Friends & Family Pet Food Company has received regulatory approval from Singapore's Animal & Veterinary Services (AVS) to commercially sell cultivated meat-based pet food, marking the first such approval in Asia. The company will begin production of cultivated meat-based treats for cats and dogs in Singapore this fall.
The approval, issued in June, allows Friends & Family to launch with eight SKUs in the Singapore pet food market, with additional products planned. All manufacturing will be conducted locally in Singapore. The company reports having inventory of tons of cultivated meat to support commercial-scale production of pet nutrition products.
The first product is a nod to heritage Kampung birds, which were free-range and naturally-raised poultry used for meat in traditional villages across Southeast Asia.Friends & Family Pet Food Company
"Part of the Friends & Family mission is not simply to replace the protein in the pet food supply chain, but to improve the underlying protein cats and dogs eat," says Joshua Errett, CEO and founder of Friends & Family Pet Food Company. "That's only possible with cultivated meat. We can optimize cultivated meat to have higher levels of nutrients, like taurine, and improve digestibility and nutrient absorption. And ultimately we believe we can make much better meat for our cats and dogs."
The company's products draw inspiration from heritage Kampung birds, free-range poultry traditionally raised in Southeast Asian villages. One treat formulation includes prebiotic fibers designed to support gut health and immunity, while a second SKU focuses on bioavailable trace minerals including zinc and vitamins B, K and A.
"This is a big step for the cultivated meat industry, and for Singapore – which soon will be the only place in the world where you can buy your cat or dog a cultivated treat," says Maurice Yeo, Friends & Family's COO.
According to research cited by the company, cultivated meat pet treats produce approximately 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit compared to conventional beef-based pet treats. The production process requires up to 90% less land and 78% to 96% less water than traditional livestock farming while reducing air and water contamination.
The company plans to expand across Asia and into the U.S. market following the Singapore launch.
