Scoular, SEADLING Bring Fermented Dried Seaweed to North American Pet Food

Scoular, an employee-owned agribusiness company, and seaweed biotech company SEADLING recently announced that they have formed an exclusive agreement to offer North American pet food manufacturers a first-of-its-kind ingredient to improve pet health: fermented dried seaweed powder.

U.S.-based Scoular is a leading domestic supplier of pet food ingredients. SEADLING is a Borneo-based company that produces the powder using proprietary technology.

Seaweed, often praised as nature’s superfood, is an emerging pet food ingredient because of its health benefits. Nearly 70 percent of pet food purchasers are interested in treats or toppers that promise functional health benefits, according to Mintel’s US Pet Food Marketing Report.

Dr. Birdie Scott Padam, head of product for SEADLING, said the seaweed powder offers many benefits, including:

• Aiding skin, coat, gut and dental health and supporting brain function, bone development and cardiovascular health.

• Offering essential minerals and vitamins, including vitamin K2 and potassium, which pet diets often lack.

• Providing binding capabilities and manufacturing compatibility, helping manufacturers to create consistent, clean-label products.

“Pet parents increasingly are seeking pet food that boosts pet health and vitality,” said Evan Ibach, senior merchant for Scoular Pet. “SEADLING and Scoular are excited to bring this on-trend ingredient to North American manufacturers.”

In addition to wanting health benefits for their pets, consumers seek ingredients that benefit the environment. In fact, 70 percent of consumers say sustainability is now more important when selecting products than it was two years ago, according to NIQ’s Green Divide Report.

SEADLING prioritizes sustainability practices, said company founder and CEO Simon Davis. The company, for example, practices cultivation through farming, not wild harvesting, which creates a consistent product and helps to maintain its natural environment with little negative impact on other species.

“Sustainability is the heart of our business,” said Davis. “Our mission to elevate seaweed as a sustainable source of next-generation ingredients is inspired by the vision of a vibrant and healthy ocean supporting life on land.”