Cargill invests in AnimalBiome to improve the well-being of pets through better gut health

(WAYZATA, MINN) July 15, 2021 – Pet owners and veterinarians increasingly want more options to ensure the health and well-being of pets including a growing interest in allergy and gastrointestinal support, diagnosis and treatments. To accelerate the introduction of new products and insights in the pet microbiome modulation space, Cargill today announced an investment in AnimalBiome, the Oakland, California-based start-up using the latest microbiome science to restore pet digestive and skin issues.

Research has shown that a balanced gut microbiome (the digestive system and how it handles food for nutrition and energy) is essential to overall health and longevity. When a pet’s microbiome is unbalanced, diarrhea, skin, immune system, and weight problems occur, and managing unpleasant symptoms can affect the quality of life for pets.

“At Cargill, we share AnimalBiome’s goal to help pets live healthier lives,“ said Jamie Dolynchuk, vice president of Cargill’s health technologies (CHT) business. “AnimalBiome’s world-class microbiome sequencing and database make it an ideal partner in the development of our microbiome insights platform for Cargill’s health technologies business and we are thrilled to improve our ability to do new product development and product research together.”

AnimalBiome provides personalized health products and services rooted in the science of the microbiome to assess, restore, and maintain gut health of cats and dogs. Twenty years of research on animal-microbe interactions conducted by Holly Ganz, PhD., AnimalBiome cofounder and Chief Science Officer, drove AnimalBiome’s insights into the interconnectedness of the gut microbiome and pet health.

“Pet parents are looking for alternatives to the medical merry-go-round of antibiotics, steroids, and prescription diets. I realized that we could help them. Today we provide better solutions to restore balance to the gut microbiomes of companion animals through our in-home microbiome tests, personalized recommendations for diet and supplements, and next generation probiotics to restore key groups of bacteria lost as a result of antibiotic exposure,” said Ganz.

“This expansive partnership with Cargill advances our clear leadership position in an exciting, growing market and will enable us to create novel products that will have meaningful impacts on cat and dog health,” said Carlton Osborne, AnimalBiome co-founder and CEO.  “Restoring and maintaining gut health is the key to resolving many acute and chronic animal health conditions that are costly, heart-breaking, and often avoidable.”

AnimalBiome has a robust database of over 12,500 DNA samples (from 10,000 individual animals). Using advanced genomic sequencing and data analytics, AnimalBiome has developed a healthy microbiome reference database for cats and dogs enabling a personalized approach to microbiome restoration and guideposts for future product development.

“As we look to grow in this category, AnimalBiome’s immense data foundation in combination with our own R&D capabilities will act as the innovation engine that drives new product growth and differentiation across regions where we operate,” said Dolynchuk.

Cargill’s move into the digestive and immune health space began in 2017 with its acquisition of Diamond V, a leading animal health company, and investment in Delacon, a pioneer in phytogenics health solutions. Looking forward, the company sees health ingredients as one of the fastest growing segments in nutrition and is concentrated on growth opportunities for both animal and human application.