Symrise invests in Bond Pet Foods to accelerate biotech shift in sustainable pet nutrition

U.S.A – Symrise AG, a global supplier of functional ingredients, has announced a strategic equity investment in US-based Bond Pet Foods, a biotechnology company, to advance the development of animal-identical proteins produced through precision fermentation. 

The partnership aims to expand sustainable ingredient options for pet food manufacturers, strengthen supply chain resilience, and reduce dependence on traditional animal protein systems by leveraging biotechnology to produce functional proteins without livestock. 

“This investment marks an important step in advancing our strategy to develop next-generation sustainable ingredients with biotechnology. By combining Bond’s fermentation capabilities with Symrise’s application expertise and market insight, we can deliver high-performance nutrition solutions and create new growth opportunities for our customers,” said Diego Maurizio, General Manager, Palatability & Nutrition Business Line at Symrise.

Bond Pet Foods, founded in 2017, develops animal-identical proteins through precision fermentation, a process that uses microorganisms such as yeast to produce proteins that are molecularly identical to those from animal sources. 

Unlike conventional livestock-based protein production, this approach decouples protein creation from animal farming while maintaining functional and nutritional equivalence. 

The company has advanced its technology from early research to advanced development and is moving toward commercial applications of its fermentation-derived ingredients.

“We have put great effort into building a new way to produce animal-identical proteins for pet food applications. Now, we find it exciting to see that work gaining traction across the industry,” said Rich Kelleman, CEO of Bond Pet Foods.

The company is seeking to diversify its sourcing base as global feed and pet food supply chains face increasing pressure from climate variability, input cost volatility, and demand growth. 

By integrating fermentation-derived proteins into its portfolio, Symrise aims to reduce exposure to conventional animal protein markets while improving supply security for its customers.

The partnership is expected to support pet food manufacturers by offering new high-quality protein inputs that are consistent, scalable, and less resource-intensive than traditional animal-derived ingredients. 

It also opens the door to more flexible formulation strategies, particularly as manufacturers respond to rising demand for sustainable, alternative protein-based pet food products. 

Industry stakeholders are increasingly exploring solutions that balance nutritional performance with environmental considerations, and precision fermentation is emerging as a key technological pathway in this transition.

Biotech competition reshaping pet nutrition

Symrise and Bond Pet Foods are entering a rapidly expanding field where several biotechnology companies are already developing alternative protein systems for food and pet nutrition.

Companies are investing in alternative protein platforms to address long-term sustainability challenges, including land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and supply chain disruptions associated with animal agriculture. 

In the United States, Perfect Day has pioneered precision fermentation to produce animal-free dairy proteins, while The EVERY Company is focusing on egg white proteins produced through microbial fermentation. 

Both companies are supplying functional protein ingredients designed to replace conventional animal-derived inputs in multiple applications.

In parallel, Wild Earth is commercialising pet food products based on koji fermentation, using fungi-derived proteins as the core nutritional base for dog diets. 

MycoTechnology is also working with fungal fermentation platforms to develop protein ingredients that improve taste, nutrition, and functionality across food and feed applications. 

Together, these companies reflect a broader industry shift toward non-livestock protein production systems that aim to balance nutrition, scalability, and sustainability.