Plant-based pet foods use plant, mineral and synthetic sources to supply necessary nutrients, and this sector is rapidly growing. Very recent, large-scale studies into health outcomes, environmental sustainability and other key consumer concerns are supporting the emergence of a new disruptive pet food industry. At least 20% of US livestock environmental impacts are due to pet food – a figure likely similar to that in other developed nations with high pet ownership, including the UK. 

Global implementation of plant-based dog foods alone could spare from slaughter six billion land animals annually, could save more greenhouse gases than emitted by the whole of the UK, and could free sufficient food energy to feed the entire EU human population. At least 11 studies now exist in dogs, and three in cats, showing equivalent or superior health outcomes when (nutritionally-sound) plant-based pet foods are used. Professor Andrew Knight is a veterinarian and one of the most active researchers in this field. In this webinar, he summarizes key recent developments within this field, including the emergence of cultivated meat and microbial protein-based pet foods. These are paradigm-shifting for the animal welfare and environmental sustainability movements. His discussion includes:

• An overview of the rapidly-developing field of sustainable pet diets developed using plant-, microbial protein- or cultivated meat-based ingredients
• The top priorities of consumers when considering alternatives to conventional or raw meat-based diets
• The numbers of farmed animals that could be spared from slaughter, and the key environmental sustainability benefits offered by nutritionally-sound plant-based diets for dogs and cats
• Health outcomes associated with nutritionally-sound plant-based diets in dogs and cats
• Behavioral outcomes (dietary palatability) associated with nutritionally-sound vegan diets in dogs and cats
  
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