Because Animals

Because Animals, founded in 2016 and now operating as BioCraft Pet Nutrition, is a biotechnology company focused on creating cultured meat for the pet food industry. The company was established by Dr. Shannon Falconer, a scientist with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and Joshua Errett, who holds an MBA. Their shared experience volunteering at a cat rescue in Toronto sparked the idea to develop a more ethical and sustainable way to feed pets, addressing the environmental and animal welfare concerns of traditional animal agriculture.

In May 2023, the company rebranded from Because Animals to BioCraft Pet Nutrition, a strategic shift to concentrate exclusively on a business-to-business (B2B) model. This pivot involves ceasing its direct-to-consumer product lines to focus on the research, development, and commercialization of cultured meat as a stable, high-quality ingredient for pet food manufacturers. As part of this transition, the company divested its plant-based product formulations and related patents in late 2022, while retaining all intellectual property associated with its cultured meat technology.

The core of BioCraft's business is producing real meat by growing animal cells in a controlled, pathogen-free environment. This process involves using proprietary cell lines and a liquid medium of vitamins and minerals, notably without using fetal bovine serum (FBS), an often controversial and expensive component used in other cell-based meat production. The resulting product is a meat slurry, which can be seamlessly integrated as a one-to-one replacement for conventional meat in various pet food formats, including wet food, dry kibble, and treats. This cultured meat is nutritionally complete, containing all necessary proteins, fats, and amino acids like taurine, and is free from contaminants like salmonella, antibiotics, or hormones.

A significant milestone was the 2021 debut of the 'Harmless Hunt Mouse Cookies for Cats,' the first pet food product made from cultured meat grown from mouse cells, the ancestral diet of felines. The company has secured approximately $6.7 million in total funding from investors including Draper Associates, SOSV, Keen Growth Capital, and Orkla ASA.

Keywords: cultured pet food, cellular agriculture, BioCraft Pet Nutrition, lab-grown meat for pets, sustainable pet food, cell-based meat, animal-free pet nutrition, pet food ingredient supplier, biotechnology, pet food innovation, Shannon Falconer, Joshua Errett, slaughter-free meat, cruelty-free pet food, alternative proteins, pet food technology, pathogen-free pet food, clean meat for pets, sustainable protein, vet tech