Study confirms safety and nutrition of Calysta’s cultivated protein for dogs

New peer-reviewed research confirms FeedKind Pet cultured protein produced by Calysta is a “safe, highly digestible” ingredient for adult dogs that shows promising early signs of supporting canine gut health. 

Calysta says its product is a stable and scalable supply of protein that does not compete with human food resources. FeedKind protein is made using little water and no agricultural land by naturally fermenting carbon to create a “safe, nutritious, and traceable protein.”

It is labeled “non-GMO, has a complete amino acid profile, is highly digestible, and helps promote a healthy gut.”

“This new peer-reviewed research is the most robust and longest study we’ve ever done on FeedKind Pet protein, adding to years of evidence showing it is a safe, high-quality protein source for animals,” says Alan Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Calysta.

“A science and safety focus has been key to our journey from pilot production to the thousands of tonnes shipped this year. For the pet food industry, FeedKind Pet is a pioneering cultured protein ingredient that brings real innovation and new formulation choices, backed by proven performance and supply security.”

Cultivated protein for dogs

The study researchers fed thirty-two healthy adult beagles diets containing up to 8% FeedKind Pet protein for six months. This was followed by a two-month period on a control diet.

All dogs in the study who were fed FeedKind protein maintained normal health, weight, and body condition (Image credit: Calysta).All dogs readily accepted FeedKind Pet at all inclusion levels and the analysis reveals that protein and energy digestibility exceeded 80%, while fat digestibility exceeded 90%.

The study also spotlights positive shifts in the dogs’ fecal microbiome, including increased alpha diversity, which is an early sign of potential gut health benefits.

All dogs in the study who were fed FeedKind protein maintained normal health, weight, and body condition.

Published in the journal Animals, the eight-month target animal safety study was designed under FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine guidelines and supports Calysta’s planned generally recognized as safe (GRAS) notification for the US market

“Customers in Europe are already using FeedKind Pet protein to strengthen supply chains and deliver high-quality nutrition for pets,” says Herman Sloot, VP of Global Sales at Calysta.

“This latest long-term study sets us up to meet the requirements for US GRAS status and gives our customers the confidence to plan for global availability, knowing they have a secure, well-tolerated protein source that works for pets and owners everywhere.”

ADM research also highlights a growing overlap between human and pet food trends, particularly in the use of functional ingredients, clean label formulations, and alternative protein sources. This emerged as a key trend among industry exhibitors at the recent Vitafoods Europe 2025.

Pet nutrition advances

In other pet nutrition advances, IFF has been expanding its pet portfolio with biotechnology solutions focusing on enzyme-driven palatability, including recent launches Microsource CA and Betafin Pet.

Beneo recently developed a low-glycemic syrup designed for pet food applications, including semi-moist and moist products or snacks. Derived from sugar beet and appealing to health-conscious pet owners, BeneoCarb S is a natural alternative to traditional ingredients like glucose syrup or caramel.

For vegan and grain-free pet food, partners QI Trusted Petfood Ingredients and Royal Avebe are offering a premium potato solution for pet food. Their new ingredient ProtaSTAR offers an extremely low ash content, while outperforming most other concentrated plant protein sources, such as soybean meal, pea, and corn, in terms of digestibility.

Earlier this year, animal nutrition researchers at Decision Innovation Solutions released a pet food market analysis highlighting the growing use of rendered ingredients upcycled from the food chain to boost product palatability, nutrition, and sustainability.