“Belgian Startup Paleo Ventures into Pet Food Market with Animal-Free, Yeast-Based Myoglobin”

Belgian Startup Paleo Files World’s First Patent for Animal-Free Myoglobin in Pet Food

Belgian precision fermentation startup Paleo is making waves in the pet food industry with its recent patent application for the use of animal-free, yeast-based myoglobin in pet food products. This move comes after the company demonstrated promising results with its yeast-derived myoglobin in plant-based meat and seafood for human consumption.

Paleo’s patent application is a significant step towards filling a crucial market gap in the segment of palatants, or flavor enhancers, which are essential for increasing the palatability and acceptability of pet food. “We believe that Paleo’s ingredients have the potential to address this taste gap and exponentially help drive palatability,” said Paleo CEO Hermes Sanctorum.

Understanding the Role of Myoglobin in Plant-Based Meat

Myoglobin is a heme protein found in mammalian muscle cells that plays a crucial role in oxygen storage and diffusion in humans and dogs. It is also a vital source of taurine for cats. This protein is believed to be responsible for the color and iron content of meat and fish.

Sanctorum explains, “We believe this heme protein is responsible for some of the key functionalities of meat, such as the typical heme flavor, the aroma, the iron it holds, or the red (when raw) and brown (when cooked) color. Adding our precision-fermentation product onto meat alternatives means adding the taste, aroma, look and nutrition of actual animal meat.”

Founded in 2020, Paleo’s proprietary precision fermentation process produces myoglobin that is bioidentical to the one found in various meats, including beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and tuna. The process is environmentally friendly and yields GMO-free, highly tailored heme. According to an independent life-cycle assessment by Planet A, proteins made from Paleo’s myoglobin emit 78% fewer GHG emissions than beef and use over 99 times less land.

Navigating Consumer Acceptance and Launch Plans

As a precision fermentation company, Paleo will need to navigate the regulatory landscape to sell its products. Sanctorum has indicated that Europe is unlikely to be the company’s first market due to lengthy regulatory procedures. The company is flexible about its initial launch location, emphasizing that it will be dictated by “wherever regulatory approval will be more swift.”

While alternative pet food has been gaining traction, it remains to be seen how consumers will respond to precision-fermented foods for their pets. Sanctorum believes that sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor for pet food shoppers. “In general, pet owners tend to devote more and more attention to the food they give to their pets nowadays. We believe our product can make a real difference there,” he said.

In October, Paleo announced the opening of a new office in Singapore to accelerate its progress. The company’s move into pet food adds a new dimension to a category that has received increased attention due to major studies on the health and environmental impacts of vegan pet food.

It has been estimated that if all the world’s cats and dogs went vegan, it would help feed nearly 520 million people, conserve land as expansive as multiple countries combined, and save billions of animals from slaughter. With its patent application for animal-free myoglobin in pet food, Paleo is poised to make a significant contribution to this potential shift in the pet food industry.