Mars Petcare selects three startups for pet food programme

USA – Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures, in collaboration with AAK, Bühler, Givaudan and Ingredion, have selected three startups for the 2026 Next Generation Pet Food Program to advance innovative proteins, fats and oils intended to reduce the environmental footprint of pet food ingredients.

Now in its third year, the programme received 83 applications from 33 countries, with nearly half coming from the Asia-Pacific region. 

Applicants were assessed on innovation, scalability, potential sustainability benefits and commercial potential.

The selected startups are EcoBean from Poland, Loopworm from India and Space Ark Biomedical from Taiwan.

EcoBean valorises spent coffee grounds from industrial production to create ingredients for cosmetics, food and pet applications. 

Loopworm develops protein and fat ingredients from silkworms using insect biotechnology, while Space Ark Biomedical uses okara and brewer’s spent grain to produce functional protein ingredients through enzyme technology and precision fermentation.

Together, the companies represent approaches to developing alternative pet nutrition ingredients through side-stream valorisation, insect biotechnology and fermentation.

More than half of the applications focused on dry proteins, while one-third targeted wet proteins. 

The remaining applications focused on fats and oils, using plant-based processing, fermentation, insect farming and other emerging technologies.

Elisabetta Pierangelo, VP R&D at Mars Pet Nutrition, said the programme brings ingredient innovators, scientists, manufacturers and industry experts together.

“Together, we’re focused on accelerating innovation and turning promising ideas into scalable solutions that could help advance pet food systems with a lower environmental footprint and deliver high-quality nutrition,” she said.

Andrew D. Ive, founder and managing general partner at Big Idea Ventures, said the programme could help promising technologies move towards commercial application.

“By bringing together breakthrough science, industry expertise and strategic partners, we can help de-risk promising innovations, validate their commercial potential, and accelerate their path into real-world supply chains,” he said.

The startups will receive expert guidance, access to R&D facilities, tailored opportunities and a US$15,000 cash prize to refine their solutions and accelerate their path to market.

The programme will culminate at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore from 27-29 October 2026, where the three startups will pitch to industry leaders, investors and decision-makers.

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