# The Future of Pet Food with Microbial Protein & FeedKind

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/pet-business-disruptors-6976684/the-future-of-pet-food-with-microbial-protein-feedkind
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/pet-business-disruptors-6976684/the-future-of-pet-food-with-microbial-protein-feedkind.md
Podcast: [Pet Business Disruptors](https://stenobird.com/podcast/pet-business-disruptors-6976684)
Published: 2026-01-26T00:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/USVL7910466669.mp3?updated=1769680234
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/USVL7910466669.mp3?updated=1769680234
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/pet-business-disruptors-6976684/episodes/the-future-of-pet-food-with-microbial-protein-feedkind
Duration seconds: 4292

## Resource

In this episode, Clayton chats with Hermann Sloot, Commercial Director of Calysta, the company behind the innovative protein ingredient FeedKind. Together, they dive deep into the fascinating world of microbial protein, a sustainable, non-animal protein source created through natural fermentation. Hermann explains how this technology works, scaling from lab to factory, and why it's a crucial answer to the global protein shortage facing the pet food industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS FeedKind is produced by fermenting natural bacteria found in soils (specifically Methylococcus capsulatus Bath) using gas, ammonia, and vitamins, similar to how yeast is used to make bread or beer, resulting in a highly scalable, nutrient-rich protein. While many alternative proteins are still in the lab phase, Calysta has already built the world’s first commercial-scale factory capable of producing 15,000 metric tons of protein annually, moving beyond theory into real-world application. Beyond being a sustainable protein source, studies show microbial protein offers specific health benefits for pets, including improved gut health, postbiotic effects, and high digestibility that rivals traditional animal proteins. Hermann discusses the consumer disconnect regarding meat quality, noting that while pet owners often prize ‘fresh meat’, mechanically separated meats and by-products are standard. The biggest hurdle for novel ingredients isn't the science but the story. Success lies in shifting the narrative from ‘sustainable alternative’ to focusing on tangible pet health benefits like gut immunity and digestibility to win over skeptical consumers. BEST MOMENTS "The challenge for the pet food industry is that we have grown agri-food supply chains to such an extent that you might even ask, how are we going t…

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