Pet Food Ingredient Sourcing: Sustainable and Novel Proteins

# Pet Food Ingredient Sourcing Trends

Roquette and Royal Canin recently partnered on regenerative agriculture. Koning and Ritter launched algae-based Omega-3. Ingredient sourcing is shifting from price-driven to sustainable and traceable.

What traditional sourcing looks at

• Protein content and amino acids
• Price
• Supply stability
• Test results (heavy metals, mycotoxins, salmonella)

New trends

Regenerative agriculture

Roquette and Royal Canin are growing peas and cassava using regenerative practices. Benefits: healthier soil, lower carbon footprint, premium branding.

Novel proteins

• Algae protein / Omega-3
• Insect protein (already used in Europe)
• Cell-cultivated protein (early stage)
• Fermentation protein

What this means for brands

For export

EU and US buyers increasingly require sustainability certifications.

For domestic premium brands

"Traceable" and "low carbon" are new selling points, but expect 10-30% cost premium.

Practical advice

1. Stabilize the baseline first

2. Require supplier certificates and batch reports

3. Run the numbers: novel proteins work in premium lines at 5-10% inclusion

4. Let the co-packer recommend available ingredients

Common pitfalls

1. Chasing buzzwords without consumer demand

2. Using novel ingredients without safety testing

3. Claiming "sustainable" without third-party certification

4. Adding too many new ingredients at once

If you want to incorporate sustainable ingredients but are unsure where to start, Mixiaoqi pet food OEM/ODM's formulation team can help evaluate which ingredients fit your product line and target market.

FAQ

Is algae Omega-3 better than fish oil?

Purer and fish-free, but more expensive.

Is regenerative agriculture available in China?

Emerging, mainly on peas and cassava.

Do new ingredients need testing?

Yes: nutrition, safety, and palatability testing.