NEW YORK — Following the success of last year’s program, Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures announced the launch of the second round of the Next Generation Pet Food Program, in collaboration with AAK, Bühler and Givaudan. 

The program aims to accelerate sustainable innovation in the pet food sector by supporting startups with novel ingredients, sustainable fats and proteins, and advanced processing technologies. Mars is exploring alternative ingredients in its pet food products to create more sustainable, future-ready nutrition. 

“Working with Mars last year was fantastic,” said Andrew Ive, founder and managing general partner of Big Idea Ventures. “We want to take the learnings and implement them on a big scale as we continue to search for and develop sustainable solutions for the pet food ecosystem.”

This year, Givaudan joins AAK and Bühler as a collaborator, offering expertise in ingredient innovation and product development for humans and pets.

 “Last year, the teams from Mars Petcare, Bühler and AAK offered invaluable insights to our startups,” Ive added. “Now, by integrating Givaudan into the mix, we will further enhance the resources available to the startups we choose.”

Companies selected for the program will receive expert guidance, potential commercial partnerships, and the opportunity to showcase their solutions on a global stage at Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore from November 4 to 6. 

Winners of last year’s program, which include MiAlgae, BiomeMega, Anomaly Bio, KIDEMIS and String Bio Private Limited, have been under the mentorship of Big Idea Ventures, Mars, AAK and Bühler. According to the companies, the startups have gained insights from top pet food experts and collaborated with leading CPG, ingredient and technology companies to further develop their concepts, with the potential to develop future long-term collaborations.

“We were thrilled at the enthusiastic response we got from last’s program,” said Ian Roberts, Ph.D., chief technical officer of Bühler Group. “It is a testament that innovative startups are the driving force behind the future of sustainable pet nutrition. The program offers a unique opportunity for visionary entrepreneurs to collaborate with leading industry experts, access state-of-the-art technology, and accelerate their impact on the global pet food market. 

“I encourage all startups with bold ideas and a passion for transformation to apply and help us shape a healthier, more sustainable future for pets and planet alike,” he added.

The program is open to startups from around the world, with a preference for scalable solutions that can demonstrate real-world impact and sustainability. While APAC-based startups are preferred, companies from all regions are encouraged to apply.

“We must invest in innovation to help us source the best ingredients and build a future where the planet stays healthy, and where people and their pets are thriving,” said Paul Gardner, commercial vice president for Mars Pet Nutrition. “We’re excited to be launching the second round of this program harnessing the creativity of startups, alongside partners that share our vision.”

Interested startups can apply until July 16. 

Learn more about the Next Generation Pet Food Program. 

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