NEWS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2024 89 Pet care startups from the U.S., Canada, and Australia have been named finalists for the eighth annual Pet Care Innovation Prize powered by Purina, each receiving $25,000 and support from the pet care leader as they work to grow their businesses in the $136.8 billion (American Pet Products Association) pet care industry. This year's class represents innovation across the spectrum of pet care products and services, from pet enrichment toys, a toothbrush designed specifically for a cat's anatomy, alternative protein, and allergy-friendly pet treats and food, to a game-changing microchip that monitors pet health from the inside, and a platform to help organisations provide foster care for pets. “At Purina, our purpose and passion revolve around enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them. Collaborating with startups that share our enthusiasm for pets and are dedicated to continuous innovation enables us to mutually inspire and learn from each other,” said Blair Morgan, co-lead of Purina’s 9 Square Ventures Group and Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for Purina. “This year’s group of winners exemplifies the diverse range of possibilities in pet care, and we look forward to working with each of these companies to help accelerate their success in an incredibly competitive and rewarding industry.” Read more>> Purina announces 2024 Pet Care Innovation Prize winners The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) received over $170,000 in federal funding for fiscal 2024 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Market Access Program (MAP). With additional roll-over funding, AFIA’s 2024 MAP funding stands at nearly $200,000, providing the animal food industry more opportunities to broaden market access and support the export of U.S. animal food products to Vietnam and China. "We express appreciation to the USDA for acknowledging AFIA as the foremost authority in the animal feed, feed ingredient, and pet food trade," said AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman. “The U.S. animal food industry has the potential to sustainably enhance the efficiency and quality of global animal nutrition practices and pet food diets. However, existing foreign regulatory and policy constraints hinder fair competition for these products in foreign markets. We appreciate the opportunity to continue collaborating with the USDA to overcome these trade barriers and promote our products." With the recently secured MAP funding, the AFIA is positioned to continue its work on expanding the U.S. animal food industry’s $7.5 billion worth of exports. The work entails conveying to Vietnamese and Chinese stakeholders the benefits—such as utility, safety, and quality—that U.S. animal food products bring to farmers in terms of improved animal production and health. It also includes providing pet owners with information about the importance of complete and balanced pet diets to help their pets live longer, healthier lives. Read more>> AFIA awarded federal funding to support global market access opportunities
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