Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures launch 2026 pet food innovation program to scale start-ups

Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures have launched the 2026 Next Generation Pet Food Program, with AAK, Bühler, Givaudan, and Ingredion. In its third year, the global platform aims to advance sustainable solutions in pet nutrition by identifying and scaling the next generation of “breakthrough technologies.” 

The initiative with experts in food technology, pet care, and ingredients is seeking “bold companies” with new solutions in alternative proteins, fats, oils, and novel ingredients. The program invites start-ups with low-carbon materials that can be applied to pet food to apply. 

Compared to previous years, the 2026 edition will emphasize Asia to reflect the region’s growing importance in more sustainable food innovation and pet nutrition. Although the program is open to global applicants, the organizers note there is a strong preference for scalable solutions based in or focused on the Asia-Pacific region. 

Selected companies will receive expert guidance, potential commercial partnerships, and US$15,000. Moreover, they will get the opportunity to showcase their solutions at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore (Nov 11–13).

“We are committed to exploring new technologies and scaling innovation that could reduce the environmental impact of pet food,” says Elisabetta Pierangelo, VP of R&D at Mars Pet Nutrition. 

“Through previous cohorts, we’ve uncovered promising new solutions and seen transformative technological developments. I’m eager to build on that momentum and witness the breakthroughs this year’s program will unlock.”

Accelerating market access

The accelerator program will invest in innovation and search for a next generation of suppliers to help source ingredients to support healthy pets and help address concerns about ingredient accessibility, security, sustainability, and changing consumer behavior in the pet industry.

It connects innovators in human food to the pet food industry, providing expertise from global companies to help accelerate their route to market. 

Selected companies will receive guidance, potential commercial partnerships, funding, and an opportunity to showcase solutions at a food innovation summit.Over the past two years, the pet food program has generated insights into emerging technologies. According to the partners, several of the start-ups are testing concepts that could play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable pet food. 

The 2025 edition attracted 165 applications from 39 countries, with three companies selected that showcase how biotechnology and circular innovation can “unlock new sources of essential nutrients, proteins, and functional ingredients for the pet food industry,” details Mars. 

“Our work with Mars Petcare and our partners has evolved into a focused engine for identifying and scaling the next generation of pet food ingredients. We are connecting high-quality start-ups with the corporations that can actually support these innovations to market, particularly across alternative proteins, fats, and novel ingredients,” says Andrew Ive, founder and managing general partner of Big Idea Ventures.

“The priority now is not just discovery, but accelerating adoption and creating a more efficient path to commercial reality. With Asia playing an increasingly important role, this is about building a global system that consistently delivers better, more sustainable ingredients at scale.”

Growing pet nutrition market

The pet food market continues to grow. Innova Market Insights data indicates a 26% compound annual growth rate in global pet food launches between 2021 and 2025. Products with no additives or preservatives claims accounted for 43% of global launches in 2025. 

Meanwhile, the company’s 2026 Pet Owners Survey found that 35% of consumers globally say that natural or clean labels are among the top pet food claims influencing product choice. 

Nutrition Insight recently caught up with experts from AstaReal AB, dsm-firmenich, ADM, and Beneo to uncover the future of pet nutrition. They highlighted a focus on functional, evidence-backed ingredients, with sustainability and plant-based alternatives increasingly shaping pet food trends to accommodate owners’ demands for healthier and environmentally friendly options. 

In related news, Symrise recently invested in Bond Pet Foods to complement its pet nutrition portfolio. This company produces animal-identical proteins with precision fermentation. 

Meanwhile, M2 Ingredients is collaborating with Anchor Ingredients to distribute its clinically studied full-spectrum mushroom powders for pet food and treats.