Petfood Industry’s contributors covered topics ranging from sustainability, the pandemic, pet owner emotional perceptions, GMO corn and other issues, in January 2021.
1. Global dry pet food production increased 8% in 2020
January 28, 2021
Debbie Phillips-Donaldson: Though the overall feed industry for all species increased only 1%, dry pet food say healthy growth, at least partially driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Will pet obesity finally get the focus it needs in 2021?
January 22, 2021
Debbie Phillips-Donaldson: Recently pet obesity has been blamed on the pandemic, but it’s a long-standing problem that the pet food industry can and should play a role in addressing.
3. Confusion over GMO corn in US pet food exports to Mexico
January 22, 2021
Tim Wall: A decree ends genetically modified corn imports to Mexico by 2024. However, exactly what this means for the pet food industry is uncertain. Meanwhile, landraces are losing ground to varieties developed outside Mexico.
4. Telling pet food’s sustainable ingredients story
January 14, 2021
Debbie Phillips-Donaldson: Many common and novel pet food ingredients are naturally sustainable, but pet food brands must figure out how to explain that benefit to consumers.
5. Beef: A popular, complicated ingredient in dog and cat diets
January 11, 2021
Greg Aldrich, PhD: There are many options and challenges to beef in the supply chain, both historically and currently; in spite of that it remains a popular pet food ingredient.
6. When a five-year business plan becomes a right-now plan
January 11, 2021
Lindsay Beaton: Surviving the changes 2020 threw at us is going to take flexibility, adaptation and an increase in innovation, according to pet food industry experts.
7. Pet food M&A activity points to a strong 2021
January 6, 2021
Debbie Phillips-Donaldson: After several notable pet food deals in December 2020, 2021 has begun with even more activity, all following pet food M&A trends of the past few years.
8. Pet owners describe selves and pets with same emotions
January 4, 2021
Tim Wall: Scientists identified ranges of animal emotions and associated behaviors, as described by pet owners. Those same pet owners also noted their own emotions while interacting with their pets.
