SPECIAL STORY 66 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2023 world and protect the planet. This involves looking at ways to increase efficiency, using less waste, enhancing animal welfare and reducing emissions. In our pet food business, this translates across a variety of touchpoints, and our initiatives are tailored across different markets depending on the area of opportunities. However, there is one focus area all our plants have in common, which is increasing production efficiency through “Continuous Process Improvements”. These improvements decrease ingredient waste and energy consumption, which in turn decreases the energy and ingredients needed to produce our customers' orders. Each year our teams identify new projects that will meet this objective and move us closer to our sustainability goals. We are also carefully selecting the right ingredients with the right nutrients that have a lower carbon solution and investigating alternative ingredients. Where infrastructure exists, we look to transport products using a combination of road and rail to avoid only using road. There are several certifications available that pet food companies can apply for to help consumers better understand sustainability and who is participating in specific activities. A VIEW TO THE HORIZON As we look to what’s next on the horizon, we are confident that pet owners’ desire to look after their pets like their family will further fuel pet food trends in even more humanized ways. Some of the top health claims for pet food worldwide include “high protein”, “natural” and “a good source of vitamins”. We’ve also seen significant growth in the following search terms for pet food in the USA – “sustainable” (+51.5%), “plant-based” (+70.2%) and immune health (+32.15%) (Source: Euromonitor international – World Market for Pet Care: June 23). As pet owners become more aware of their pets' individual nutritional needs, customizable diets are also gaining popularity. Pet food manufacturers are offering options for pet owners to tailor their pets' diets to their specific needs, represented in the market with a rise in private label and super premium products. In addition, some pet food manufacturers introducing plant-based diets for pets and positioning these diets as highly sustainable options. We’re also seeing some pet food companies sourcing their ingredients locally to reduce the environmental impact of transportation, and some pet owners feeding their pets fresh or raw food diets. We are expecting to see an increase in human-grade claims, added functionality and novelty, gifting and seasonal new product developments from the sector. As pet owners become more educated about pet nutrition and more concerned about their pets' health, it's likely that we will see continued innovation and choice within the market. By staying on top of these trends, pet food manufacturers can ensure they are meeting the demands of their customers and providing the best possible nutrition for pets. About Marcie J. Campion, Ph.D. Dr. Marcie Campion has over 30 years of global pet food industry experience including working for The Lams Company, Procter & Gamble, Mars, Pro-Pet and currently Cargill Pet Care. She has led R&D and new product development teams, and has global expertise in regulatory affairs. She has worked closely with AAFCO, state and federal officials regarding pet food regulations and led the nutrition sub-committee for the Pet Food Institute. Dr. Campion is currently the global pet technical lead at Cargill, and works to holistically develop new products and concepts for customers. She is a two-time winner of a Cargill Global Feeding Champions Award and is an inaugural participant in ALAATUS Honors as a technical leader to engage and develop top technical talent. Dr. Campion has a B.S. in animal science from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and a M.S. and Ph.D. in nutrition from the University of California, Davis. Her minor is physiological biochemistry and research areas included vitamin K and amino acid metabolism in cats. She is passionate about her family, their dog Marco and everyone’s pets.
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