The tech sector has developed over the past years, impacting all business and industry areas. Among them is pet food manufacturing. Although it might not be the first thing that comes to mind regarding technology, scientific tools and solutions have increasingly been used to improve food quality, taste and texture, help ensure better preservation and find new nutrition options to curb health-related issues.
Feeding your pets a healthy diet is incredibly important, as it guarantees they can be healthy, happy, and live a long life free from health issues. Here are some technological innovations that bring your furry baby’s favourite treats straight into their bowls.
Science-based
Pet food processing is a constantly evolving business sector, looking to perfect the nourishment options and protect animals. Machinery is used to deliver consistent taste and shape, especially as the market is becoming increasingly more competitive, and pet owners expect to see only high-quality options on the shelves. Both dry and wet food require complex manufacturing equipment on the production lines.
For example, smart-operating systems such as kibble dosing slides feature software with self-learning technology that can improve the flow of the foods in the production line and ensure they’re handled with care. Fragile kibbles can become easily damaged, impacting the overall consistency.
The animal feed industry has been gradually automating and optimising processes. As the sector has become increasingly globalised, competition has become more assertive. Manufacturers must stay ahead of the trends and ensure they have access to the best and most efficient factories to get the best raw material and finished products.
They must also keep up with the regulations and ensure their products are compliant so that they deliver only the best food.Food waste
Like human food, improving sustainability standards is important in pet food processing. Food waste is a legitimate problem, contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Since the waste is deposited in landfills where it decomposes, it emits methane, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Human activities are primarily responsible for climate change, so all companies must take the necessary steps to ensure they don’t harm the environment and their community. One of the best ways to mediate this problem is to turn food waste into food. Although it might sound unsanitary, you must know that the companies that employ this solution focus on hygiene.
In the US, as part of the Sustainable Alternative Feed Enterprises, a daily average of fifty tonnes of waste was collected and transported using a special vehicle to ensure the biomass is protected from any contamination. Processing includes treating the food for inorganic materials, including plastic, metals or glass. According to a study carried out by EU authorities, animal food resulting from this process passes all health regulations, as mycotoxins, bacteria and nitrates well beyond the permitted levels.
Insects
Insect-based animal feed is another solution for the growing environmental concerns. The reasons are simple. Insects are high in protein and are certainly more climate-friendly than cattle or poultry. They require less space, consume far less water, and the overall gas emission levels that result from growing them are considerably lower. In Europe, the sector won the approval of the European Commission, and in 2017 it was decided that no fewer than seven insect species can be used as pet food.
The products are still niche and are frequently marketed as hypoallergenic alternatives to traditional feed. On the one hand, insect farming doesn’t yet have the capacity to substitute animal protein, and many still have hang-ups about feeding their animals insects. However, more and more are becoming open to the prospect, and the industry is likely to grow exponentially over the years.
One of the most pressing issues is improving the health of the insects used to produce food. This is similar to how livestock meant for meat production is carefully monitored to ensure their health and well-being. Insects face several health risks that can later harm consumers’ health. For instance, they tend to accumulate pesticides and heavy metals through their diets. Bacteria is also a problem if the growing conditions are excessively crowded. However, the optimal rearing practices for insects require further research, mainly because the sector is new and has little precedent.
Packaging materials
Generally speaking, pet food is recognized by two main types of packaging: plastic bags for dry food and aluminium cans for wet feed. While these tried-and-tested methods are still regularly employed, and there’s no sign that they’ll be replaced by anything else anytime soon, there’s a technology that might make them more easily accessible.
Digital printing provides faster turnaround and enables more companies to use local materials. Having a digital press or working with a company that has one means manufacturers can add labels and graphics directly on their tin cans and plastic packages with no fuss. Current technologies are also pretty limiting when it comes to the size of pet food packaging, while digital printing could provide a solution to this problem.
Some companies have begun working with recycling and more sustainable materials, with others even looking into compostable solutions. This is in the context of the increasing environmental damage caused by plastics. As they end up in landfills, they decompose into microplastic that infiltrates everything, from water and food to air. Since they take thousands of years to break down, and their effects on health are adverse, all industries should take the necessary steps to avoid them as much as possible.
The pet food industry is changing like all others, looking to keep up with technological shifts and environmental challenges. People want only the best for their friends, and as humanisation continues to be one of the most noteworthy trends, it’s clear that the time of pets being treated simply as animals are gone. They are now family members and should receive the best possible care that fits their status as loyal companions and best friends.
