Is microbial fermentation our future way to feed not only our pets, but ourselves too one day?
Yes it most certainly is and biomass microbial fermentation protein has exploded into the pet food market with so many new products and more to come!
Let's explain more to understand as much as you can about this exciting future that we have to replace animal, bird and fish byproducts normally used in pet food......
What exactly is precision fermentation?
In the 80’s when they produced insulin to treat diabetic people, they first made it from the pancreas of a dog; then from the pancreas of cows and pigs…and thousands of cow and pig pancreases were needed to produce a tiny amount of insulin to use in a syringe for people to inject.
In the 90’s, they began to use precision fermentation to produce the exact same insulin needed which is what we have today for all diabetes medication – we have done away with the organ of an animal, and we use the highly effective fermented hormone insulin made sustainably in huge steel vats in enormous quantities to satisfy the NHS's overwhelming demand for this product - how amazing is that?!
Now imagine the same process in the pet food industry...instead of using the millions or even billions of kidneys and livers and other byproducts put into pet foods of the enormously harmful animal agriculture industry, we replaced it with bacterial fermentation protein - yes a dream come true and a reality!!
One species of bacteria can be fermented to produce the protein and nutrient rich powder shown below, and it's happening and see the quantities that can be made in the second image - 20 000 tons a year - wow that is progress and yes it is happening!!
What exactly is biomass and bacterial or microbial fermentation?
Biomass fermentation is an ancient practice: humans have used microbes to produce bread, beer, and ethanol for thousands of years. In biomass fermentation, naturally occurring microbes, such as yeast or bacteria, are cultivated in bioreactors. These microbes grow quickly and accumulate valuable nutrients, such as protein, fats, and fibre.
After fermentation, the microbe is harvested, dried, and used as a nutrient-dense, protein-rich end product. The result of biomass fermentation can be, for example Feedkind protein shown in the images above which is produced through natural fermentation of just one type of bacteria particularly rich in protein called Methylococcus Bath as it was first discovered in the ancient springs in Bath where it feeds off methane!! (love that extra fact and had to mention it - it actually feeds off a fossil fuel!)
This particular biomass fermentation protein is grown on an industrial scale and since February 2025, has been recognised as a safe and nutritious innovative and sustainable protein to add to pet foods!
Imagine that this exact same process of changing from using the pancreas of a cow to making precision fermented insulin happened with the protein and muscle of pigs and chickens, or the milk of a cow (read how precision fermentation is now being used to make casein and will replace the cheese industry!)….that is the power of fermentation and it is our future and happening much, much quicker than you may think!
This sustainable fermented protein source from FeedKind, is non-GMO, grain-free, gluten-free, 100% vegan and soya-free. It is a nutrient-dense and highly digestible ingredient, offering a complete amino acid profile, while featuring postbiotic properties that help maintain a healthy gut.
It is now incorporated into all kinds of cat and dog food products, from delicious dry dog food MicroBell to tinned food and treats. This novel protein has been approved for use in the EU, UK, Canada, and other countries after extensive safety and toxicity testing.
Even more exciting, it is the very first innovative novel protein source to be backed by robust feeding trials and scientific evidence of health benefits!
Peer-reviewed research on FeedKind biomass fermentation protein shows high digestibility rates and potential gut health benefits in adult dogs!
The study that was peer reviewed prior to being published; shows that not only was this fermentation protein very digestible; but it also showed potential gut health benefits in dogs which benefits their overall health! (Longshaw et al 2025)
Please note that NO OTHER sustainable pet food ingredient has been shown in studies to benefit the health of our dogs so a real landmark study from July 2025.
The image below shows how this Feedkind protein (the fermentation protein added to MicroBell and Veggie Snacks I Love My Cat), outperformed even chicken meal and pea protein in its digestibility:
Dr Arielle was SO excited to speak at the Glasgow Pet Nutrition Symposium to vet students about the new MicroBell dog food that launched in 2025 - the very first of its kind and read the post here where she literally wanted to scream from the rooftops how amazing this new protein source was!! Dr Arielle also spoke about the advances at the London Vegan Life Show in 2025 as shown below:
What products are currently available containing fermentation protein?
We want only the best quality foods and treats for our own plant powered dogs, so we have been able to source the most delicious dog foods and treats for your dogs and cats too all made from highly nutritious and richly delicious microbial fermentation protein. They are mainly made in Germany and are available for your dogs and cats in the UK with these exciting products:
✔ MicroBell complete dry dog food with a rich smokey flavour that dogs love
✔ MicroBell complete wet dog food made with added porcini mushrooms
✔ The Pack Gut Bites soft chews for dogs
✔ VegDog Pure Bites Taurine treats for dogs with a crunchy outside and creamy inside
✔ VegCat Pure Bites Taurine treats for cats with added catnip that cats crave
✔ Veggie Snack I Love My Cat from Marsapet - soft richly flavoured cat treats
The most exciting products are yet to come this year for both your dogs and your cats as microbial fermentation products explode onto the pet food market and dominates the sustainable pet foods - hooray!!
Which other company is producing microbial fermentation protein to scale?
Just as we have Feedkind being produced in vast amounts already for adding to MicroBell dog food and the Veggie Snack bites, we have MicroHarvest who received a grant of €5.46M in 2026 to build a large scale production facility of microbial fermentation protein powder - such reassurance that this protein is here to stay!
Microharvest microbial fermentation protein is used in The Pack Gut Bites and Pure Bites dog treats and VegCat Pure Bites taurine treats and it gives a rich umami flavour to these treats that dogs and cats are drawn to.
We are thrilled to stock MicroHarvest's highly innovative fermentation protein used in Pure Bites cat treats! Bacterial fermentation protein is ideal to feed our obligate carnivore cats as the fermentation protein is bioidentical to meat protein in its amino acid profile, as well as having a rich umami flavour.
Feeding Benefits VegCat Pure Bites Taurine Treats
✔ Ideal for obligate carnivore fussy cats
✔ Crunchy on the outside with a creamy dreamy centre
✔ Supports digestion with biotic fermented microbial protein!
✔ Promotes a balanced microbiome and immunity
✔ Supports healthy heart and eyesight with added Taurine
✔ Irresistible taste with Brewer's yeast and catnip
✔ No artificial additives, colours, or preservatives
We also have PURE BITES Taurine Treats for dogs!
How thrilled we are that healthy, innovative fermentation protein exists for our dogs as the tastiest treat - crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside that dogs absolutely LOVE!
Yes, I have tasted them as a passionate vegan vet running Just Be Kind, and I am amazed at how 'meaty' these treats taste - a rich umami flavour that I can see why dogs go a bit crazy for them!! The fermented bacterial protein that is used has been shown to benefit your dog's digestive health AND have added Taurine for heart health, so a really innovative and functional, tasty treat!
What is happening in the human space - is fermentation protein a possibility for us too? Yes!
Did you know that the UK government has pumped £15 million into the national centre to commercialise alternative protein - read this very exciting and hopeful news here.
In March 2025, the UK government announced it was investing £1.4 million in a new innovation hub that aims to expand the expertise of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in technologies such as precision fermentation. The government published a new industrial strategy pledging £184 million to boost the country’s engineering biology industry, which could benefit producers of cultivated and fermented foods. Read more here.
The future is absolutely powered by fermentation 🙌
“Fermentation is one of humankind’s oldest technologies – and at the same time, one of the most exciting technologies of the future.
It answers the question of how we can sustainably provide safe and affordable nutrition for a growing global population. It is therefore a key technology for the agri-food industry and it starts with its use in pet food.”
Please read this article from December 2025 entitled Feeding Change.
“We’re very clever and extremely resourceful – and we will find ways of preserving ourselves, of that I’m sure. But whether our lives will be as rich as they are now is another question.”
– Sir David Attenborough
“If nobody changes then nothing changes, but if somebody changes then everything changes”
Dr Arielle Griffiths Vet and plant powered family dog Ruff (Read more here)
