With pet owners increasingly seeking nutrition that aligns with both their values and their pets’ wellbeing, the pet food industry is undergoing an exciting shift. Caitlin Donohue, Global Marketing Director, Pet & Animal Wellbeing, and Dr. Lindsay Sumners, Director, Creation, Design & Development (CD&D) in Health & Wellness, Pet & Animal Wellbeing, share how ADM is addressing this evolution with sustainable proteins and targeted wellness solutions.
Zeynep Demirkaya
Editor
As owners become more conscious of what goes into their pets’ bowls, the pet food industry is rapidly evolving. No longer satisfied with traditional offerings, today’s consumers are actively seeking out products that reflect their values: Prioritising sustainability, clean labels, functional ingredients, and personalised nutrition. This growing interest has led to the rise of alternative proteins like insects, along with an increased focus on gut health and targeted wellness through innovations such as postbiotics. Pet food is no longer just about taste and convenience; it’s about purpose-driven nutrition that supports the wellbeing of pets and the planet alike. In this shifting landscape, ADM is driving the charge with a batch of new pet treat concepts that merge science-backed functionality with modern consumer expectations. From indulgent yet wholesome snacks to forward-thinking microbiome support, the company is reimagining what pet nutrition can and should look like in the years to come.
I had the pleasure of speaking with ADM’s Caitlin Donohue, Global Marketing Director for Pet & Animal Wellbeing, and Dr. Lindsay Sumners, Director of CD&D Health & Wellness, Pet & Animal Wellbeing. Our discussion gives a glimpse into ADM’s approach to supporting customers with product development in the pet sector, highlighting recent innovations, examining how the company integrates scientific research and market data into the design of functional, consumer-aligned pet nutrition solutions.
NEXT-GEN PROTEINS FOR PETS
Consumers are searching for high-quality ingredients, like wholesome and sustainably sourced ingredients, in the foods they feed their families – including their pets. With their ongoing interest in a variety of protein sources, more pet parents are open to pet food and treats made with alternative proteins, whether they’re sourced from plants, dried yeast or insects, especially after being educated about their benefits.
A recent ADM survey shows that additional education makes dog and cat owners more likely to feed their pet food made with insect protein, including 54% of pet parents in France, 63% in Germany, 58% in Spain and 65% in the U.K.1
“We have developed our new concept, the Buzz Bar, in response to the rise of pet parents’ demand for sustainable but healthy snacks,” says Caitlin Donohue. “It features high-quality sources of protein from the inclusion of Hilucia™ black soldier fly larvae protein and oil and ADM soy protein concentrate.” Hilucia™ is manufactured by Innovafeed, a French agtech company that ADM has been in a partnership with since 2022 for the commercialization of insect proteins in pet food.
The concept includes ingredients such as oats, cranberry pieces and bacon flavouring to make it palatable for the dog. The baked granola-style bar can be offered as an AAFCO-compliant, single-serve meal on the go, like on car rides or on a walk, or easily portioned into a healthy snack, she remarks.
INDULGENT AND NUTRITIOUS SNACKS
Pet parents want their cats and dogs to have a positive quality of life. Treats provide an opportunity to strengthen the unique bond between humans and their furry family members. 73% of global pet owners say they still prioritize fun items or treats despite the rising prices.2
With trending human flavours and shapes, as well as wholesome ingredients, ADM aims for a mindfully indulgent snack experience that brings joy to pets and their people. “This trend of giving pets, especially dogs, treats that are fun but also healthy greatly increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a mindful experience for both people and their pets,” the Global Marketing Director explains. “To match this trend, we developed a baked donut, which falls into the category of ‘super premium’.”
The company’s innovative concept, Baked Donut Delights, include “better-for-you” ingredients like barley, blueberries, coconut oil, flaxseed and honey. Caitlin Donohue highlights the product as customizable with toppings to create a specified treat for events such as pet birthdays, holiday celebrations or everyday indulgences.
TARGETED WELLNESS WITH POSTBIOTICS
Pet owners are searching for tailored solutions that cater to their individual pet’s needs, and this “made for my pet” mindset follows similar trends in human health and wellness.
“This trend encompasses the individual needs of pets, such as digestive health, oral care, cognitive health, skin health, and so on. Where we could be the most helpful, though, is from a proactive standpoint, which is where we think our ingredients would be particularly effective,” notes Caitlin Donohue. She explains that their microbiome-supporting pet solutions build on ADM’s expertise in both human and animal nutrition, and the functional ingredients undergo species-specific clinical trials to ensure their efficacy for cats and dogs.
According to data from ADM’s research, 85% of global pet owners say proper nutrition and supplements are as important for their pets as they are for themselves.2 Moreover, as consumers become more aware of pre-, pro- and postbiotics and how they benefit human microbiomes, they’re learning that biotics can have a similar effect on their pets.
“We recognize that oral care is a major concern for a lot of pet parents, so ADM’s Research and Development team conducted microbial screening to identify a strain that could positively impact the oral microbiome,” states Dr. Sumners. As a result of this research, ADM has developed PRIOME® Oral Care (OC), a heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum* postbiotic that is an AAFCO accepted species and is authorized as feed material in the United Kingdom and European Union. The postbiotic is featured in ADM’s PRIOME® Oral Care Dental Sticks concept, which combines the efficacy of PRIOME® OC with mechanical action to help keep pets’ teeth clean and healthy. PRIOME® OC has been clinically studied in canines and the postbiotic supports oral health in adult dogs by supporting a healthy oral microbiome and contributing to reduce dental plaque formation.3
Dr. Sumners continues, “Within our pet microbiome portfolio, we have multiple postbiotics. One of the main factors that sets ADM apart is that we have unique postbiotics that target specific health areas for pets.” Dr. Sumners highlights that PRIOME® Oral Care is ADM’s first postbiotic that was developed specifically for the pet market, and the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain was isolated from human saliva. ADM’s research and development pipeline includes additional microbiome solutions that specifically target pet health.
Another innovative concept ADM developed for a specific wellness trend is PRIOME® Skin Health Sachets, which include a unique blend of postbiotic strains that are AAFCO accepted species and are authorized as feed material in the EU, including Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus casei** and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strains to help support healthy skin.4
“The powder sachets feature the PRIOME® Skin Health postbiotic blend, which was first identified within the human health and wellness space,” expresses Dr. Sumners. Pointing out their ease of use and handiness, since they are ready to be used on the go, she adds: “Powder has seen a resurgence within the pet space because it enables formulators to develop health supplement products containing limited ingredients, and without fillers, which provides ‘clean label’ appeal for consumers.”
ADM’s latest pet nutrition concepts reflect a broader industry transformation, where environmental considerations, personalised health, and functional nutrition are reshaping the way we feed our pets. By tapping into both science and shifting consumer mindsets, ADM is setting the stage for the future of pet care where treats don’t just taste good but do good, too.
*Also referred to as Lactobacillus plantarum
**Also referred to as Lacticaseibacillus casei
References
1ADM Outside VoiceSM, Pet Parent Perceptions of Insect Protein in Pet Food, 2023-2025
2ADM Outside VoiceSM (Proprietary research conducted by Morning Consult), 2023
3Florit-Ruiz, A.; et al. Animals. 2025;15(11):1615.
4Based on clinical data from human and in vitro trials
About Caitlin Donohue
As the Global Marketing Director for ADM’s pet microbiome team, Caitlin Donohue is responsible for science-driven product positioning, strategic global growth and demystifying functional ingredients to complement data-driven consumer trends. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Corporate and Health Communication from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, where she studied biology, communications and marketing.About Dr. Lindsay Sumners
Responsible for supporting creation, design, and development of new products and providing technical support and formulation expertise within ADM’s Pet & Animal Wellbeing segment, Dr. Lindsay Sumners holds a M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal & Poultry Sciences from Virginia Tech, where she focused on immunology and molecular nutrition research. Dr. Sumners has nearly a decade of experience working in the pet industry.
