Global demand for animal feed proteins will continue to rise in the years ahead. By one estimate, the increase will be 7.3% annually from 2020 through 2026 (Global Market Insights, 2020). Much of that will be from increasing livestock and aquaculture production which are in direct competition with pet food production.
We are already experiencing intermittent shortages of turkey meal and dried egg product; these were primarily due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions, but such shortages are a harbinger of the future. As the global population continues to grow and there are more and more mouths to feed, there will be an increasing demand on animal and plant-based proteins across the board. In some cases, we are competing for finite and/or declining supplies as arable land is shrinking and oceans are being fished to the limit. However, there are technologies available if we are clever and courageous enough to pursue them. Specifically, there has been considerable effort made with insect proteins, single cell proteins, microalgae and pulse proteins that might help boost future supply. Could these proteins work in pet food and in the nutrition of dogs and cats?
