'World's most sustainable dog food' swaps meat and fish for grubs
A British start-up has today launched what it is claiming is the 'world's most sustainable dog food', made from a blend of oats, potatoes and… insects.
Yora claims the new pet food, which will be available from today online and in more than 150 pet stores across the country, produces a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional pet food made with meat and fish, while offering all the protein and nutrients a dog needs.
"Animals and humans have been eating insects since the dawn of time and we believe Yora is the future of pet food," said Yora founder Tom Neish. "We have trialled 29 recipes to find the perfect combination of great tasting ingredients and are very proud of the end result."
Beef farming is a major contributor to climate change, thanks to the energy, water and land needed to rear cattle as well as the methane cows produce during digestion.
Yora claims that to produce a kilogram of insect protein uses two per cent of the land and four per cent of the water associated with beef production, resulting in 96 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions.
If adopted widely, insect-based pet food could make a major dent in carbon emissions. One 2017 US study of pet cats and dogs suggested their diet constitutes about a quarter of the environment impacts from animal production in terms of land, water, and fossil fuel use.
The grubs used in Yora's pet food are grown in Holland by insect supplier Protix, which feeds the insects waste vegetable matter leading to further reductions in their environmental impact. The grubs are then mixed with oats and potatoes, as well as kale, seaweed and chicory, to create feed that "tastes just like regular food", according to Yora.
The environmental benefits of consuming insects as a source of protein are well established, but to date Western consumers have been wary of such a radical shift in diet. Introducing insect protein into pet food might be a faster way to scale their consumption - and cut the carbon footprint of the food industry.
"With increasing pressure on all of us to reduce our meat intake, it's clear that the pet industry will need to diversify, and we welcome this innovative new dog food product," said Nigel Baker, chief executive of the Pet Industry Federation.