ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2025 51 Pet owners are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of pet foods but are not willing to compromise on nutritional quality. With ingredient choice being an important purchasing driver, opportunities for faba bean ingredients in pet formulations are being explored to enhance nutritional, technical, and sustainability credentials. In recent years there has been a groundswell of consumers driving change in pet food recipe formulation. When it comes to their purchasing choices, many are going ‘back to basics’ regarding the ingredients in their pets’ meals. The majority consider the quality of ingredients (71%) and the nutritional value (72%) a very important factor in their purchasing choices.i Also, more than 1 in 3 cat and dog owners buy natural pet food products when looking for pet food for specific needs.ii Because of this, focusing on recipe composition and ingredient choice has never been more important for pet food producers and is essential to drive sales. Consumers are also continuing to demand more when it comes to the sustainability of the pet foods they purchase. Around 7 in 10 pet owners expect pet food brands to actively reduce their environmental impact.iii PLANT-BASED PROTEIN POPULARITY To tick the sustainability and ingredient integrity boxes, whilst also meeting pet owner demands for nutritious and balanced recipes, more pet food manufacturers are turning to plant-based sources for their cat and dog food formulations. With two in three pet owners now considering plant-based proteins to be better for the environmentiv, natural and high-quality vegetal proteins with sustainable credentials are a valuable resource for manufacturers. Producers can use either plant-based protein isolates or concentrates to deliver added protein and other benefits in their finished products. Most isolates are produced through wet processing which enables a protein content of over 80%. However, they undergo extensive processing which requires more energy, water, and processing chemicals compared to concentrates, which also increases their cost and limits the opportunity for use in pet food recipes. Protein concentrates typically contain 60-80% protein but they also retain more of the original plant’s fibre, starches and micronutrients, offering interesting technical advantages. As demand for plant-based, sustainable and clean label pet food gathers pace, faba beans are an interesting alternative for pet food producers looking to expand their vegetal ingredient portfolio and also for those wanting to make ‘no grain’ THE POWER OF FABA BEAN INGREDIENTS TO DRIVE PET FOOD PURCHASING Dr. Maygane Ronsmans Product Manager Animal Nutrition BENEO
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