings the microbiome of animals back into balance. Milk antibodies as an innovative natural active ingredient reduce the use of antibiotics - for long-lasting healthy skin. Antibodies, which Doderm obtains from surplus milk by a biotechnological process, can be used in a variety of ways in addition to application on the skin. Other product concepts that are possible based on this active ingredient serve to balance the microbiome of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.
BIOME9 - Creating a world of precision pet care
BIOME9 is doing for pets what Zoe and 23andME are doing for humans. Using multi-modal datasets and generative AI, BIOME9 is creating the InvisibleHealth platform to empower modern pet owners, with an actionable and proactive approach to caring for their pets, via unique bioinformatic insights into their health. BIOME9 GutDiscovery test kit is the first product launch, tacking the canine gut microbiome crisis. An easy-to-use, at-home test kit quickly gives the owner an understanding of their dog's inner world and what it means for them. The sample is matched against a large biobank of data and run through proprietary algorithms, to offer tailored nutritional and supplement recommendations, that help eliminate guesswork and nutritional trial and error that many owners experience.
Generic probiotic species dominate the field, raising questions about opportunities for branded alternatives. We explore barriers to integrating postbiotics in pet food, considering their crucial roles in health and sustainability. Additionally, we investigate how the bacterial composition in companion animals' intestines may influence their levels of aggression and anxiety in light of the growing understanding of the brain-gut connection.
Session 2 - Sustainability
Minimal impact ingredient sourcing along with alternative protein inclusion are hot topics in the pet food sustainability space. Ingredients represent the highest portion of pet food manufacturers’ carbon emissions, far outpacing any other contributor such as production, packaging and even transportation.
Pet owners are increasingly seeking products that they perceive to not only be better for their pets, but also for the planet, highlighting huge growth potential for ingredients such as insect, microbial or algae-based proteins and potentially cultured meat if it is approved.
Many pet foods prioritize consumer preferences over nutritional necessities and can surpass recommended nutrient levels. They can use ingredients that compete with the human food system, or are overconsumed by pets, resulting in wastage. The pet industry could look to improve its sustainability profile via industry wide initiatives aimed at reformulation, awareness raising, and policy reforms.
We will address how incorporating any novel ingredients into a formulation requires a focus on ensuring value along with validating the bioavailability and digestibility of the new protein sources. We will look at how buyers need to evaluate ingredient sustainability based on environmental, social impact, nutritional and welfare parameters. And we will assess the impact of rising pet owner awareness on the pet food industry's commitment to sustainability.
Session 3 - Premium Categories
Is the trend toward humanization expected to continue, whereby pet owners seek products that mirror those they eat themselves or is inflationary pressure putting a stop to such developments?
The pet industry has witnessed a shift to the super-premium and high-income consumer in the past few years, often leaving behind more value-oriented demographics.
The better off pet owners are seeking premium dietary options for their companion animals including natural, human-grade, non-GMO, organic, grainfree, as well as functional and specialized diets. Products with new and unusual flavors, and fun and playful foods in eye-catching colors and shapes are also on-trend.
This talk delves into the crucial equilibrium needed in the creation of premium pet food, where the marriage of scientific expertise and effective marketing strategies is paramount. Examining how these two elements complement each other ensures that pet owners receive not only scientifically formulated products but also ones that resonate with their preferences and expectations in the competitive pet food market.
We explore how the pet food industry will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs and preferences of pet owners. We ask whether demand will continue to rise for more tailored foods, treats and supplements that target specific health needs and we look at the extent that rapidly increasing inflation and prices are causing problems for trends that are dependent on secure levels of consumer affluence and discretionary spending. We also look at the potential for brand consolidation in the category.
Session 4 - Safety
Food-borne infectious agents can affect the health of pets, while mycotoxins are also a hazard in the global pet food supply chain. Fats, protein meals, meat slurries and other ingredients added during pet food manufacturing can be prone to cross-contamination and bacterial growth. In addition, finished dry pet foods can still be contaminated with mold, yeasts and Salmonella.
Dry and canned pet food dominate the market, but alternative formats that are gaining traction include frozen and refrigerated products as pet owners seek foods for their dogs and cats that resemble human food formats. Safety risks can arise from these new formats due to moisture levels, transportation, and storage challenges.
Commercial pet foods are usually safe, but incidents of contamination can have a devastating impact on companion animals and their owners.
There are numerous possible contaminants ranging from natural contaminants to nutrient imbalances to chemical adulteration, making it impossible to predict what will cause the next pet food recall.
We examine the measures pet food processors can apply to curb potential outbreaks and costly recalls linked to mycotoxin or pathogen contamination. We ask what more that can be done within the pet food supply chain to ensure pet food safety risks are fully controlled and what factors have been behind the headline grabbing recalls of the past few years. We explore whether opportunities exist to commit food fraud in the pet food sector.
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